When traveling to Australia, do not forget your insurance.
For some types of visa to Australia, insurance on specific level is mandatory. For example when you plan to study in Australia for longer than 3 months, you must have Overseas Student Health Cover, when planing to work on sponsored visa you will be required to have work insurance and when traveling you may be required to have travel insurance.
Traveling , for any purpose to Australia without insurance it’s a crazy idea as cost of medicals bills are huge.
Reciprocal Insurance is offered for travelers from listed below 11 countries. It means with Reciprocal Insurance, you will have access to Medicare health cover in Australia based on Reciprocal Health Cover Agreement known as RHCA
Belgium
Finland
Italy
Malta
the Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
the Republic of Ireland
Slovenia
Sweden
the United Kingdom
Under these agreements, some health services and subsidised medicines are provided to visitors from these countries when they are in Australia.Reciprocal health care agreements provide health care in some circumstances, but will not cover all health care needs. They do not replace the need for travel insurance. Obtaining appropriate travel insurance before you go overseas is recommended.
Level of cover deepens on country toy are from. Read below for details.
Here is a rundown of the countries that currently have a reciprocal agreement and the entitlements:
Belgium
Visitors from Belgium are entitled to:
- Free treatment as a public in-patient or out-patient in a public hospital
- Subsidised medicine under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
- Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatment provided by a doctor
- 50% of the cost of ambulance travel
Belgians need a valid Belgian passport, their Belgian Health Insurance Card, and their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with the initials BE to enrol in Medicare. They are eligible for the above health cover until the expiry date shown on their visa, their EHIC card, or their Belgian Health Insurance Card – whichever is earlier.
Finland
Visitors from Finland are entitled to:
- Free treatment as a public in-patient or out-patient in a public hospital
- Subsidised medicine under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
- Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatment provided by a doctor
- Some travel costs to get medical care
They will need a valid Finnish passport, and if they are not a Finnish citizen, they will also need a Sickness Insurance card issued by the Finnish Social Insurance Institution, or a valid European Health Insurance Card with the initials FI, or 2 residency documents.
Finns are covered by the reciprocal agreement for the length of their stay in Australia until the expiry date on their visa.
Italy
Visitors from Italy are entitled to:
- Free treatment as a public in-patient or out-patient in a public hospital
- Subsidised medicine under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
- Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatment provided by a doctor
- Urgent dental care at public hospitals
Italians will need a valid Italian passport and either a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with the initials IT, or an Italian Health Insurance Card, or a statutory declaration. They’ll be covered by Medicare for a period of 6 months from the date of their arrival in Australia, or until the expiry of their visa, their EHIC, or their Italian Health Insurance Card – whichever is earlier.
Malta
Visitors from Malta are entitled to:
- Free treatment as a public in-patient or out-patient in a public hospital
- Subsidised medicine under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
- Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatment provided by a doctor
Maltese visitors will need a valid Maltese passport and a current Maltese identity card. They will be covered by Medicare for a period of 6 months from the date of their arrival in Australia, or until their visa expires – whichever is earlier.
The Netherlands
Visitors from the Netherlands are entitled to:
- Free treatment as a public in-patient or out-patient in a public hospital
- Subsidised medicine under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
- Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatment provided by a doctor
- Other kinds of surgeries including paramedics and childbirth
To enrol in Medicare, visitors from the Netherlands need a valid Dutch passport, and either their European Health Insurance Card with the initials NL or evidence of valid insurance with the Netherlands Health Insurance Scheme.
Dutch visitors are eligible for the above health cover until the expiry date of their visa, their EHIC card, or their Netherlands health insurance – whichever is earlier.
New Zealand
Visitors from New Zealand are entitled to services as a public patient in a public hospital, including outpatient services, and they are entitled to medically necessary medicines available on prescription, which are subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), at the general rate. You’ll also receive cover for maternity services if required.
To receive treatment, New Zealanders will need a valid New Zealand passport, or a current certificate of identity endorsed showing the holder is entitled to be in New Zealand indefinitely, or a current refugee travel document from the government of New Zealand. New Zealanders are covered for the length of their stay in Australia, from the day they arrive to the day they leave.
Norway
Visitors from Norway are entitled to:
- Subsidised prescription medicine
- Ambulance travel and emergency dental care
- Free health care for children up to the age of 12
- Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatment provided by a doctor
- Other treatments like birth care, oxygen therapy, dialysis and more
Norwegians need a valid Norwegian passport, and evidence of valid insurance with the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme, or a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with the initials NO. They are covered for the length of their stay in Australia until the expiry date on their visa, their Norwegian National Insurance, or their EHIC card.
The Republic of Ireland
Visitors from the Republic of Ireland are entitled to services as a public patient in a public hospital, and as out-patients, they are entitled to medically necessary medicines available on prescription, which are subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), at the general rate.
Irish visitors will need to be a resident in Ireland for more than 6 months before visiting Australia, and they will need a valid Irish passport or a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with the initials IE if you are not an Irish.
Irish visitors are covered for the length of their stay in Australia until the expiry date on their visa.
Slovenia
Visitors from Slovenia are entitled to:
- Free treatment as a public in-patient or out-patient in a public hospital
- Subsidised medicine under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
- Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatment provided by a doctor
- Emergency ambulance travel
To enrol in Medicare, Slovenes need a valid Slovenian passport, and a valid European Health Insurance Card with the initials SI or evidence of eligibility for compulsory health insurance in the Republic of Slovenia. Slovenian visitors are eligible for the above cover until the expiry date on their visa, their EHIC card, or their Slovenian Health Insurance Card – whichever is earlier.
Sweden
Visitors from Sweden are entitled to:
- Free treatment as a public in-patient or out-patient in a public hospital
- Subsidised medicine under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
- Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatment provided by a doctor
- Free maternity services
Swedish visitors need a valid Swedish passport or one of the following:
- A Health Insurance Certificate issued by a Swedish Social Insurance office
- A valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with the initials SE
- 2 residency documents
Coverage is for the length of their stay in Australia until the expiry date on their visa.
United Kingdom
Visitors from the United Kingdom are entitled to:
- Free treatment as a public in-patient or out-patient in a public hospital
- Subsidised medicine under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
- Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatment provided by a doctor
British visitors need either a valid British passport (including passports issued in Isle of Man, Jersey, or Guernsey) or a valid Northern Ireland passport. Non-British citizens will also need to provide one of the following:
- A valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with the initials UK
- A National Health Insurance Medical card if you’re from Great Britain or the Isle of Man
- A Health Service Medical card – Northern Ireland
- A certificate issued by Social Security Committee of the States of Jersey
- Proof of Insurance issued by the Guernsey States Insurance Authority or other proof of residence in the Bailiwick of Guernsey
- 2 residency documents
Coverage is for the length of their stay in Australia until the expiry date on their visa.
Please be aware that this information is correct at time of writing, but may be subject to change.
To read more, go here.
If you need immigration advise or assistance, please call 1300 10 50 50 or contact our consultants. You may also book an online appointment with our Lawyers or Migration Agents.
