OSHCstudents-If you are living in Australia, Hospital bills like gap fees can be a real pain. Therefore, it’s good to know there are ways to lower the chance of getting surprised by unexpected gap fees after seeing the doctor.
What is the medical gap fee?
The gap fee is the difference between the fees charged by the hospital and doctors for your hospital stay, and the amount covered by Medicare and your private health insurer. It is the amount you have to pay for your treatment. It is sometimes called your out-of-pocket expenses.
You may incur an out-of-pocket if the amount a medical provider charges is more than the benefit you’re entitled to under your cover. Depending on your level of coverage, you may be entitled to claim 85% to 100% of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).
Australia’s public healthcare system
In Australia, healthcare is made of a mixture of services funded by the Australian Government and private health insurance. Australian residents are automatically covered for many hospital and medical costs under the Government’s Medicare scheme, but many Australians choose to take out additional cover through the private healthcare system.
Medicare covers areas of the medical, hospital, and pharmaceutical costs, but doesn’t cover medical services like private hospital costs, dental, physiotherapy, and similar services, emergency ambulance assistance, or other transport to the hospital. The benefits you get when you have OSHC or OVHC are similar to the cover Australians get through Medicare.
You are international students, foreigners arrive to Australia and Australian citizens traveling abroad are looking at OSHC, OVHC, travel insurance, please contact OSHCstudents Team at email: info@oshcstudents.com and our partners for further information and assistance.
OSHCstudents Team
