Medical Services in Australia

Medical Services in Australia:

Services:

This information is primarily for new migrants about health services in Australia.

Australia has a national healthcare system called Medicare.

Medicare ensures that all Australians have access to free or low-cost medical, optometrist and hospital care while being free to choose private health services and in special circumstances allied health services.
Medicare provides access to:

free treatment as a public (Medicare) patient in a public hospital

free or subsidised treatment by practitioners such as doctors, including specialists, participating optometrists or dentists (specified services only)

free treatment by providers who bulk bill.

You may choose your service provider. This is unlike the UK based healthcare system where you are expected to enroll with your regular doctor.

Australia’s public hospital system is jointly funded by the Australian Government and state and territory governments and is administered by state and territory health departments.

On arrival you must present to your local medicare office and apply for your medicare card if you have permanent residence or you have migrated from another commonwealth country which has an arrangement with the commonwealth government to provide medical services.

All Australians are entitled to Medicare benefits.

Some health care providers may accept your medicare card as full payment for services provided. This is referred to "bulk billing", whilst others charge fees above the medicare rebate fee, in which case you will have an "out of pocket expense" known as your gap.

With practitioners who do not "bulk bill" you will generally be expected to pay the full fee. Some of these clinics may use an online payment system where you may be able to claim your medicare rebate back electronically into your account within seconds, whist if this is not available then you must present your receipt to the medicare office, where you will be reimbursed the rebate amount by medicare

For medical emergencies like accidents, broken bones, chest pain or heart attacks, strokes or any other urgent medical care you may present to your local public hospital and these services are covered by medicare.

Only some medical services are covered by medicare, this excludes private general dental and private specialist services.

Australia also has Private Health System, where you may become a member and pay a regular contribution. This covers private health hospital, dental, allied health and specialist services. Inspite of your regular contributions these services also may have a gap fee, where they are not fully covered.

It is important that your enquire about the costs of all services you receive and whether they are covered by Medicare or your Private Health Provider and if there is any "gap or out of pocket" expenses.

After Hour Services:

For emergencies and conditions requiring urgent care you may present at any time 24/7 to your local public hospital.

However, for after hour urgent but non emergency care, there may be some private clinics open in your suburb.

In South East Queensland there is an after hour medical service available for home visits after hours. This is for non emergency care only, and includes illness where it may be not appropriate to wait for your regular clinic to open the next morning. Family Care Medical Services is available on 137425.

Medicines:

Australia has another system for medicines known as the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme.

Under the PBS, the government subsidises the cost of medicine for most medical conditions. Most

of the listed medicines are dispensed by pharmacists, and used by patients at home.

The PBS provides timely, reliable and affordable access to necessary medicines for Australians. The PBS is part of the Australian Government’s broader National Medicines Policy.

Some medicines are dangerous to administer and need medical supervision (such as chemotherapy drugs) and are only accessible at specialised medical services, usually hospitals.

Once your doctor has given you a prescription for medicines, you must present the prescription to any pharmacy. The pharmacist will then dispense your medication. There is always a part payment for the prescription which varies from $5.60 (for concession card holder) and is capped to about a maximum of $35 for all other patients, irrespective of the cost of the medicine.

The PBS only covers some medicines and not common "over the counter" items. These OTC items like simple pain medicines and cough and cold medicines do not require prescriptions, and can be purchased at any time over the counter.