Medicare
Australian citizens and permanent residents have access to a taxpayer-funded public health system called Medicare. This means that when they have treatment or surgery in a public hospital as a public patient, it doesn't cost them a cent. Medicare subsidises some non-hospital treatments and health expenses as well, such as doctor and specialist consultation fees.
People who are in Australia from a country with a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) may be eligible to receive partial Medicare benefits for essential medical procedures.
Reciprocal Health Care Agreements
Some countries have a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with Australia that entitles their citizens to enrol in Medicare. Citizens who are eligible for Australian Medicare under an RHCA are only covered for public hospital treatment that is medically necessary and cannot wait until they get home. RHCA's do not cover treatment in private hospitals.
Working or temporary graduate visa visitors to Australia who want private health insurance hospital cover in Australia (or who are citizens of countries that do not have an RHCA with Australia) must obtain a Department of Home Affairs-approved overseas visitor health cover before they arrive in Australia.
Frank Overseas Visitor Health Cover meets the Department of Home Affairs requirements for 482 and 485 visa applications.
Countries with Reciprocal Health Care Agreements
Participating RHCA countries are:
You can find out more information on the Australian Government website.
If you are eligible for reciprocal Medicare, you can still maintain Frank Overseas Visitor Health Cover. Your Frank cover will ensure you are covered for non-essential admissions, like investigative procedures, as well as emergency ambulance services and private hospital admissions.
Medicare Levy Surcharge
Overseas visitors from countries with a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement may be required to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) if they earn over the Australian Government-set income threshold. The MLS is an additional tax for individuals and families on higher incomes who don't have eligible hospital cover.
Important: Frank's Overseas Visitor Health Covers are not considered eligible hospital covers for Medicare Levy Surcharge purposes and will not exempt an overseas visitor from paying the tax (if their taxable income is above the listed amounts).
Already in Australia? Hospital covers from Frank Health Insurance can help you avoid the MLS.
Find out more about the MLS and income thresholds.
Non-hospital treatment and other health expenses
A second type of private health insurance, extras cover, helps cover the cost of health care expenses charged by non-hospital healthcare professionals such as dentists, chiropractors, optometrists, physiotherapists and more. Medicare usually does not cover non-hospital treatments and services such as these.
Frank’s Mid Workers Plus Bundle includes cover for some extras services like general dental, optical and physiotherapy, and can help with the costs of these appointments. If you need to see a dentist or physio, you can simply swipe your Frank member card and benefits will be paid automatically to the provider, so you only have to pay the difference between what the provider charges and what Frank has paid. Frank’s Mid Workers Plus Bundle allows you to claim up to 65% back* on the following services:
- General dental
- Optical
- Physiotherapy
- Chiropractic
- Osteopathy
- Remedial massage
- Acupuncture
- Myotherapy
*Up to your annual limits.
Keep in mind there are limits to how much you can claim each calendar year, as well as waiting periods you may need to serve before you can claim on these services.
Check out Frank’s Mid Workers Plus Bundle here.