The Australian health system: an overview for newcomers
Australia’s health system is rated among the best in the world — but it is also complex enough that newcomers can feel lost. Understanding how it works helps you use the right service, at the right time, at a reasonable cost.
What is Medicare
Medicare is Australia’s public health insurance system, funded from taxation. Medicare helps cover part or all of the cost of many health services: visits to a general practitioner, tests, and some procedures and public hospital treatment.
Medicare does not cover everything: dental (except in some special cases), glasses (except in some cases), physiotherapy, and many private specialist services usually have a portion the patient pays themselves.
Who is eligible for Medicare
Not everyone in Australia is eligible for Medicare — eligibility depends on your visa type and on bilateral agreements between Australia and the country you come from. People with PR (permanent residence) and Australian citizens are automatically eligible. Some countries (including Vietnam, according to information you should verify at the time you read this article) do not have a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia — if you are from a country without such an agreement and you are on a temporary visa, you usually do not get Medicare.
Check the specific eligibility for your visa on the Services Australia website (servicesaustralia.gov.au) — this is the official and most up-to-date source.
Enrolling in Medicare
If you are eligible, enrol at your nearest Services Australia office. Bring your passport, visa, and proof of your Australian address. After you enrol, you receive a Medicare card — it can take a few weeks for the card to arrive by post, but you can usually use services as soon as you have your enrolment confirmation.
Your Medicare card is also available in the Express Plus Medicare app (from Services Australia) on your phone.
The GP — the main entry point
What a GP is and why it matters
In the Australian health system, the GP (General Practitioner) is the first step for most health concerns. To see a specialist, you usually need a referral from a GP first. Don’t go straight to a specialist unless it is an emergency.
Choosing and registering with a GP
You are not tied to using one particular GP — but having a regular GP is better because they know your medical history. Find a GP clinic near home through healthdirect.gov.au, or ask friends and colleagues.
On your first visit, ask whether the clinic does bulk-billing. Bulk-billing is when the clinic charges only the Medicare rebate as the full fee — you pay nothing extra. Not every clinic bulk-bills, and the rate varies by area and over time.
Booking an appointment
GP clinics in Australia usually require an appointment booked in advance. Some clinics offer walk-in slots but you often wait a long time. The HealthEngine app or the clinic’s website usually lets you book online.
Public hospitals
Public hospitals in Australia are covered by Medicare — you are treated free of charge as a public patient. However, as a public patient you cannot choose your surgeon, and the wait for planned (non-urgent) surgery can be long.
The Emergency Department (ED) of a public hospital takes all emergencies regardless of your insurance status. ED costs for Medicare patients are covered through Medicare. Without Medicare, you will receive a bill.
Emergencies and urgent situations
- 000 — the national emergency number (police, ambulance, fire). Free from any phone.
- 13 SICK (13 7425) — Healthdirect, a 24/7 phone health advice line staffed by qualified nurses. Call when you are not sure whether you need to go to emergency.
- Urgent care clinics — clinics for urgent but not life-threatening problems — with shorter waits than a hospital ED.
Private health insurance
Private Health Insurance (PHI) does not replace Medicare — it supplements it. PHI comes in two main types:
- Hospital cover: Lets you choose your doctor and a private hospital, and usually shortens the wait for planned surgery
- Extras cover: Covers dental, glasses, physiotherapy and some services Medicare does not cover
PHI is voluntary but it has a tax angle: if your income is above a certain threshold and you do not have PHI hospital cover, you have to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge (added on top of your usual tax). The income threshold details change each year — check at ato.gov.au.
Many newcomers do not need PHI in their first year of settling in — focus on getting settled first.
Dental and eyes
Dental services in Australia sit outside Medicare (except for some specific programs). Private dental care is not cheap. Some states have public dental programs that are free or low-cost but usually have long waiting lists. If your PHI has Extras cover that includes dental, use it.
Glasses: Medicare covers certain eye examinations (optometrist). Glasses and contact lenses are not covered by Medicare but are covered by PHI Extras cover.
Next steps
Enrolling in Medicare is one of the priorities for your first week in Australia — see the related guide on the first 30 days checklist for new arrivals.
To understand the relationship between your TFN and Medicare (both linked through myGov), see the related guide on what a Tax File Number (TFN) is and how to apply for one.