Healthcare in Australia is not entirely free, but Medicare covers most essential services for permanent residents. Temporary visa holders are largely excluded — with some exceptions depending on your country of origin.
Is Healthcare Free in Australia for Immigrants?
The answer depends on your visa status, and getting it wrong can mean thousands of dollars in unexpected medical bills. This is one of the most important practical questions for anyone planning to move to Australia.
Medicare: What It Is and Who Qualifies
Medicare is Australia's public health insurance system. It covers GP visits, specialist consultations (with a referral), hospital treatment in public hospitals, and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which subsidises medicines dramatically.
The eligibility rule is clear: you must be a permanent resident or Australian citizen to enrol in Medicare. Some temporary visa holders from countries with reciprocal health agreements — the UK, New Zealand, Ireland, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Slovenia, Malta, and Finland — have limited access.
South African holders of temporary visas (482 TSS, 491 provisional, student visa) generally do not have access to Medicare. GP visits, specialist care, and prescriptions are all out-of-pocket costs.
What Medicare Actually Covers
For permanent residents enrolled in Medicare:
GP visits: usually bulk-billed (fully covered) or a small gap fee of $20–$60 AUD
Specialist visits: Medicare rebates 75–85% of the scheduled fee, with a gap depending on the specialist
Public hospital treatment: free as a public patient, though you have no choice of surgeon or room
PBS medicines: heavily subsidised — many common medications cost $7–$31.60 AUD per script instead of market price
What Medicare does not cover: dental, most physiotherapy, ambulance (covered separately in most states), or private hospital costs.
Private Health Insurance
Most Australians carry private health insurance alongside Medicare. Private cover handles dental, optical, physiotherapy, ambulance, and private hospital stays with choice of surgeon. Annual family premiums typically run $3,000–$7,000 AUD.
Higher-income earners who do not hold private hospital cover also pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge — currently 1.0–1.5% of taxable income above $93,000 AUD.
The PBS Advantage: Why Permanent Residency Matters for Your Health Budget
For anyone on expensive ongoing medication — biologics for autoimmune conditions, HIV antiretrovirals, certain diabetes drugs — gaining permanent residency and PBS access is transformative. Medications that cost $20,000+ per year privately can drop to $31.60 per script under the PBS.
This benefit is frequently underappreciated in financial planning. If you or a family member takes expensive medication, the timing of your permanent residency grant has a direct dollar-value impact on your healthcare costs.
Complete the assessment below to understand your visa pathway and when you will gain Medicare access — this should factor into your financial planning from the start.