Australia
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Social security agreement
Australia and Finland have a social security agreement covering necessary medical care. Finnish residents temporarily staying in Australia are entitled to medically necessary treatment either free of charge or subject to a co-payment.
Medically necessary treatment refers to treatment that cannot wait for your return home.
You can receive medically necessary treatment, for example, for:
- a sudden illness
- an accident
- pregnancy and childbirth
- a chronic illness
The need for treatment must emerge during the course of your stay. You can access medical care services by presenting your Finnish passport and your Kela card.
Please note the following:
- If you are travelling to Australia on a student visa, you are not covered by this agreement and you must take out health insurance as a condition of your visa.
- The social security agreement does not apply to territories outside the Australian mainland, such as the Cocos (Keeling) Islands or Christmas Island.
Healthcare and medical care in Australia
Health Insurance in Australia is administered by Services Australia, which operates under the Department of Social Services (DSS). You can inquire about the availability of healthcare services at Medicare offices. You can find the contact details of Medicare offices by region on the Services Australia website. You can also obtain a Medicare card — required when seeking treatment — at one of these offices. More information about Medicare is available here.
When you apply for the card, present your passport, visa/residence permit and your Kela card. If the card is granted, it will be sent to you by mail. If the length of your stay in Australia is only of a short duration, you may not receive a card. In this case, the Medicare office will advise you on how to proceed.
Doctor in Australia
You can see a general practitioner (GP) at a public health centre (community health centre) or a private doctor.
Billing practices for treatment vary depending on the healthcare provider. You may be asked to show your Medicare card, in which case your treatment costs will be paid directly to the doctor and you will not incur any costs. Alternatively, you may have to pay the medical costs yourself first and then claim reimbursement from Medicare.
It is advisable to check your doctor’s billing policy in advance. You can find more information about healthcare billing on the Health Direct website.
If you are required to pay a co-payment for your treatment, you can pay the bill yourself and claim a refund from a Medicare office by presenting your payment receipts. In some cases, your claim can be submitted electronically to Medicare from the reception desk once you have paid the bill. In this case, the reimbursement will be paid into your bank account later.
Alternatively, you can take the unpaid invoice to a Medicare office. You will receive a cheque from the office made out to your doctor which covers part of your treatment costs. You must take the cheque to your doctor and pay the co-payment.
As a general rule, you cannot claim reimbursement for dental care. Reimbursement is also not usually granted for supplementary healthcare services such as physiotherapy or psychological services.
You are responsible for the cost of ambulance transport.
Medication in Australia
You may receive partial reimbursement for the cost of medications when your doctor prescribes them in accordance with the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. In this case, you will pay the co-payment for your medications.
Hospital treatment in Australia
Present your passport or Medicare card at the hospital reception. This way, treatment in public hospital, either in a day or inpatient ward, is free for you as a public patient.
Please note that in Australia, patients who use private healthcare can also receive treatment in public hospital facilities. The costs of treatment in private hospitals are the responsibility of the patient unless covered by their private health insurance.
Patient data in Australia
Remember to ensure that your patient data is transferred between countries. You can provide those responsible for your follow-up care or your healthcare provider with the patient records related to the treatment you received abroad. If the patient records need to be translated, you will be responsible for arranging the translation yourself.
How do I find a place of treatment in Australia?
The Healthdirect website features a search tool you can use to find service providers.
You can also enquire about the availability of healthcare services at Medicare offices. The contact details for Medicare service centres by region are available on the Department of Social Services website.
How much does healthcare cost in Australia?
As a Finnish citizen, you are entitled to medically necessary treatment while staying temporarily in Australia. You will receive treatment either free of charge or subject to a co-payment.
In other cases, you will need a Medicare card, which may not be issued for short-term stays.