Patients & visitors
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Patients without a Medicare card
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- Patients without a Medicare card
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Overview
If you don't have a Medicare card, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have adequate and appropriate health insurance cover or adequate money to cover the cost of your health care.
Health care costs can include:
- Emergency treatment
- Inpatient admission
- Outpatient services
- Interpreter services
- Aids and equipment
- Diagnostic services
- Pharmacy medication
Who are Medicare Ineligible Patients?
Medicare Ineligible Patients are overseas visitors who:
- Are not covered under a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement
- Not verified as an asylum seeker/refugee
- Not receiving care specifically for tuberculosis
A Financial Consent form and a schedule of fees will be completed for all Medicare Ineligible Patient admissions on arrival.
Reciprocal Health Care Agreements
The Australian Government has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA) with the governments of:
- UK
- Northern Ireland
- Sweden
- Finland
- Norway
- The Netherlands
- Belgium
- Ireland
- New Zealand
- Slovenia
- Malta - only for treatment up to 6 months after arrival
- Italy - only for treatment up to 6 months after arrival
These agreements may entitle you to limited subsidised health services for medically necessary treatments whilst visiting Australia.
Eligibility will be confirmed if the appropriate documentation is presented such as a passport, visa, and date of entry and/or country of birth residential status.
If this is not provided, you will be expected to pay for all associated medical costs. However, the fee will be refunded once the documents are presented to the Patient Liaison Office.
Asylum seekers and refugees
Asylum seekers and refugees are provided with free medical care (including diagnostic services) in Victorian hospitals.
Asylum seekers/refugees will need to provide the appropriate documentation confirming their status from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship or from a recognised asylum support agency.
If documentation is not provided you will be expected to pay for all associated medical costs, however fees will be waived once necessary documentation has been provided to the Patient Liaison Office.
Costs
The following costs are indicative only. This list may not include all services provided.
Emergency
Payable on arrival
Facility fee and treatment (up to 4 hours): Minimum $540
Inpatient services
Accommodation same day: $1,300
Accommodation overnight including short stay: $1,700
Accommodation Intensive Care (per night): $4,800
Accommodation Coronary Care (per night): $3,100
Accommodation High Dependency Unit (per night): $3,100
Outpatient services
Initial consultation: $350
Subsequent consultation: $350
Interpreter: $110
Other health services
Hospital in the Home: $420
Diagnostic services (imaging and pathology): Average cost per admission $500
Common questions
I have an Overseas Travel Insurance policy. Do I need to pay for my health care?
If you have an Overseas Travel Insurance policy you are required to pay full cost of your hospital accommodation and treatment upfront. Austin Health will provide all invoices and receipts to submit to your travel insurer for reimbursement.
If a guarantee of payment is obtained from your travel insurer, Austin Health can liaise directly with them and submit invoices for your inpatient stay on your behalf.
All emergency attendances and outpatient appointments require upfront payment on arrival.
If Austin Health is unable to contact your travel insurer within business hours, or do not receive a response, it is your responsibility to ensure documentation and approval of payments are confirmed.
Austin Health reserves the right to request payment should the travel insurer not respond, delay payment or deny claims.
I have no Insurance. Who do I discuss my payment option with?
Medicare Ineligible Patients with no insurance are required to pay all costs incurred.
To discuss payment arrangements, contact Patient Accounts on 03 9496 2166.
How do I pay my account?
Payments can be made by credit card, cheque or in person at the Cashiers Office in the foyer on Level 1, Austin Hospital.
What happens if I don't pay my account or agree to a suitable payment arrangement?
If payment is not received, and you have not followed the Austin Health hardship policy, you may be referred to an external debt recovery agency.
If visa holders are found to be in breach of their visa conditions, this may require notification to the Department of Immigration and can result in cancellation of your visa.