Undoubtedly, Australia is one of the key players in the medical tourism industry. The country is famous for its developed healthcare infrastructure, modern medical facilities and qualified specialists. Learn more about the peculiarities of the medical system in Australia

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Australia is an English-speaking country with a developed medical system. Various systems, insurance, everything to improve medical care for citizens. The system here is organized as Medicare, i.e. medical care. This system is financed by the budget and a minimum percentage of employees' salaries. The poor, those with many children, students and pensioners pay nothing. The military pays 0.2%, while everyone else pays 1.5%.

The purpose of this program is to ensure that all Australians have access to adequate health care. All adult citizens have a personalized card of this system, thanks to which they can receive free treatment. This health insurance system is available not only for Australian citizens, but also for refugees and immigrants with a permanent visa. Medicare insurance covers half of all medical services. 

Features of the medical system in Australia

The Australian healthcare system is highly efficient due to the harmonious combination of the private and public sectors. It provides access to a variety of medical services, regardless of the form of ownership of medical institutions. To improve the organization and coordination of medical care in the country, a network of about 126 local hospitals has been created, which have considerable autonomy in spending budget funds according to their needs.

As in many developed countries, Australian patients first go to their family doctor or to the emergency department of a local hospital. Emergency departments are staffed by qualified doctors who provide the necessary medical care in emergency situations. The use of ambulances is considered inefficient, so patients are usually transported to the hospital on their own or by other means.

Patients are hospitalized on the basis of referrals from family doctors or specialists, as well as through emergency departments. Patients who are admitted to the emergency department usually stay there for observation for up to one day, and if their condition improves, they can be discharged home. Hospital stays are usually short because hospitalization is expensive and must be well justified.

Health insurance in Australia

Australia has a health insurance program called Medicare, which is funded primarily by general taxation. This program covers a wide range of medical services in both public and private hospitals, as well as emergency care by some doctors.

Medicare pays for the following services: consultations with general practitioners and specialists, treatment in public hospitals and after discharge, as well as some other medical procedures. However, there are certain limitations: Medicare does not cover emergency medical care, most dental services, eyeglasses, stays in private hospitals, and other services that you can find out about from your family doctor.

The Australian public health insurance system also does not cover the cost of cosmetic or plastic surgery, consultations with clinical psychologists, physiotherapy, consultations with occupational therapists, foot and nail specialists, chiropractors, etc. A single visit to the dentist can cost as much as a week's worth of food, and the cost of dental prosthetics can reach hundreds or even thousands of dollars. For some people, this means choosing between dental treatment and buying food.

However, all Australian children receive free dental check-ups and treatment in schools every two years, where they also receive lectures on dental care. For pensioners and low-income citizens who have a Health Care Card, a system of free state dental care has been created. There are dental clinics in public hospitals and large cities, and dental students provide free treatment at university clinics.

The state also does not pay for tests that are not directly related to health conditions, such as blood group determination or medical examinations for professional driver's licenses. However, Medicare does cover physicals for private driver's licenses. Some tests are only covered if there are certain diagnostic findings, such as complicated pregnancies or pathological fractures. In other cases, patients will have to pay out of pocket.

Planning a trip or move abroad? An important part of a successful trip is an insurance policy, as it guarantees high-quality medical care anywhere in the world and can protect you from unnecessary expenses while travelling.  You can buy insurance from trusted agents on the Visit World portal. 

Insurance system for foreigners

If you are a foreigner and do not qualify for public insurance, you can apply to a private insurance company. One of the most popular companies for tourists, foreign workers, and students is Medibank. With this insurance policy, you can receive treatment in public and private clinics. You will also be reimbursed for dental and ambulance costs. However, you will not be able to treat injuries that you received before arriving in the country. Also, the costs of cosmetic surgery or psychiatric examinations will not be covered. In order to prevent tourists from coming to Australia for treatment, a waiting list has been established here. You can wait for such medical care from six months. However, even if you have private insurance, this does not guarantee that you will not have to pay for any medical services. You need to know this to be prepared in advance.

There are also public medical centers in the country where you can consult with specialists. Such centers provide free assistance to women, immigrants, unemployed people and families with small children. They are very responsible about childhood vaccination. If a child is not vaccinated, he or she will not be able to attend kindergarten or school.

Emergency medical care

In Australia, public hospitals have emergency departments that provide Australians with ambulance services. The main purpose of an ambulance is to get a patient to a hospital as quickly as possible. Private ambulance services also exist, although they are not yet very common. Employees of the state ambulance service undergo a 12-month training before starting work.

It is worth noting that Medicare, the government insurance, does not cover ambulance calls, so these services are paid for separately and are quite expensive. The cost of a call varies from state to state. For example, in Queensland, ambulance services cost about 700 Australian dollars, and in South Australia, 800 dollars.

Each case is considered separately and prioritized. In emergency cases, patients are operated on as a matter of priority, leaving additional time for such operations. Urgent surgeries are usually performed within three months, operations of medium complexity - up to six months, and others - up to a year. Admissions to emergency departments are also prioritized. If the case is not considered urgent and there are many people at the reception, the patient can wait all day.

Australia's healthcare system is complex but beneficial for patients with low and minimal income. Privileged categories of citizens, such as the disabled, pensioners, and people in extreme life situations, receive free medical care and some types of medicines.

In our previous article, we told you that moving to Australia for permanent residence attracts migrants from all over the world. Despite the geographical remoteness, foreigners are attracted by the high standard of living, developed economy, beautiful scenery, and high-quality medicine. Read more about the peculiarities of moving to Australia, the conditions for obtaining a visa and citizenship in 2024.

To move, travel or work safely in a new country, you will need health insurance. You can apply for an extended policy on our website here.

Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:

Checklist for obtaining a visa and necessary documents in Australia;

Legal advice on business issues in Australia;

Travel insurance for foreigners in Australia;

Medical insurance around the world.

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