What if I tell you you can enjoy Australia’s best medical services? Yes, this is true.
Australia offers its citizens and permanent residents more than a better lifestyle, high-quality education, and diverse culture.
You can also get the chance to enjoy the best medical services in Australia with a Medicare card. If you’re an Australian permanent resident or citizen, you can apply for it. However, if you don’t know how to apply for a Medicare card, don’t worry.
We’re going to share with you the complete application process for a Medicare Card, its eligibility criteria, how it works, and the required documents to apply.
So, let’s get started and see how you can grab your Medicare Card in Australia!
What is Medicare Australia?
The Australian Government supports this public healthcare program in Australia and is known as “Medicare.”
Medicare is a universal health care system in Australia that offers citizens and permanent residents free medical coverage. It covers various medical services, including hospital treatments, diagnostic tests, GP consultations, and dental procedures.
Residents are entitled to free treatment in public hospitals and enjoy discounted care from physicians, nurse practitioners, qualified midwives, and other allied health specialists with a Medicare provider number.
Note: Medicare provides access to basic medical coverage for all citizens and permanent residents and does not cover all medical expenses.
Before digging into how to apply for a Medicare card? Let’s have a look at Medicare’s eligibility requirements.
Who is Eligible for Medicare Australia?
Medicare is a universal healthcare insurance scheme funded by Australian taxpayers. If permanent residents and citizens are eligible, they will receive a Medicare number and medical card that will allow them to access free or low-cost medical services.
You may apply for this healthcare system if you reside in Australia and meet the following requirements.
You are eligible to get access to this free medical if you are:
- An Australian citizen.
- A New Zealand citizen.
- An Australian permanent resident.
- Applying for permanent residency.
- However, you must either have stayed in Australia for 6 months or show. documentation indicating that you will live there within the next 6 months.
- A temporary resident protected by government order.
- Medicare may be available to people with the new regional provisional visas, subclasses 491 and 494.
- Coming from a country with reciprocal healthcare.
You are also eligible if you are a permanent resident or citizen of:
- Norfolk Island
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Christmas Island
- Lord Howe Island
Note: You might be eligible if you belong to a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement country and are visiting Australia.
What is Medicare Card, and how does it work?
A Medicare card is a vital component of Australia’s healthcare system. This card lets the residents access a wide range of medical services at a discounted cost or for free. Those individuals who obtain Medicare services have a red, white, and blue Medicare card.
This card lists your name and the start dates of your original Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) and medical insurance (Part B). It also displays your Medicare number, which serves as your unique identifier within the Medicare system.
You can obtain your card if you are 15 years or older. Children under 15 may be listed on their parents’ cards. Understanding Medicare services is essential before knowing how to apply for a Medicare card.
Using this card, you can get a variety of medical services. However, Medicare does not offer all health services, such as:
With a Medicare card, you can:
- Claim for both your paid or unpaid physician’s account
- Visit a physician who bulks bills.
- Receive medical services as a public patient in a government hospital.
- Fill a prescription under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) at a pharmacy.
How to Apply for Medicare Card?
However, it would help if you enrolled in Medicare to obtain a Medicare card. Once your enrollment form is completed and submitted, provide supporting documents, and your enrolment process will proceed. You will receive your Medicare card via email within 3 to 4 weeks.
You can enroll in Medicare online through myGov or by completing a Medicare enrolment form. You can fill out a Medicare enrollment form and send it by post or email to Medicare Enrolment Services along with your supporting documentation.
Your additional documentation does not require certification. You may still submit a paper application to a Medicare office.
Please don’t forget to bring your passport.
- If you are 15 years old, you can apply for the card yourself.
- If you are under 15, you will be enrolled on your parent’s Medicare card.
- Newborn babies are automatically listed as registered for this card.
Note: For more detailed information about a Medicare Card, visit the Medicare website, Services Australia!
Documents Required – How to apply for a Medicare Card?
To apply for a Medicare card, you must submit your application to the Department of Human Services (DHS), which receives applications. Each applicant must provide the documentation listed below:
- Medicare enrollment form (available from DHS website)
- Proof of identity, such as a birth certificate.
- Travel documents like your valid passport
- Detailed evidence of your current visa status, such as:
- Receipt of application acknowledgment.
- Grant of visa notice.
- A printout from VEVO displaying the status of your current visa.
What does Medicare Australia Cover?
Medicare partially covers your hospital, medical, and pharmaceutical expenses. Your Medicare benefits are determined by the fee schedule established by the Australian government.
An extra amount called a ‘gap payment‘ may have to be paid if a provider charges more than the scheduled fee.
Medicare typically covers:
- The entire schedule fee for services provided by a doctor
- 85% of the scheduled payment for additional outpatient services
- 75% of the expected payment for in-hospital care as a public patient,
- If you have a lot of medical bills, you can be eligible for a greater payout under the Medicare safety net.
What does Medicare Australia not cover?
Medicare excludes several expenses, including:
- Private Hospital Charges.
- Hospital extra charges like dental and physiotherapy.
- As well as the cost of private patients’ medical devices like spectacles or hearing aids.
To help with these expenses, you might decide to get private health insurance. Your costs for things like spectacles, hearing aids, and mobility aids might be partially covered by private health insurance.
Under the Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme, you can also be eligible for free or inexpensive medical aid.
How to Apply for Medicare Card? – Final Words!
Medicare is a national healthcare program in Australia that enables eligible people to receive government-funded healthcare. Such as bulk-billed medical visits and free treatments.
If you hold a Medicare card, various healthcare benefits are free or low-cost. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), which discounts selected pharmaceutical medication prices, also coincides with Medicare.
You can access a Medicare Card if you are among Australia’s citizens and permanent residents. So, to get these benefits, you must obtain Australian PR and citizenship first. For this purpose, apply for a suitable Australian visa to become a part of Australia.
For this purpose, you need to consult with Australian visas and consultancy providers.
At The Migration, we can help you. We offer a wide range of Australian visa services and consultancy services. Our expert migration agent and visa consultants will help you in your Australian visa processing journey. They will never leave you in any confusion.
Book your appointment and consult with us now !
Related Article:
- Australian Citizen Vs Permanent Resident of Australia – 4 Prominent Differences!
- What to Do After Getting Permanent Residency in Australia?
I am Kiran Bashir, an expert content writer and researcher with years of experience of writing in the field of immigration law. I am proficient in writing blogs, articles, and website content on Australian visa-related services.