How does healthcare work in Australia, and what travel insurance, health insurance or expat insurance do you need?

What is the quality of healthcare in Australia?

• Australia has an impressive, high-quality healthcare system, combined of public and private providers.
• Waiting times for emergency care are generally short. However, for non-emergency specialist treatments and surgeries, you can expect significant waiting times in the public system, ranging from months to years. For this reason, many Australians opt for supplementary private health insurance.
• The most prominent health priorities at the moment, in addition to concerns about the challenges of the Aboriginal and Torrest Strait Islanders population, are the prevention of cancer (particularly skin, lung, uterine and breast), cardiovascular disease and injury prevention.
• Ambulance care is of high quality but is not automatically fully covered by Medicare. In some states, residents must have separate ambulance insurance or the costs are covered by the state.
• For visitors and many temporary visa holders, ambulance costs can run high. The national emergency number is 000.
• Australia has a large network of pharmacies. Most common medicines are readily available. Some medicines that are available over the counter in Europe require a prescription in Australia. You can easily obtain medicines with a prescription from your GP.

How does the public healthcare system work in Australia?

• The public healthcare system is called Medicare. It is funded by a levy on taxable income. Public hospitals are funded through the government and health services. It provides full hospital care for Australians and pays for a part of the cost of a visit to the General Practitioner (GP).
• Medicare is available to Australian citizens, permanent residents, and visitors from certain countries with which Australia has a reciprocal healthcare agreement, including the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. 
• Even if you are entitled to Medicare, you often still pay a co-payment ("gap fee") at GPs and specialists.
• General information about Australian health care can be found on the Department of Health website.

How does the private healthcare system work in Australia?

• Many Australians take out private insurance to avoid waiting times in the public system. The government encourages this through tax measures such as the Medicare Levy Surcharge and the Private Health Insurance Rebate.
• This is mainly for coverage of non-Medicare services such as optical care, physiotherapy and dental care.
• There are arrangements for "young people" to take out private insurance at a lower premium.
• If you are not a permanent resident, or come from a country with a healthcare treaty, you must arrange your own private health insurance anyway.
• Private healthcare also offers faster access to specialists and treatments.

How is the family doctor or general practitioner arranged in Australia?

• The first point of contact for health problems is the GP or FD (family doctor). The GP is the person who assesses the patient and coordinates the necessary care.
• The GP can also refer you to a specialist. The referral from the GP is required for the costs to be covered by Medicare.
• If you are affiliated with Medicare, you can visit any doctor's office in Australia. Fewer and fewer GPs still offer completely free "bulk billing" for adults. Therefore, people with Medicare are also increasingly paying a co-payment on top of the Medicare reimbursement.
• A standard consultation with a GP often costs between AUD 70 and AUD 120, part of which Medicare reimburses if you are eligible.

How is the dental care and dentist arranged in Australia?

• Dental care options consist of both public and private clinics.
• There are long waiting times for public dentists and for adults, dental care is generally not covered by Medicare. For this reason, many people take out private health insurance with extra coverage.
• Check the coverage of the various health insurance policies carefully.
• Some people go abroad for dental care, because this is sometimes cheaper than paying for it yourself in Australia. Think of places like Bangkok and Bali.

How is pregnancy and maternity care arranged in Australia?

• Care for pregnant women in Australia is excellent and is provided by a mix of public and private services.
• Public hospitals offer free maternity care through Medicare. Private hospitals are more expensive, but offer luxury facilities and more freedom of choice in terms of gynaecologists.
• Home births are rare; most births take place in hospitals.
• There is broad support for breastfeeding. Breastfeeding in public is fully accepted.

How safe or unsafe is a trip or stay in Australia?

What should you pay attention to in terms of safety in Australia?

• Australia is generally safe. However, bad weather, bushfires or dangerous animals can cause problems.
• Tropical cyclones and flooding occur from October to March. Bushfires can occur in large parts of Australia during hot and dry periods. The exact timing varies by region and year. The safety situation can change very quickly.
• There are many traffic accidents in Australia, because travellers and tourists accidentally drive on the right, while in Australia you are supposed to drive on the left. In the countryside, people drive in large cars and often at high speed, not prepared for backpackers who maintain a different driving style in a rented car or, for example, want to take photos in an unexpected place.
• Violent crime against travelers is very rare. Most incidents involve opportunistic theft.

What should you look out for in terms of diseases in Australia?

• Tropical diseases: in the tropical north of Australia, mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever, Ross River virus, and Japanese encephalitis occur sporadically.
• Jellyfish, snakes and spiders: accidents with wildlife are relatively rare, but can be serious if they do occur. Jellyfish, for example, pose a serious threat. In the summer months, the tropical east coast is the domain of the box jellyfish, this jellyfish looks innocent, but the meter-long tentacles are deadly. There are also other jellyfish that can give a nasty sting.
• Snakes can also be dangerous. They usually do not attack, but if you accidentally step on them, they can bite your calf and you have to get help. Make sure you call 000 immediately and remember what the snake looked like (pupils, colour, shape). Do not wash a snakebite wound.
• Australia also has several dangerous spiders, among which the funnel-web spiders and the redback spider. Seek medical help for a suspected spider bite. For some species, such as the Sydney funnel-web spider, prompt medical treatment is important. You can always call a Poisons Information Center. 
• Maybe the most deadly, but also cutest culprits are the blue-ringed octopus and the cone snail. Not often found or seen, so a quick online search can provide you with some pictures!
• In the outback, you need to be pretty self-reliant, with enough water and food to survive a car breakdown, for example, and some first aid skills and supplies to help yourself until the flying doctors come to rescue you.

What should you pay attention to when it comes to traffic in Australia?

• Roads in urban areas are well maintained, but in remote areas (outback) roads can be unpaved and challenging.
• In Australia, people drive on the left side of the road.
• Long-distance driving is common; take plenty of water and a charged phone. 
• Fatigue during long journeys is a major cause of traffic accidents, especially in remote areas where distances are great.
• Kangaroos on the road are a risk, especially at sunrise and sunset. If you hit a kangaroo, check to see if it is safe to stop there. If the kangaroo is not breathing, check for a baby kangaroo and try to get the animal off the road. If the kangaroo is still breathing, be careful. In any case, call the RSPCA or a local wildlife rescue.
• Public transport in cities is excellent, but in regional areas a car is essential.

What are the best insurance options for backpacking, traveling, doing an internship, studying, volunteering, or working in Australia?

• Is the trip to and your return sufficiently covered? Are you sufficiently covered before, during and after your activities? Which insurance best suits your trip and your activity?
• Insurance for backpacking and traveling in Australia
• Insurance for studying in Australia
• Insurance for internships in Australia
• Insurance for volunteering in Australia
• Insurance for digital nomads or paid work in Australia

What types of insurance should you get if you're planning to emigrate, work as an expat, or live in Australia?

• For some visas you must prove that you have health insurance. In any case, it is wise to take out international private health insurance to cover the high costs of medical care. For more information about visa requirements, see the Australian Immigration Service website.
• International health insurance for Australia
• International travel insurance for Australia
• International life insurance for Australia
• International income protection insurance for Australia