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Health Insurance in Australia
This section aims to give you a brief overview of the Australian health system and the options you have to secure appropriate health cover for you and your family.
The health system in Australia consists of both public and private health care to ensure that the needs of all Australians are protected. The basis for our public health system is Medicare, which ensures that all Australians have access to basic care, including:
- free treatment as a public patient in a public hospital
- free or subsidised treatment by practitioners (including doctors and specialists) and participating optometrists or dentists for specified services only
- tests and examinations including X-rays and pathology tests
- eye tests performed by optometrists
However, it is important to understand that Medicare does not cover all aspects of health cover, and that Private Health Insurance Funds play a key role in the Australian health care system.
For example, the following services are covered only by Private Health Insurance Funds and not by Medicare :
- private patient hospital costs (eg, theatre fees or accommodation)
- dental examinations and treatment
- ambulance services
- physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, eye therapy
- chiropractic services and podiatry
- psychology
- acupuncture (unless part of a doctor's consultation)
- glasses and contact lenses
- hearing aids and other appliances
- prostheses
Private Health Insurance is important in maintaining a balanced, viable health care system that relieves the pressure of overwhelming demand on Medicare. Working together, public and private health care ensures shorter waiting times for elective surgery and less demand for public hospital beds.
The Australian Government supports private health insurance by offering a rebate on policy premiums for both hospital and extras cover. All Australians with private health cover receive a rebate of at least 30%, with older Australian receiving higher rebates (35% from age 65 and 40% from age 70).
To find a private health insurance policy that suits your lifestyle and budget, use the moneytime Health Insurance Comparison engine. By helping you compare different health insurance policies from a number of leading health funds, Moneytime helps you get the private health cover you need.