Hazel T

My mum is visiting in Nov and she was asking about doctors in case she gets ill while here, she will have travel insurance, but im sure i read somewhere that the uk and oz have an agreement to do with health, would she have to pay if she went to the doctors or to the hospital for anything?

Thanks Hazel

Teliko21

Yes I believe she will have to pay to see the doctor if she doesn't have a medicare card. If you are a UK citizen, prescriptions are slightly cheaper and I don't know about hospital visits sorry

walla

Yes she will and make sure she takes out travel insurance.

cranni

Dont worry,
My parents came in Feb-May. Mum was rushed into hospital, brilliant, treatment, No charge.
Dad had an eye infection, i took him to casualty, local hospital. No Charge.
Just go to your local hospital, you dont get charged, but you will be charged by the Gp. Good luck, hope this helps.
Denise

Deer Hunter

You get free emergency treatment (if you are a citizen of the UK). So if your Mum gets really ill and needs immediate treatment, regardless of travel insurance, it's free. She would have to pay to see a GP for minor things.

SunshineGirl

Hubby broke his hand in QLD a couple of years ago. Went to Proserpine Hospital, fab service and no charge whatsoever.

Pet

Hi Hazel, Re visits to local Doctors. You pay the Doctor after the visit and then head down to your nearest Medicare office with passports (UK citizens) and the bill and they will refund the Medicare schedule rate. UK and AUS have reciprocal agreements. Should only be a couple of dollars out of pocket. I know all this as it happened to my friend while she was out visiting me.
Cheers
Pauline

cresta57

You don't have to pay for treatment at a GP either. You have to take your passport into the doctors and ask to be treated under the U.K - Australia reciprocal agreement

ozzieeagle

Errm if the visitor is approxmately the same age and sex, They can go to the Local bulk billing doctor, that you've never seen before, as you with your card " Answer courtesy Duckers and Divers inc.... Sarf london"

Nicky & Dave

I had to go to see a doc when we were in Sydney and it cost us $40 for the consultation plus $25 for antibiotics, and I was assured these are standard costs, so make sure your Mum is covered on insurance to claim back if need be.

Nicky

Pootle

My f-in-law who is currently staying with us has had to attend the local hospital for treatment. They didn't charge him and said it was reciprocal at the time of treatment. However, today he has had a phone call from them saying he needs to go and register at medicare and give the hospital the number? Is this right? He has travel insurance but was never asked for it. Seems a bit odd to me to need to register for a medicare number if you're just here for a few weeks?

cresta57

Not if he's on a tourist visa, it will be some bean counter unaware of the reciprocal agreement trying to dot the i's and cross the t's. Make sure he takes his passport with him if he needs to visit again and you must ask to be treated under the agreement they're not mind readers and often take it for granted that your a citizen.

walla

If one needs a physio or a dentist or some other specialist care one still has to pay, of course a traveller can get a Medicare Card but will still have to pay for specialist treatment, my MIL was paying 60 bucks a pop last year, for physio luckily she was insured.

And don't forget only public hospitals can be accessed through the reciprocal agreement and we know how bad some of them can be...

MikeStanton

Having read the responses, not one person has given you the total picture, which is as follows:

1. If your mum is a UK resident (she does not have to be a citizen), she is entitled to use a public hospital - at no charge - under the reciprocal agreement between UK and Oz. It doesn't need to be an emergency. Note: ambulances are not covered and if kidney dialysis is required, it needs to be advised in advance. Also see this link: http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidan...il%2BO#5943215

2. If your mum obtains an Oz Medicare card (from a Medicare office) before she is sick, she can "bulk bill" her treatment, if the doctor/medical centre offers it. What this means is that after seeing the doctor she doesn't have to pay for the consultation fee, Medicare picks up 100% of the bill..

3. If the doctor doesn't bulk bill or your mum hasn't already registered with Medicare she will have to pay for the consultation immediately after seeing the doctor. A trip to the Medicare office will enable your mum to get all or part of a refund for the consultation - Medicare only pay scheduled amounts, and, if the doctor charges more than the scheduled amount, you won't receive a 100% refund.

4. Advice: register with Medicare on arrival and keep all receipts, to claim back on insurance. Also find out if your insurance company expects you to obtain a Medicare refund where possible - if it does, and you don't obtain the Medicare refund, your mum could be out of pocket.

ozzieeagle

At least she will be able to go to a "new" doctors here, without all the crap and bullshiit that goes along with a visit to somewhere new in the UK. Almost certainly she will be greeted with a welcoming smile and genuine interest.

Mind you I've just realised something, Whilst on holidays last year, our 7 year old had to visit the Doctor. Unregistrered, no NI number, 100 pct Aussie passport.... up in Wales, they just snuck us in, to my parents gp, Gave him a prescription for antibiotics, which we got filled for almost nothing...... I think it's how one approaches these situations that determines how one gets treated. EDIT... Just confirmed with my wife, we didn't pay at all the the prescription to be filled.

Not letting you totally off the hook though MS, My 21 year old, dual passport holding daughter, now for all intents, residing in the UK, had to jump through hoops and bash through walls, to find a dentist and GP, a very different situation for newcomers to this country.






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