Medicare Card and How to Get One

Medicare is the basis of Australia’s health care system and has been the Australian Government’s universal health care scheme since 1984 covering many health care costs. Medicare provides Australians with free treatment as a public patient in a public hospital and free or subsidised treatment by doctors including treatment for some optometrist services, some dental care services and some psychology services. In some circumstances, Medicare rebates are available for a certain number of treatments by allied health professionals such as physiotherapists, dietitians and speech pathologists.

Citizens & most permanent residents of Australia are eligible for Medicare and can choose whether to have Medicare cover only, or can opt for a combination of Medicare and private health insurance.

Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA) are in place with the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Norway, Slovenia, Malta, Italy, Republic of Ireland and New Zealand, which entitle visitors from these countries to limited access to Medicare and entitles Australian residents to reciprocal rights while in one of these countries.

The three major components of Medicare cover public hospitals, medical services, and pharmaceuticals.

Public Hospitals: Medicare offers free treatment and accommodation as a public patient in a public hospital, by a doctor appointed by the hospital. Individuals can choose to be treated as a public patient under medicare, even if they are privately insured. However as a private patient, individuals can choose their own doctor and may have a choice about when they are admitted to a public hospital.

Medical Services: When visiting a doctor outside a hospital, Medicare will reimburse 100% of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fee for a general practitioner and 85% of the MBS fee for a specialist. If the doctor bills Medicare directly (bulk billing), patients will not be charged anything. In other cases the difference in amounts have to claimed though medicare offices.

Pharmaceutical: Under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) individuals registered with the medicare pay only part of the cost of most prescription medicines purchased at pharmacies. The rest of the cost is covered by the PBS. The amount paid varies with the medicine, up to a standard maximum. People with concession cards have a lower maximum payment.

How to Register

Once you meet the eligibility criteria, you can enroll in Medicare online through myGov or by completing a Medicare enrolment form. After enrolling, you will receive your Medicare card, which you can use to access healthcare services in Australia.

Permanent Residents need to enrol with Medicare about 7-12 days after arrival. Medicare provides a list of its offices on its website. Individuals will need to fill out a Medicare enrolment form and prove their eligibility by showing documents such as the birth certificate or passport. If all enrolment requirements are met a Medicare number is provided on the spot with the Medicare card being posted after approximately three weeks.

Medicare does not cover

In general Medicare does not cover

• Examinations for life insurance, superannuation or memberships for which someone else is responsible (for example, a compensation insurer, employer or government authority)
• Ambulance services (Please See Ambulance Cover)
• Most dental examinations and treatment
• Most physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, eye therapy, chiropractic services, podiatry or psychology services,
• Acupuncture (unless part of a doctor’s consultation),
• Glasses and contact lenses
• Hearing aids and other appliances.
• Home nursing
• Surgery for cosmetic reasons

Official Website – Medicare – Services Australia