Reciprocal Health Care Arrangements (RHCA)

Reciprocal Health Care Arrangements (RHCA) are an initiative of the Australian Government that aim to cover the cost of basic medical treatment for Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents when traveling to certain countries. These agreements cover the cost of medically necessary care when Australians visit these countries and when visitors from these countries visit Australia.

Currently the government has RHCA with the following countries

– United Kingdom, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Malta, Italy, Belgium, Republic of Ireland, Slovenia and New Zealand.

More details on the country-wise entitlements can be viewed at Reciprocal Health Care Agreements – Services Australia

The Reciprocal Health Care Agreements are designed to:

• Provide basic healthcare coverage to citizens of participating countries, promoting international cooperation.
• Ensure that travelers don’t face extreme medical costs while visiting Australia, especially for emergency care.
• Provide similar health benefits for Australian citizens traveling abroad to participating countries.

RHCA and Visitors to Australia

The RHCA also enables residents of the above listed countries to receive Medicare benefits when visiting or working in Australia. The level of Medicare cover and the period for which it can be availed varies depending the country of origin.

In general Under RHCA individuals may be entitled to limited Medicare benefits limited to basic medical services or only for emergency treatment and only under certain conditions. Many services like ambulance, dental, subsidised medicines and private patient hospital costs or other ancillary/extras cover & services are not covered. Post-arrival time limits and other restrictions may also apply.

Visitors who come to Australia for study, work, or for longer stays may not be covered by the RHCA. They would generally need to take out private health insurance for the duration of their stay.

Important Considerations

• The RHCA generally applies to short-term visitors who are staying in Australia temporarily: It doesn’t apply to those moving to Australia permanently or those on long-term work or student visas. The specific duration varies based on the agreement between Australia and the other country (often up to 6 months or the duration of the visit).
• Private Health Insurance: Even with the RHCA, private health insurance is still recommended for comprehensive coverage, especially for services not covered under Medicare (e.g., dental care, elective surgeries).
• No Coverage for Some Costs: The RHCA provides limited access to public health services. Travelers should be aware that costs for certain treatments, such as medication or private health services, are not covered under the RHCA and might require additional insurance or out-of-pocket expenses.