Reciprocal Health Care Agreements
Medicare benefits are not available for treatment received overseas, however, the Australian Government has signed Reciprocal Health Care Agreements which means that as an Australian resident your are entitled to assistance with the cost of medical treatment in:
New Zealand
The United Kingdom
The Republic of Ireland
Sweden
The Netherlands
Finland
Italy
Malta
Norway
Australia's Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with these countries cover any medically necessary treatment you require which may arise while in that country.
Will I need travel insurance?
You are strongly recommended to take out suitable insurance covering you for the period that you will be away. Reciprocal Health Care Agreements do not replace the need for travel insurance.
How will I prove I am eligible?
You will need to provide local authorities with:
- your Australian passport or other passport which shows you are a permanent Australian resident, and
- a valid Medicare card. If you do not have a valid Medicare card, or your card will expire while you are away, visit a Medicare office and arrange for a new card before travelling overseas.
It is important that you advise medical staff in the country you are visiting that you wish to be treated under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia.
Your entitlements
In-patient treatment and accommodation at a public hospital is free during your stay.
What is not covered
You will have to pay the full cost for all other medical treatment, public hospital outpatient treatment and prescription medicines. Children’s services are charged at a reduced rate.
For prescription medicines you will be charged the same rate as non-concession cardholders. When you have paid for 20 prescriptions in one year, a Prescription Subsidy Card will be issued, entitling you to reduced medicine costs.
Your entitlements
You are entitled to subsidised health care during your stay. The National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom covers England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. You do not need to enrol in the NHS.
Always advise the doctor that you want to be treated as a NHS patient. Doctors in the United Kingdom do not have to accept a patient for treatment under the NHS. They can request a private consultation fee when a rebate is not available.
If you do not want to pay a private consultation fee you will need to get treatment from a doctor who is prepared to treat you under the NHS, or from the outpatient section of a public hospital.
You will be covered for:
- medical treatment and other services normally provided by a doctor to NHS patients
- in-patient treatment including medicines, nursing care and accommodation in a public ward of a NHS hospital
- outpatient treatment in a NHS hospital
- NHS prescription medicines where the doctor treats you as a NHS patient (a small fee is charged)
- ambulance travel to, from, or between NHS hospitals and other facilities operating under the NHS scheme.
What is not covered
- Non-subsidised medicines from retail pharmacies
- Medicines prescribed by the doctor treating you as a private patient
- all treatment and appliances provided by NHS dentists and for dental appliances supplied to outpatients at NHS hospitals
Benefits and services vary on the Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark). If you plan to visit these areas check your entitlements before leaving the mainland.
Your entitlements
Ireland’s health scheme provides benefits for hospital treatment during your stay, but not for private medical services or prescription medicines. Public hospital care is available for a small fee for the first 10 days of your stay in any year. It is free thereafter. A fee is charged for attendance at outpatient or accident and emergency departments if you are not referred by a doctor.
What is not covered
- you will have to pay the full cost of visits to private doctors.
- a fee is charged for prescription medicines. After a certain amount has been spent during each month the Health Board refunds additional charges under the Drugs Payments Scheme.
Your entitlements
Sweden’s health scheme provides benefits for medical, hospital and some ancillary services during your stay. Varying charges apply for all services. Charges are reduced for children.
You will be covered for:
- medical treatment by any doctor or outpatient department of a hospital
- a visit to a private doctor who is affiliated with the social security scheme will cost slightly more
- some travel costs incurred to get medical treatment may be refunded from the National Social Insurance Board of Sweden (Forsakringskassan). Contact an office of the insurance board for full details.
What is not covered
- there is a small daily fee for hospital inpatient care
- there are varying charges for hospital outpatient treatment and visits to a doctorcharges are reduced for children
- full price is charged for prescription medicines
For full details contact an office of the National Social Insurance Board of Sweden (Forsakringskassan).
Your entitlements
You are entitled to free access to the public health care system for up to three months, and in certain cases, this entitlement may be extended.
You will need a certificate of eligibility (valid for three months). This may be obtained before leaving Australia or when you arrive in the Netherlands by forwarding the following documents to the Sickness Fund address shown below:
- application form A111 Certificate of Eligibility*
- copy of your current passport
- copy of your Medicare card
Agis Zorgverzkeringin
Afdeling Buitenland
Postbus 1725
3800 BS Amersfoort
Netherlands
Tel: +31 33 445 68 70
Fax: +31 33 445 53 54
You may choose a doctor who is affiliated with a sickness fund (ziekenfonds). Contact the local sickness fund for a list.
You will be covered for:
- you are entitled to third class accommodation in hospitals
- the cost of medicines is refunded if prescribed by a doctora certificate of eligibility is required by the pharmacy (apotheek)
- ambulance and taxi charges are partially refunded when medically necessary. The AGIS requires a certificate of eligibility, plus receipts and a statement from the doctor regarding the need for such transport.
*The A111 form is available from the Department of Health and Ageing, Medicare Eligibility Section by calling 02 6289 7531.
What is not covered
If you are hospitalised in first or second class accommodation, you will be charged the difference plus nursing, specialist care and sundry charges.
Your entitlements
You are entitled to subsidised health care. A small fee is charged for all treatment. Services for children aged 15 and under are free. You will receive necessary outpatient medical treatment as well as nursing care from health centres, located in most areas. Dental care is available in some centres. You will find details of health centres in the local telephone directory under the name Terveysadamat or Terveyskeskus.
A small daily non-refundable accommodation fee is charged for in-patient treatment in hospital. You can also be treated at any outpatient department of a hospital, either by visiting it directly or with an admission note from a doctor. The outpatient departments provide specialist treatment and a small non-refundable fee is charged for this service.
You can visit a private doctor or dentist and pay the fee first. You can claim a refund after treatment from a local insurance office listed in the telephone book under KELA-paikallistoimisto(t). Prescription medicine costs from pharmacies (Apteekki) and travel costs incurred in seeking medical treatment may be payable. A local insurance office will confirm payments required. Costs for dental care are only refunded to people born in 1956 or later.
Your entitlements
The National Health Service (Servixio Sanitaria Nazionale) provides medical treatment at participating hospitals and clinics or authorised medical centres (conventionati). You are entitled to subsidised health care for a period of up to six months from your date of arrival. If you need medical treatment go to the nearest local health centre (Unita Sanitaria LocaleUSL). The address of all USLs can be found in the telephone directory or by asking at police stations, tourist offices or hotels.
You will be covered for:
- medical treatment, including specialist services at public or other authorised hospitals and clinics
- treatment as a hospital patient in public and authorised hospitals only
- immediately necessary dental treatment at public hospitals
What is not covered
You may need to pay for medicines, diagnostics and other tests.
Your entitlements
You are entitled to subsidised health care for up to six months from your date of arrival. If you need medical attention contact or visit a health centre.
You will be covered for:
- medical attention at a health centre provided by a doctor in government service
- nursing care (injections, dressings etc) provided by a nurse in government service on the advice of a doctor
- in-patient care including operations, medicines, nursing care, accommodation and meals
- hospital outpatient consultations provided by specialists in Government service
- Ambulance travel from site to hospital in the case of accidents and emergencies
- immediately necessary dental care provided in a Government hospital (not including fillings, dental prostheses or appliances).
Your entitlements
You are entitled to subsidised health care during your stay. You do not need to enrol in the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) in Norway.
Varying charges apply for all services. Services for children under 7 are free.
Always advise the doctor that you want to be treated as a NIS patient. The majority of doctors in Norway are with the NIS but those that are not will charge a full fee. NIS registered Doctors will charge a reduced fee.
There is no charge for hospital in-patient treatment.
You will be covered for:
- medical treatment from a NIS general practitioner or outpatient department
- Specialist services when referred by a General Practitioner
- hospital in-patient treatment
- ambulance travel
- emergency dental treatment
- ancillary care when prescribed by a doctor
- prescription medicines - full price until approximately $250 is spent in one year, then free thereafter. You must keep track of any expenditure.
For enquiries contact an office of the National Insurance Scheme of Norway.
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