Medicare is Australia's universal health insurance scheme which provides access to free treatment as a public (Medicare) patient in a public hospital and free or subsidised treatment by practitioners such as doctors, including specialists, participating optometrists or dentists (specified services only)
To register, you have to go to a Medicare centre with your passport and your
visa. If you can't go, call the 132 011 (local call) and ask for a form
to fill in.
Website: www.medicareaustralia.gov.au
You can benefit from Medicare if you are a permanent resident or an Australian
citizen or if you are from of one of the 8 countries which have signed international
agreements with Australia (New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Italy, Sweden, Finland,
Netherlands, Malta, Ireland).
If you go with your Medicare card to a doctor
that advertises 'Bulk Billing' on the door, you will
not pay anything (you can choose the doctor who treats you for out-of-hospital
services). Be aware, though, that this doesn't apply to certain specialists such as physical therapists
for example.
If you are not one of those people or choose to go to a doctor who does not
do 'Bulk Billing' then the minimum amount you will pay is AUD
$30 and this could go way over AUD $40 if they are located in an expensive
area, and even more if they are a specialist of some sort. If you have a Medicare
card you can claim part or all of the fee and receive a cheque. You may have
to pay the difference between the benefit and the total fee charged at the time
of service. Medicare pays either 85 per cent of the Schedule fee, or the Schedule
fee less an amount of up to $52.50, whichever is greater. If the charge is less
than 85 percent of the Schedule fee, Medicare will only pay the amount equal
to the charge.
For more information go to:
http://www.hic.gov.au and
follow the links to Medicare.
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