In Australia, health care is made up of a mixture of services funded by the Australian Government and private health insurance. Australian citizens 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 health care system.
Medicare covers 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 hospital.
International students, workers and visitors are not eligible for Medicare. Depending on your visa type you can purchase Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) or Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).