Australia is, according to world standards, one of the most healthiest countries in the world. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has determined that the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s life satisfaction rating is 6.7 on a scale of 10. Australian citizens also enjoy an average life expectancy of 83.2.
As with most other aspects of life, maintaining good health requires regular doctor and specialist visits and healthy habits. You will need to visit a primary care doctor (also known as a General Practitioner, or GP) if you live and work in Australia.
How can you access medical care as a non-citizen or permanent resident? And, most importantly, what will it cost you? How to stay healthy in Australia.
Australian Healthcare – Public and Private Mixture
The Australian health system is a mixture of government-funded health care (single payer) and private health insurance. Medicare is responsible for administering this system. Medicare reimburses doctors and allied health professionals using the Medicare Benefits Schedule. The government determines the cost of certain procedures such as routine doctor’s visits, and doctors “bulk bill” their services through Medicare. Signage in many doctors’ offices will state “bulk billing”.
You can still consult a doctor even if they bulk bill. You will simply have to pay at a different price.
Doctors are not required to accept bulk billing rates for their services, and they can opt out. The Medicare Benefits Schedule allows doctors to set their own fees, and patients will be reimbursed by Medicare for services rendered. Medicare reimburses you the standard fee, which is $39.10. The “gap” is the difference.
MBS offers schedules of almost all hospital and doctor’s office procedures. Medicare is available to all citizens, permanent residents and certain visa classes. You will be responsible for paying the full consultation or procedure if you do not fall into these categories. This can cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Private health insurance
Many Australians choose to purchase private health insurance in order to reduce wait times and improve the quality of their care. To reduce pressure on the public health system, the Australian government offers tax breaks to citizens who purchase private health insurance. Australians pay a monthly fee for hospital coverage and optional extras such as optometry and dental care.
Private insurance is similar to Medicare. You go to a specialist or doctor and are reimbursed by your health fund afterward. You may be required to pay an “excess”, a lump-sum that is added to your hospital claim, in extreme situations such as immediate hospitalisation. If you want to lower your premiums, then you can choose a higher excess. It is the best choice for travellers and expats.
Travellers, tourists and expats
You should know your options if you’re an expat. Travel insurance may be necessary for tourists coming to Australia to cover medical emergencies. You may need overseas health insurance if you’re coming to Australia for a long time, such as to study or work. It is important to know what your health insurance covers so that you don’t end up paying for the “gaps” or out of pocket. It should at least cover GP appointments, hospital stays and ongoing concerns such as mental health (psychology) or optometry (glasses).
If you are planning to visit Australia or plan to stay, it is important to be healthy. Read up on all the health care and insurance options available.
