Healthcare
Australia — Healthcare: Public Healthcare
Medicare is Australia's federally funded public healthcare scheme, covering free treatment in public hospitals and subsidising GP visits, specialist care and prescriptions for citizens, permanent residents, and eligible visa holders. Most temporary visa holders are NOT eligible for Medicare and must arrange private health insurance (Overseas Visitor Health Cover). Citizens of 11 countries with a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement — the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Belgium, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Italy, Malta, Sweden, Norway and Finland — can access limited, immediately necessary public hospital treatment while in Australia.
Why this matters
Relocating individuals need to know upfront whether they qualify for Medicare or must buy private cover (often a visa condition, e.g. condition 8501) — going without either risks large out-of-pocket hospital bills.
Key facts
- Medicare is a federal (Commonwealth) scheme administered by Services Australia, though public hospitals themselves are run by state and territory governments.
- Medicare covers free treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and subsidises (partially or fully, depending on whether the provider bulk bills) out-of-hospital GP visits, specialist consultations, tests and some prescriptions under the PBS.
- Most temporary visa holders (e.g. skilled work visas, student visas) are NOT eligible for Medicare and are generally required to hold Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) or Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) instead.
- Citizens of 11 Reciprocal Health Care Agreement countries — UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Belgium, Netherlands, Slovenia, Italy, Malta, Sweden, Norway, Finland — can enrol in Medicare for limited, immediately necessary treatment while visiting; NZ and Irish citizens can access public hospital care and PBS medicines without enrolling, but need a Medicare card for other MBS services.
- When a GP 'bulk bills', Medicare pays the provider directly and the patient pays nothing; otherwise the patient pays the fee upfront and claims back the Medicare rebate, leaving an out-of-pocket 'gap'.
Steps
- Check Medicare eligibility — Determine eligibility based on citizenship, permanent residency, or an applicable Reciprocal Health Care Agreement — check current status on servicesaustralia.gov.au/medicare. Most temporary visa holders are not eligible and need private Overseas Visitor Health Cover instead.
- Enrol in Medicare (if eligible) — Apply online via myGov or in person at a Services Australia service centre with proof of identity and, if applicable, visa/citizenship documents, to receive a Medicare card.
- Register with a GP — Once Medicare-eligible (or holding private cover), register with a local GP; ask whether they bulk bill to avoid out-of-pocket gap fees.
Costs
- Bulk-billed GP visit: $0 out-of-pocket (Medicare pays the provider directly)
- Non-bulk-billed GP visit (gap fee): national average out-of-pocket gap of roughly AU$50–61 per visit in 2025–26, on top of the Medicare rebate
- Public hospital treatment (as a public/Medicare patient): free
Timelines
- Medicare enrolment processing: typically a few days online via myGov, though it can take longer depending on documentation
Required documents
- Proof of identity (passport)
- Proof of citizenship, permanent residency, or eligible visa/RHCA country passport
- Medicare enrolment form (online via myGov or in person)
Common mistakes
- Assuming that public healthcare (Medicare) is automatically available to all non-citizens — most temporary visa holders are not eligible and need private Overseas Visitor Health Cover instead.
- Not checking whether a GP bulk bills before a visit, and being surprised by a gap fee.