How to use Bupa overseas visitors health insurance in Australia.Your browser is out of date. It has known security flaws and may not display all features of this and other websites. Learn how to update your browser
Overseas Visitors Cover
Healthcare in Australia
How to use Bupa overseas visitors health insurance in Australia.There are two components that make up the Australian healthcare system:
- The public health system administered by the Australian Government, known as
Medicare and, - the private health system.
How the Australian healthcare system works
When you purchase overseas visitors cover you will be covered for emergency and non-emergency health issues. Check the table below to find out what you need to do if you experience any health issues during your time in Australia.
Emergency health issues
Visit your local hospital emergency department
Call 000 for an ambulance
Non-emergency health issues
Visit your local GP or medical centre
Receive treatment from your GP
GP refers you to a specialist or other health service
Do you have access to Medicare?
The Australian Government has agreements with certain countries,
called Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA).
These agreements enable residents of these countries to receive Medicare benefits when visiting or working in Australia. The level of Medicare cover and the period for which you receive it varies depending on which country you are from.
Select your country
Select your country from the list of countries below to find out if you have access to Medicare and what you are covered for:
Please Select…
- Please Select… +
- Belgium +
- Malta +
- Slovenia +
- Sweden +
- Netherlands +
- Rep. of Ireland +
- Italy +
- United Kingdom +
- New Zealand +
- Finland +
- Norway +
Belgium
Medicare will cover you for medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and pay benefits for out-of-hospital treatment and subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. You are covered for the duration of your visa.
Malta
Medicare will cover you for medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and pay benefits for out-of-hospital treatment and subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. You are covered for 6 months from your date of arrival in Australia.
Slovenia
Medicare will cover you for medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and pay benefits for out-of-hospital treatment and subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. You are covered for the duration of your visa.
Sweden
Medicare will cover you for medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and pay benefits for out-of-hospital treatment and subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. You are covered for the duration of your visa.
Netherlands
Medicare will cover you for medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and pay benefits for out-of-hospital treatment and subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. You are covered for the duration of your visa.
Rep. of Ireland
Medicare will cover you for medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and pay benefits for subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. This cover lasts for the duration of your visa. You will not be covered for out-of-hospital treatment (ie visiting a general practitioner).
Italy
Medicare will cover you for medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and pay benefits for out-of-hospital treatment and subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. You are covered for 6 months from your date of arrival in Australia.
United Kingdom
Medicare will cover you for medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and pay benefits for out-of-hospital treatment and subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. You are covered for the duration of your visa.
New Zealand
Medicare will cover you for medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and pay benefits for subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. This cover lasts for the duration of your visa. You will not be covered for out-of-hospital treatment (ie visiting a general practitioner).
Finland
Medicare will cover you for medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and pay benefits for out-of-hospital treatment and subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. You are covered for the duration of your visa.
Norway
Medicare will cover you for medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and pay benefits for out-of-hospital treatment and subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. You are covered for the duration of your visa.
If your main country of residence is listed above… Great!
You’ll have access to certain Medicare benefits when you visit Australia. However, there are a number of important things that Medicare does not cover you for, such as ambulance services. That’s why the Australian Government still suggests that overseas visitors consider taking out private health cover. It will offer you convenience and a greater peace of mind.
If your main country of residence is not listed…
Should you require medical attention in Australia, whether in an emergency or a non-emergency situation, you will be charged for all hospital, ambulance and doctor fees and have significant costs to pay. You will not have access to any Medicare benefits. So consider taking out private health cover. It offers you convenience and gives you greater peace of mind. In fact, for many overseas visitors from non-RHCA countries, having health insurance is often a mandatory visa requirement.
Remember It's important to check if your visa requires you to have suitable health cover before you apply. Without it you may be refused the visa!
What is Medicare?
Medicare is Australia's public healthcare system for all citizens and most permanent residents.
It provides free or subsidised cover for certain healthcare services, which means it pays all or part of the costs. Some international visitors may receive Medicare benefits if a treatment is considered medically necessary.
However, Medicare does not cover treatment in a private hospital. You may also not be able to choose your own doctor in hospital. This means you will experience out–of-pocket costs that you have to pay yourself.
- Covered under Medicare*
- Treatment in a public hospital that is medically necessary
- Visiting a General Practitioner (GP)
- Referral to a specialist doctor
- Medical tests and examinations
- Prescription medication subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
- Not covered under Medicare
- Ambulance services
- Repatriation benefits to get you home to your country of origin if you become seriously ill
- Extras services including optical and dental
- Access to private doctors and specialists
- Services and treatment in public hospital that not clinically necessary
- Services and treatment in private hospital
* Medicare may not cover the whole cost.
This is where Bupa can help. Taking out private health cover can help by:
- Protecting you from the unexpected,
- offering you peace of mind and,
- meeting your visa requirements.
If you don't have access to any Medicare benefits, and you require medical attention in Australia, whether in an emergency or a non-emergency situation, you will be charged for all hospital, ambulance and doctor fees. This could mean significant costs for you to pay.
By taking out private health cover you'll get convenience and greater peace of mind about your health and care while you're in Australia.
Remember If your visa requires you to have suitable health cover and you don't take it out before you apply you may be refused the visa!