Australian health insurance for overseas visitors
Like most countries in the world, health care costs in Australia can be expensive. Even a few days in hospital for a routine operation can cost thousands of dollars in hospital charges and doctors’ fees.
The Australian health care system has two main components.
First, there’s Medicare which provides eligible Australian residents with access to free treatment as private patients in public hospitals and free or subsidised treatment by doctors and other health professionals.
The second is private health insurance which many Australians purchase to help cover the cost of going to a private hospital and receiving other health services usually not covered by Medicare.
Some visitors to Australia have restricted access to Medicare for medically necessary treatment because their country has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia. See Things worth knowing to see if this applies to you.
However, most visitors and temporary workers have no access to Medicare. That’s why, as a visitor to Australia, it’s worth considering private health insurance so you can keep your health a top priority.
Additional features of our Visitors Covers and Working Visitors Covers
24 hour emergency advice and assistance
With our Visitors Covers and Working Visitors Covers you have access to a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week emergency advice and assistance phone line, provided through International SOS.
This includes:
- Emergency medical advice and assistance
- Referrals to doctors or medical centres for medical treatments and assistance with making appointments
- Access to a solicitor for general legal advice and referrals
- Phone assistance to replace travel documents or passports
- Interpreters available for Japanese, Mandarin, Indonesian, Malay, Cantonese, Thai, Korean and Portuguese speakers. Other languages are available on request.
Get more with our Members' Choice Network
Our Members' Choice network enables us to provide you with greater value by paying higher benefits for treatment, as well as through discounts and capped fees that lower any out-of-pocket costs you may have.
We’ve negotiated agreements with the majority of private hospitals and many extras providers across Australia so you can receive greater value from your cover.
No excess for children
If there is an excess payable on your visitors cover, the good news is you won’t have to pay the excess for a dependent child treated in a hospital or a day hospital facility.
Additional rewards
At Medibank we’ll take care of you, even when you’re in perfect health. With our feelbetter Rewards program you have access to a variety of offers which have been tailored towards health and wellbeing, leisure and lifestyle, entertainment and everyday living.
Special offers include:
- Discounted movie tickets
- Discounts on magazine subscriptions
- Up to 25% off tenpin bowling.
Online health information
To make it easier for you to manage your health, you can access betterhealth Online
This online program provides you with access to a great range of resources and it’s all part of your Medibank membership.
betterhealth Online includes:
- A personalised and confidential Wellness Record
- Active Health, Active Care and Active Sport Programs for weight loss, improved fitness, and a healthier diet
- Tips, guidance and weekly themes to help you achieve your health and wellbeing goals
- Regular email support to keep you motivated
- An online information and resource library consisting of regularly updated health related articles, recipes, diet and exercise tips.
Once you are a Medibank member, it’s easy to register, just go online to medibank.fitness2live.com.au
Our betterhealth programs are provided by Medibank trading as ‘Medibank Health Solutions’.