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Australia Expat Health Insurance

Australia is located to the southeast of Asia, between the Pacific and Indian oceans. While Australia shares no land borders with any other nation, the island country is in close proximity to Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and Indonesia. The total area of Australia is around 7,686,000 square kilometers. The country is divided into five states; New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia. The capital city of Australia is Canberra, which is located in the southeastern part of the country. Australia is a large continent in the southern hemisphere that experiences a diverse range of climate zones. The weather can range in extremes, from below zero temperatures in the snowy mountains to unbearable heat in the north-west. The country is considered to be one of the driest continents on earth. There are four seasons in Australia, namely summer from December to February; autumn from March to May; winter from June to August, and spring from September to November.

Australia is a country that has a lot to offer to everyone. The country has a range of stunning landscapes, from deserts to tropical rainforests to rocky mountains. It also has an abundance of unique animal life like cuddly koala bears, kangaroos and wallabies, etc. Australia is also a place for city lovers, a paradise for surfers, beach lovers and divers. 

Australia Healthcare System

Healthcare services in Australia are delivered by both public and private sectors. The Australian healthcare system is regarded as one of the best in the world.

There are three major types of national subsidy schemes funded by the Australian Government, namely Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and the 30% Private Health Insurance Rebate.

Medicare is a national universal healthcare program in Australia, and all eligible Australian residents are entitled to free or low cost medical, optometric and public hospital services. Some subsidies for private medical services are covered under the Australian Medicare program. Individuals are required to contribute to Medicare through taxation, and the amount of personal contribution to the scheme is based on their income. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme provides subsidies for a large proportion of prescription drugs throughout the country, while the 30% private health insurance rebate is an incentive of the Government to support individuals and families who purchase their own private Australia health insurance policies; persons who have obtained private health insurance coverage will receive a 30 percent rebate on their insurance premiums.

The Australian public hospital system is funded by the Australian Federal Government, in addition to State and Territorial governments. The state and territory health departments are responsible for the administration of the healthcare system at a local level, with the Federal government responsible for ensuring adequate provision of healthcare services throughout Australia as a whole. The total expenditure from the Government on healthcare in Australia is around 9% of the country’s GDP.

Under the Medicare scheme, Medicare will bear the full costs incurred in public hospitals for medical treatment performed by hospital appointed doctors, including the costs of accommodation.  Patients, however, do not have a choice of their preferred doctors or hospitals, nor do they have the choice on the date for the treatment or surgery. Patients usually stay in general wards or twin rooms.

For private patients under Medicare, they will receive about 75 percent subsidies from Medicare when admitted to either a public or a private hospital. The remaining 25 percent of healthcare costs will be covered either by out of pocket payment, or by private health insurance that is already in place. Private patients have a choice on hospital, doctor and surgeon. Private patients are usually provided with single rooms equipped with en suite bathroom, telephone, TV, radio and room service. If no private insurance is in place for private patients, then they are required to pay the estimated costs up front at the time of admission to the hospital; charges will depend on the type of room chosen.

For travelers who plan on staying in Australia for a short period of time, depending on which country you come from, you may be covered by a reciprocal healthcare agreement that was put in place between your home country and Australia. It is best to check if you country is covered prior to travelling to Australia. If you are living, working or travelling in Australia and are not covered by Medicare, it is highly recommended that you purchase a comprehensive expat medical insurance or a travel insurance plan in order to avoid expensive medical expenditures.

Although the healthcare system in Australia is considered world class, it is not without its problems. In recent years, there has been funding issues in many public hospitals in a number of states; some hospitals have shortages in basic medical supplies like bandages, drugs, sterile dressing, syringes and bed linen. Moreover, some hospitals are lack of diagnostic equipments. There is a shortage of medical personnel, and patients have to wait for a long time in emergency rooms, and some were left in corridors waiting to admit into the hospital wards.

Australia Expat Health Insurance

If you are looking for peace-of-mind knowing that medical costs will be covered in case of an accident or illness for yourself and your family while travelling to Australia, expat health insurance plans will be the optimal solution for you.

Global Health Insurance is a one-stop insurance brokerage service provider for you when travelling to the Australia. Expat health insurance plans that we offer encompass a wide range of policies from the world’s leading insurance companies, including optional benefits packages to provide the coverage you need. We offer a large variety of healthcare plans as well as travellers insurance plans. Contact our professional advisers today to enjoy full insurance protection such as an Expat Health Insurance Plan for yourself and your family.

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