Healthcare System

Understanding Australian Healthcare

Australia has one of the best healthcare systems in the world. This guide helps you navigate Medicare, find doctors, and access health services.

🏥 Medicare - Australia’s Healthcare System

What is Medicare?

Medicare provides free or subsidized healthcare to Australian citizens and permanent residents. It covers:

• GP (doctor) visits
• Specialist consultations (with referral)
• Blood tests and X-rays
• Hospital treatment as public patient
• Some surgeries and procedures

Getting Your Medicare Card

Eligibility:

• Australian citizens
• Permanent residents
• New Zealand citizens
• Some temporary visa holders

How to Apply:

1. Visit Services Australia office
2. Bring passport and visa
3. Proof of residence
4. Application processed in 2-3 weeks
5. Temporary card given immediately

Not Eligible?

• Get private health insurance
• Overseas visitor health cover
• Community health centers (some free services)

👨‍⚕️ Finding a Doctor (GP)

How to Find a Bulk Billing Doctor

Bulk Billing = FREE (doctor bills Medicare directly)

Find Bulk Billing Doctors:

• HealthDirect
• HotDoc app
• HealthEngine
• Call Medicare: 132 011

Questions to Ask:

• “Do you bulk bill?”
• “Is there a gap payment?”
• “Do you bulk bill concession card holders?”

Your First GP Appointment

What to Bring:

• Medicare card
• Photo ID
• List of current medications
• Previous medical records
• Health Care Card (if you have one)

What Happens:

• Standard appointment is 10-15 minutes
• Longer appointments available (ask when booking)
• Doctor takes medical history
• Basic examination if needed
• Referrals to specialists if required

🏥 Hospital System Explained

Public vs Private Hospitals

Public Hospitals (FREE with Medicare):

• Emergency treatment
• Doctor assigned to you
• Possible waiting lists
• Shared rooms
• No choice of doctor

Private Hospitals (Need Insurance):

• Choose your doctor
• Shorter wait times
• Private room
• Elective surgery faster
• Out-of-pocket costs

Emergency Department

When to Go to Emergency:

• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Severe bleeding
• Head injury
• Broken bones
• Severe burns
• Overdose

Triage Categories:

1. Resuscitation - Immediate
2. Emergency - 10 minutes
3. Urgent - 30 minutes
4. Semi-urgent - 60 minutes
5. Non-urgent - 120 minutes

What to Expect:

• Triage nurse assessment
• Wait based on severity
• Bring snacks and charger
• Can be 4-8 hours for non-urgent

💊 Getting Medication

Prescription Medicine

PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme):

• Subsidized medication prices
• General: $31.60 per script
• Concession: $7.70 per script
• Safety Net: Free after threshold

Getting Prescriptions:

• GP writes prescription
• Take to any pharmacy
• Some medications need authority
• Repeats available for ongoing medication

Can’t Afford Medication?

Options:

• Ask for generic brand (cheaper)
• Payment plans at pharmacy
• Pharmaceutical company assistance
• Community health centers
• Ask doctor for samples

🦷 Dental Care

Public Dental (Long Waits)

Eligibility:

• Health Care Card holders
• Pensioner Concession Card
• Children 2-17 years

How to Access:

• Call state dental service
• Join waiting list (can be months)
• Emergency dental available

Low-Cost Options

• Dental schools (supervised students)
• Community health centers
• Payment plans
• Smile.com.au (payment plans)
• Health insurance extras cover

👶 Children’s Health

Free Services for Children

Medicare Covers:

• All GP visits
• Hospital treatment
• Vaccinations (free schedule)
• Blood tests and scans
• Specialist with referral

Additional Free Services:

• Maternal Child Health Nurse visits
• School dental program
• Hearing and vision tests
• Early intervention services

Immunization Schedule

Free Vaccines:

• Birth: Hepatitis B
• 2 months: First round
• 4 months: Second round
• 6 months: Third round
• 12 months: MMR, meningococcal
• 18 months: Varicella, DTPa
• 4 years: Pre-school boosters

No Jab, No Pay:

• Must be vaccinated for childcare subsidy
• Medical exemptions available

🧠 Mental Health Services

Getting Mental Health Support

Through Medicare:

1. See GP for Mental Health Care Plan
2. Get 10 subsidized psychology sessions per year
3. Review after 6 sessions
4. Can get 10 more in exceptional circumstances

Free Services:

• headspace (12-25 years)
• Community mental health
• Hospital mental health units
• Online services (Head to Health)

👁️ Specialist Care

Getting to See a Specialist

Process:

1. GP referral required
2. Referral valid for 12 months
3. Book appointment (may wait weeks/months)
4. Medicare covers some cost
5. Gap payment usually required

Reducing Wait Times:

• Ask for urgent referral
• Try multiple specialists
• Consider private if possible
• Public hospital clinics

🚑 Medical Emergencies

Ambulance Services

Costs:

• QLD/TAS: Free for residents
• Other states: $400-$7000+
• Ambulance membership: $50-100/year
• Private health may cover

When to Call 000:

• Unconscious
• Not breathing
• Chest pain
• Severe bleeding
• Stroke symptoms

🌏 Healthcare for Non-Citizens

No Medicare Options

Community Health Centers:

• Basic services
• Sliding scale fees
• Refugee health services
• Sexual health clinics (free)

Private Health Insurance:

• Required for some visas
• Overseas Visitor Cover
• Compare at privatehealth.gov.au

Free Services for Everyone

• Emergency department (payment later)
• Sexual health clinics
• Family planning clinics
• Some vaccination programs
• Mental health crisis

📱 Digital Health

Telehealth Services

Medicare Telehealth:

• Phone/video consultations
• Bulk billed options
• Need existing relationship with GP
• Prescriptions emailed

Apps:

• MyGov: Access Medicare
• HealthDirect: Symptom checker
• Express Scripts: Digital prescriptions
• HotDoc: Appointments

💰 Health Costs Card

Concession Cards

Health Care Card:

• Cheaper medications ($7.70)
• Bulk billing doctors
• Ambulance cover (some states)
• Dental access

Pensioner Concession Card:

• All Health Care Card benefits
• Additional discounts

📞 Health Hotlines

24/7 Services:

• HealthDirect: 1800 022 222
• NURSE-ON-CALL (VIC): 1300 60 60 24
• 13HEALTH (QLD): 13 43 25 84
• Poisons Info: 13 11 26
• Pregnancy, Birth & Baby: 1800 882 436