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Understanding Australia healthcare system

OSHCstudents – Navigating Australia’s healthcare system can be challenging due to its complexity. Understanding how a hospital operates will help you make the best choices for you and your family’s care if you require hospitalization.

The healthcare system at a glance

Australia’s Healthcare System is one of the most comprehensive in the world; offering a range of services from general and preventative health, through to treating more complex conditions, that may need a specialist, or hospital care.

The system has two major parts: the public health system, and the private health system. When you need health care, you could access it through one of two systems, or a mix of both.

Let’s explore what they look like:

The public system comprises several components, including public hospitals, community-based services, and affiliated health organisations largely owned and governed by state and territory governments. The Australian public accesses care within the public health system for free or at a lower cost through Medicare (funded by tax).

The private system includes health service providers that are owned and managed privately, such as private hospitals, specialist medical and allied health, and pharmacies.

The services you access through the public system are funded by local, state and federal governments, but the services you access through the private system are funded by a combination of government and private entities, including:

  • Private health insurance premiums – paid by customers
  • Private health organisations
  • People paying directly for private treatment
  • Government incentives on private health insurance
  • Other government and private funding

In the lead-up to, and during a hospital visit, health professionals, including doctors and specialists, can provide treatment through either the public or the private system.

There are a few areas of the healthcare system you’re likely to encounter as you move through life, especially if you need to go to hospital in Australia.

Who delivers healthcare

Medical professionals

Doctors, and in particular general practitioners (GPs), are often your starting point when it comes to health and care.

When you first meet with them (this is sometimes called a consultation), they will assess any problems you may present with, and try to treat your immediate health concerns.

If needed, they can also organise relevant tests to inform a diagnosis, and can refer you to specialist, hospital or alternate care.

For example, if you’ve got a heart condition, they may refer you to a cardiologist.

Find out more about what you can expect when visiting a specialist.

Your GP may also refer you to what’s known as an allied health professional. These are trained professionals who can help manage physical and mental health, such as physiotherapists and psychologists.

Public and private hospitals

If you need to go to hospital in Australia for an operation or treatment, there are different types of hospitals.

Public hospitals

Public hospitals provide high quality medical care and provide care at low or even no cost to people with access to Medicare. They are usually where you go if you have an emergency.

If you need non-urgent treatment, and choose to be a public patient, you may need to wait longer until a space becomes available, you won’t be able to choose your doctor (you’ll be looked after by the doctor on-call for your health issue or condition), and may be in a shared room with other people while you recover.

Public hospitals are funded and by the government, but also get funded by health insurance when patients choose to use their private cover in a public hospital.

Private hospitals

Private hospitals are owned and operated by the private organisations but licensed and regulated by the government. Typically, you’ll get:

Choice as a private patient regarding aspects of your care, like choosing your doctorReduced waiting time for elective or planned surgeriesThe choice of a private room (if available and medically appropriate)
You can also be treated as a private patient in a public hospital, treated by your choice of doctor.

Who pays for healthcare?

Depending on how you use the healthcare system, funding comes from the government, as well as private health insurers, and sometimes – from you.

Medicare

Medicare is the government’s scheme to give the public access to health care (paid through your taxes), and it covers:

  • Treatment as a public patient in a public hospital
  • 75% of the fee on a government list (MBS) for doctors’ services in hospital if you’re a private patient
  • All (what’s known as ‘bulk billing’) or some of the cost of going to a GP or specialist.
  • Some (but not all) tests and examinations your doctor orders for you
  • Reduced cost on some prescription medications, if they are on a government list called the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

There is a list of services subsidised by the government. Each has a fee that the government says is appropriate to charge for that service. This list is called the Medicare Benefits Schedule (or MBS). You can see the list here.

Private health insurance

Private health insurance is an optional cover many Australians take out to give them more choice when it comes to their healthcare. You can choose a level of cover to suit your needs.

Private health insurance covers things like:

  • Hospital treatment: Once you are admitted to hospital, private hospital cover will help pay for the costs of treatment and your stay.
  • General treatment: Also called ‘Extras’, or ‘Ancillary’ this depends on your policy but can include dental, optical and physiotherapy treatments, for example.
  • Ambulance: You could get cover for emergency, and sometimes non-emergency transport and/or treatment. In some states, an ambulance may already be covered or cover can be purchased by a subscription directly from the provider.

Healthcare can be expensive. If you need to have treatment, learn more about options for funding your treatment.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all of the information, so spend some time talking with your family and healthcare provider about what’s going to be best for you.

This guide looks at how hospital treatment works in Australia, for people with access to Medicare.

You are international students or foreigners arrive to Australia, or Australian citizens traveling abroad who are looking for OSHC, OVHC, travel insurance, please contact OSHCstudents Team at email: info@oshcstudents.com and our partners for further information and assistance.

OSHCstudents (source: Bupa)

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Baek Ah Yeon

I trust Allianz Care since it is one of the largest insurance companies in Australia, with the medical centres where I only have to pay for what is left from insurance support. (no need to claim later). Besides, those centres are located at the centre of the city, close to schools. Very convenient, right? Credits to Allianz Care for providing reliable medical centres for health check and treatments.

Baek Ah Yeon | University of Queensland

Ariella Pei

I’ve been living with homestay family for 2 years. I’m now 19, I can move out but I don’t want to leave my host, who has become my family. It feels like I’ve met my second family. Thanks OSHCstudents for sending me to this homestay!

Ariella Pei | University of Canberra

Chatchawat Paton

I realised how important insurance was when I started living in Australia. There I switched to using Allianz Care instead of the previous service. Allianz Care is extraordinarily good in its consulting service and customer care. I’ve learned a lot about Australian health care, also I was consulted with mental issues and how to live a healthy lifestyle. I am very happy now.

Chatchawat Paton | Torrent University

Phuong Anh

Having lived in Australia for 2 years, I’ve been reliant on AHM OSHC to pay for my health care, which supports me for other expenses. Last year, I sent my claim requests for several times and always received the claims within two days. Everything is easy, fast and simple.

Phuong Anh | Victoria University

Xiaoyu Cheng

Thanks to Allianz Care, every time I claimed my medical receipts it processed much more quickly and easily than I expected. I was initially a bit concerned since Allianz Care is more expensive than other insurance companies, but now I can ensure that it is totally worth the money.

Xiaoyu Cheng | Monash University

Emma

My homestay was very comfortable and convenient. My host was really kind. He showed me where to shop, which buses to catch, where the nearest train station is, to get off at which station so that I wouldn’t be taken to another suburb. Travelling was easy since the place was close to public transports. It only took 30 minutes to get to my college, actually I could go anywhere easily!

Emma | Macquarie University

Jing Zhang

When told that I was going to live with an Italian family, I was pretty nervous and doubted whether or not they could speak English well as the local people? Yet it was no longer a problem when I saw them. They knew the problems of people who first came to Australia and always tried to help me. I learned so many things about both Australian and Italian culture and enjoyed tasty Italian meals every time. Awesome!

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