Who pays for my medical care?
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Medicare
In most cases, you will pay for medical care then receive a refund for some of the payment. The government provides help with medical expenses through a scheme called Medicare. Medicare delivers free public hospital care. Medicare also helps with the cost of seeing a local doctor or specialist and with paying for medicine and other treatment. You can purchase health insurance to cover costs not refunded by Medicare.
Doctors, general practitioners (GPs) and specialists, charge a fee for their service. The government returns most of the fee after you submit a claim through Medicare. Some health insurance policies assist with the gap between the doctor's fee and the Medicare refund. Some GPs bulk bill. GPs who bulk bill do not charge patients a fee. Medicare direct pays them a fixed fee per service given.
For information on how to enrol in Medicare
See: Register with Medicare
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
The government also subsidises the cost of most medicine under the Pharmaceutical
Benefits Scheme (PBS). The PBS is administered by Medicare Australia.
See: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
Private hospital care
Users pay for private hospital care. You must pay the fees for the doctor and for your stay at a private hospital. Medicare will cover some of the doctor's fee. It does not cover the hospital fees.
Ambulance
You must pay a fee to use an Ambulance. You can buy insurance for just ambulance cover.
Community health centres
Local government funds community health centres. The funding includes the cost of vaccination for children. The government funds most women's health programmes. Dentists charge a fee for their service. Some health insurance policies assist with dentist's fees. The government helps to pay for your medication. The amount of help varies with the need. Medicare and private health insurance provide some coverage for alternative medicine.
Aged care
Users pay for aged care on an ability to pay basis with help from the government.
For more information on private health insurance
See: What is private health insurance?