Certain categories of visitors to Australia can register for the government Medicare service. This provides access to a host of medical services, preferential subscription costs and free care in a public hospital.
Visitors from the UK will be covered for any treatment that is deemed 'medically necessary'. This includes injuries or ill-health sustained during your time in the country, including:
- Free treatment as a public in-patient or outpatient in a public hospital
- Subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
- Medicare benefits for out of hospital medical treatment provided by doctors through private surgeries and 'bulk bill' community health centres.
- Unfortunately, dental work is NOT included.
Note that residents of the Republic of Ireland will not be issued with a Medicare card and will have to provide your passport as pharmacies and hospitals.
Find the nearest Medicare centre to you here.