Overview of the Australian healthcare system.

The Australian Health Care System: International travellers and health care

This document describes how treatment of illness and injury is delivered and paid for in Australia, with emphasis on the funding role of the Federal Government.

International travellers and health care

Travelling to Australia for health care | Visitors to Australia covered by reciprocal health care agreements | Other visitors to Australia | Australians travelling overseas

Because Australia has a high quality health care system, with low costs compared to some other developed countries, it is an excellent destination for patients seeking treatment which they cannot access in the country where they live. People wishing to visit Australia for this purpose should, before arriving, obtain the appropriate type of visa and make arrangements for treatment and payment.

Note that reciprocal health care agreements (described in the next section) do not cover treatment if the purpose of the visit to Australia is to have treatment.

Travelling to Australia for health care

Because Australia has a high quality health care system, with low costs compared to some other developed countries, it is an excellent destination for patients seeking treatmentwhich they cannot access in the country where they live. People wishing to visit Australia for this purpose should, before arriving, obtain the appropriate type of visa and make arrangements for treatment and payment.

Note that reciprocal health care agreements (describe in the next section) do not cover treatement if the purpose of the visit to Australia is to have treatment. Top of page

Visitors to Australia covered by reciprocal health care agreements

Eight countries have reciprocal health care agreements with Australia. These are: Great Britain, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Sweden. Visitors (but not visitors studying in Australia) from these countries are eligible for Medicare assistance for immediately necessary medical treatment (but not for pre-arranged treatment). Under the agreements hospital treatment is provided only if the patient elects to be a public patient.

The terms of the various agreements differ. The major differences are that the agreements with Ireland and New Zealand cover only hospital treatment and pharmaceutical benefits, and the agreements with Italy and Malta cover only the first six months from the date of arrival in Australia. 

Other visitors to Australia

Other visitors are not eligible for Medicare and should arrange for comprehensive health insurance to cover unexpected health care costs during their visit to Australia. The regulated private insurance used by people eligible for Medicare is inappropriate for this purpose since it does not usually adequately cover doctors' fees for in-hospital medical services. People coming to Australia for the purpose of having treatment should ensure that they are fully informed about the costs they will need to meet.

People coming to Australia for the purpose of study are required to purchase special low cost health insurance known as Overseas Student Health Cover. 

Australians travelling overseas

Medicare covers only services rendered in Australia. Australians visiting countries with which Australia has reciprocal health care agreements are generally covered by the host country's public health care system while they are in the host country. Australians planning such visits should contact Medicare to check the details of what is covered by the agreement in each country before arriving there. Health care provided while in transit to or from these countries is not covered by the agreements and nor is the cost of repatriation in cases of serious illness or death. In visits to other countries, the full costs of health care will be generally charged to the traveller and no assistance will be available from the Australian Government. All Australians travelling overseas are advised to purchase comprehensive health insurance, regardless whether or not they are travelling to countries with which Australia has a reciprocal health care agreement.

Top of page