What is Medicare?

Medicare is Australia's closest equivalent to the NHS. It was introduced in 1984 to provide eligible Australian residents with affordable, accessible and high-quality health care.

Medicare was established based on the understanding that all Australians should contribute to the cost of health care according to their ability to pay. It is financed through progressive income tax and an income-related Medicare levy.

Medicare provides access to:

• free treatment as a public (Medicare) patient in a public hospital, and
• free or subsidised treatment by medical practitioners including general practitioners, specialists, participating optometrists or dentists (for specified services only)
  

Who is an eligible Australian resident?

People who reside in Australia - excluding Norfolk Island - are eligible if they:

• hold Australian citizenship
• have been issued with a permanent visa
• hold New Zealand citizenship
• have applied for a permanent visa (excludes an application for a parent visa)—other requirements apply. Contact Medicare for further information.

What is the reciprocal healthcare arrangement between Australia and Britain?

The Australian Government has signed Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA) with the governments of the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Malta and Italy which entitles you to limited subsidised health services for medically necessary treatment while visiting Australia. If you are a resident of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, Norway or the Netherlands you are covered for the duration of your approved visit to Australia. Medically necessary treatment means any ill-health or injury which occurs while you are in Australia and requires treatment before you return home.

This applies to people visiting Australia, on holiday or business trips, who are still resident in their home country. If you are resident in Australia on a permanent visa, you are eligible for full medicare cover. If you are resident but are on a temporary visa, you are only entitled to the emerncy only covers and should take out medical insurance. Many permanent visa holders (and Australian citizens) still take out medical insurance as Medicare cover is quite basic.