Relocating to Australia
Looking after your health in Australia

Australia has a well financed and technically excellently public health system called Medicare, but the Government actively encourages people to have private health insurance as some medical costs are not covered and private insurance allows the holder to specify doctors and surgeons of choice. If you come to Australia on a skilled working visa, or virtually any other kind of visa, you must hold private health insurance. Nine countries including the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand and Sweden maintain reciprocal health care agreements with Australia. Visitors from these countries are eligible for Medicare assistance for only essential medical treatment. Visitors from other countries must arrange their own Australia private health insurance.

The government Medicare website has information on Medicare and private insurance.

Most temporary visa holders are not eligible to enroll in Medicare. To find out if you are eligible simply contact Medicare with your passport and visa documents. Should you be eligible you will be provided with a Medicare card.
Many Australians have private health insurance, covering the costs of private treatment, and some services that Medicare does not cover such as dental and optical services.

The Australian Government has put in place financial incentives to take out private health insurance, including a rebate on the insurance premiums, and a tax levy on high-income earners who don’t take out insurance.

Special conditions apply to migrants such as they do not pay an increased cost if they purchase their hospital cover before the first anniversary of the day their became eligible for Medicare. (As a federal budget has just been brought down, it’s important that you check into health care to make sure you are covered as required under any new regulations).