Hi!

I was wondering how the health care system works in Brisbane. Obviously we have the NHS here in the UK, so I was wondering how things generally work in Oz.

Are you taxed for any health care contributions from your wages like you are in the UK? What would I need to do when I arrived in Australia to get covered/enrol for health care?

I really have no idea how this side of life in Oz works so any help would be muchly appreciated.

Many Thanks

Jennie

 

medicare is the health system here, depending on your visa you could have full cover or partial cover in a reciprocal arrangement with UK.

Basically you pay to visit doctor and then claim back part of the cost from medicare, prescriptions you pay for and could be up to $30 an Item,

Visits to hospital emergency are free. private insurance is tax deductible and if you earn over a certain wage it is beneficial to take out private insurance as you pay an excess on tax if you do not have insurance.

X Ray and blood test work the same and you may have to pay and claim back from medicare all or partial cost. Visiting Hospital consultants is normally free, but if referred to a private consultant, you pay and claim back part or all cost again.

Dental is not covered by medicare and you need insurance or pay. Insurance does not necessarily mean all costs are covered, there may be a Gap payment due, where insurance cover does not meet the charge.

take a look at the medicare page and you will get a better idea.

http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/

I have found the medical system to be first class.

Just a quick note.... If you live in Queensland and pay electricity bill, then you pay a levee on the bill to cover Ambulance call out costs, that means Ambulances are free to call, Some states do not have that sort of system and if not insured for Ambulance it can cost $700+ for the Ambulance to visit.


It sounds frightening and complicated but once here you find it is a good service and not as expensive as it sounds.