A Guide to Australian Healthcare for Overseas Visitors

Overseas visitors travelling to Australia can access many of the country’s healthcare benefits, but only under specific conditions.

The rules are different depending on where you are visiting from, what type of visa you hold and whether your country has a healthcare agreement with Australia.

While some visitors are entitled to free healthcare, others may have to pay exorbitant fees to benefit from Australia’s world-class health system.

We have put together a comprehensive guide that should help you navigate Australia’s medical terrain once you are there.

How the Australian Healthcare System Works

Australia has built its healthcare system around public and private services, making it one of the strongest and most reliable in the world.

Citizens and most permanent residents are supported by Medicare, which helps to cover medical costs. This provides free or subsidised medical treatment for Australian citizens, permanent residents and patients from neighbouring New Zealand.

With Medicare in place, patients can receive treatment in public hospitals without necessarily worrying about how it would affect their bank accounts.

The landscape gets a bit tricky when foreign visitors are involved. Some of them are entitled to Medicare benefits under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA) - an agreement that the Australian government has with certain countries.

The level of Medicare benefits and how long you are allowed to enjoy them depend on your nationality. There are several important areas that Medicare doesn’t take care of, such as ambulance services, which is why the Australian government advises visitors to take out private health cover.

If you are planning to visit Australia from a country that is not covered by RHCA, you must take out private health cover. You will be charged for every medical service, whether it is an emergency or not, and it’s very expensive without Medicare taking some of the load off.

Why Private Health Insurance is Important for Overseas Visitors

Taking out private health cover is a smart move for overseas visitors.

You are automatically considered a private patient and are required to pay for every medical service, whether you are at a public or private hospital.

Medical treatment in Australia is high-quality, but it is not cheap. A short hospital stay, a simple procedure or an ambulance trip can cost thousands of dollars. These costs can be overwhelming, especially if you are travelling on a budget. Private health insurance gives you peace of mind.

Depending on your level of cover, private health insurance encompasses plenty of services ranging from doctor’s visits to ambulance services and prescription medications.

Health insurance can also be a requirement for a visa, depending on what your plans are. The Australian government may ask you to show proof of adequate health insurance before you can be issued a visa. There is a decent chance your visa could be delayed or denied without it.

One of the ways you can get private health cover is through telehealth platforms. Some of the telehealth providers featured on comparison website Medicompare Australia site offer services to overseas visitors. These include Doctors on Demand, Bupa Global and Private Medical.

Each telehealth provider has highly trained medical professionals who can cater to foreign visitors, bringing quality care to overseas visitors through video consultation or messaging.

Overseas Visitor Health Cover and How it Works

Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) is a type of private health insurance designed specifically for people visiting Australia on temporary visas.

OVHC plans can be basic or comprehensive. Basic plans usually cover emergency treatment, hospital care and ambulance services. The more comprehensive plans may include coverage for ongoing medical care, certain pre-existing conditions, pregnancy-related services and repatriation.

It is important to read the details of any policy carefully to be sure you have a full scope of what you are getting into. Not all OVHC products offer the same level of cover, and some services may have waiting periods or limits. Even with insurance, you may still need to pay a patient contribution, excess or co-payment.

Understanding what your policy does and does not cover will help you avoid surprises if you need medical care. You can still get quality medical treatment in Australia even without access to Medicare, but you would have to go through a completely different process.

Before travelling to Australia, it is important to consider your health status and anticipate what you might need before boarding a plane, especially if you are dealing with a long-term condition.