Luma

When someone visits from the UK or another country that has an agreement with reciprocal medicare can they get reciprocal medicare treatment here or is only for people who move to Australia?

teza

Yes, my dad has done this few times (he's from Finland). Just go to Medicare with your passport and they printout a receipt, that will be your temporary Medicare number. My dad has had no issues visiting doctors (as he forgot some essential meds) nor picking up prescriptions.

RedT

Yes indeed! My parents were here a few years ago, Dad collapsed in church and was taken to hospital. They kept him in for five days, did all sorts of tests and wouldn't discharge him until they were totally satisfied he was fine. Absolutely so impressed with the care he got and didn't cost him a cent.

Pollyana

People who move to Aus don't access the reciprocal medicare scheme, they get full medicare rights.

quoll

Yes there is reciprocal medical care but don't assume it will do everything, forever ie travel insurance is still required because there may come a point where they tell you to go home (provided you are medically stable) and the repatriation process can be horrifically expensive if you have to travel with doctors and nurses. My dad had a stroke as a visitor and the care he got was excellent but, fortunately for him, it wasn't a debilitating paralysis so he was able to fly home unaided but it could have been quite different.

teza

Very true, my dad still had travel insurance as he's travelled all his life all over the world, keeps it annually regardless if he's travelling or not, not just to cover if something goes wrong overseas but to cover flight cancellations at last minute should something go wrong medically at the last minute before flight etc.

But he has had to see the doc on every visit here, with his temporary card he's paid the same as we do as citizens (between $60-80) and got Medicare refund like us. Also same with pharmacies...

But as said, travel insurance is still ESSENTIAL!