What to do in a medical emergency without Medicare cover in Australia

The most important practical knowledge for any working holiday maker is what number to call, where to go, and what your insurance will and will not cover before an emergency happens.

What number do you call?

In any medical emergency in Australia, the number to call is 000 (zero zero zero). This is the equivalent of 999 in the UK or 112 in Germany. The 000 service connects to police, fire, and ambulance, and you specify which service you need.

For non-life-threatening situations, the healthdirect line on 1800 022 222 provides 24-hour telephone advice from registered nurses and can direct you to the right level of care.

For a GP after hours, the National Home Doctor Service on 13 SICK (137 425) dispatches doctors to your accommodation in most metropolitan areas. The visit is bulk-billed for Medicare-eligible patients, and private patients pay around $100 to $150.

What is covered if you have insurance?

The cover depends on your insurance type:

OVHC (Australian private health insurance for visitors) typically covers:

• Emergency department visits at public and private hospitals
• Hospital admission as a private patient
• Surgical treatment
• Inpatient pharmaceuticals
• Ambulance (varies by policy)
• Most diagnostic imaging and pathology

Travel insurance typically covers:

• Emergency medical and hospital treatment
• Repatriation if needed
• Ambulance
• Out-patient treatment in some cases
• Trip-related costs (cancellation, lost baggage)

RHCA Medicare cover (for UK, Irish, and other RHCA nationals) covers:

• Public hospital emergency treatment
• Subsidised GP visits at bulk-billing clinics
• Subsidised pharmaceuticals through the PBS
• See our article on the UK-Australia Medicare reciprocal agreement for the detail

What is rarely covered by any of these:

• Ambulance services (varies by state and policy)
• Repatriation home (Medicare/RHCA does not cover this; travel insurance usually does)
• Dental emergencies (limited cover under most policies)
• Mental health crises (limited cover and long waiting periods on many policies)

What does emergency treatment cost without insurance?

For a non-RHCA working holiday maker without OVHC or travel insurance, typical bills include:

• Emergency department visit, not admitted: $400 to $800
• Emergency department visit with overnight admission: $1,500 to $5,000
• Multi-day hospital admission with surgery: $10,000 to $50,000
• ICU admission: $5,000 to $10,000 per day
• Air ambulance from a remote area: $20,000 to $80,000
• International medical flight repatriation: $50,000 to $150,000

These costs are not theoretical. Australian hospitals routinely pursue overseas patients for unpaid bills through international debt collection.

What happens if you cannot pay?

Hospitals do not refuse emergency treatment because the patient cannot pay. The treatment happens, and the billing is dealt with afterwards. The options for patients who cannot pay include:

• Negotiated payment plans with the hospital, sometimes over years
• Charity programmes at some public hospitals
• Travel insurance claims if you have coverage
• Embassy assistance in extreme cases (some embassies can advance funds in genuine emergencies, but the funds must be repaid)

Going without insurance is not a viable strategy for any working holiday maker. The risk of catastrophic costs is real.

Where to go: public vs private hospital

For an emergency, the choice is between a public hospital emergency department and a private hospital emergency department.

Public hospital emergency departments are free for Medicare-eligible patients (Australian residents and RHCA-country nationals enrolled in Medicare). Non-RHCA working holiday makers are billed as private patients at the public hospital, but the rates are generally lower than at private hospitals.

Private hospital emergency departments charge from the first minute and are more expensive across the board, but waiting times are often shorter and the facilities are usually more modern.

For most working holiday makers, the public hospital is the right choice for serious emergencies. The treatment quality is high, and the cost (even as a private patient) is more manageable.

What to do after an emergency

If you have received emergency treatment in Australia:

1. Keep every document: discharge summary, medication list, scan results, bills
2. Contact your insurer immediately, ideally while still in hospital
3. Document what happened with dates, times, and treating staff
4. Get receipts for everything, including pharmacy purchases and follow-up appointments
5. Lodge the insurance claim promptly, with the supporting documents
6. Keep copies of all correspondence with hospitals, insurers, and embassies

If you are unable to work for an extended period because of the injury or illness, this also affects:

• Your wages and any unpaid super
• Your tax return for the financial year (often a larger refund because of reduced income)
• Your visa timing if the recovery extends past the visa expiry
• Your DASP eligibility if you have to leave earlier than planned

How does our service support working holiday makers after a medical emergency?

While our team does not handle the medical care or insurance claims directly, the financial and tax consequences of a medical event are within our service:

• Reviewing wages and super for the period before and after the event
• Lodging the tax return on the reduced income (often resulting in a larger refund)
• Coordinating DASP timing if you have to leave Australia earlier than planned
• Reviewing any insurance payouts that may have tax implications

A medical emergency rarely affects only one part of your life. Get in touch with our team for help with the financial side after a medical event.