What is Medicare and are working holiday makers covered?

Medicare is Australia's universal public health insurance scheme. It provides Australian citizens and permanent residents with access to a range of healthcare services either free of charge or at a subsidised rate, including visits to general practitioners, specialist appointments, and hospital treatment as a public patient.

Are working holiday makers covered by Medicare?

Generally, no. Holders of working holiday visas (subclass 417 and 462) are not eligible for Medicare coverage unless their home country has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with Australia. Without coverage, you are treated as a private patient for healthcare in Australia, which means you pay the full cost of medical appointments, prescriptions, and hospital treatment.

What this means in practice

If you are not covered and you see a GP in Australia, you will typically pay around $80 to $120 for a standard consultation. Emergency treatment at a public hospital is generally available to everyone, including non-Medicare holders, but subsequent costs may apply depending on the situation.

Given the potential costs, it is strongly recommended that working holiday makers obtain comprehensive travel and health insurance before arriving in Australia. Most working holiday visa applications require you to have health insurance as a condition of the visa.

The Medicare levy exemption

When you lodge your tax return in Australia, there is a section about the Medicare levy, which is a 2% levy applied to taxable income to fund the Medicare system. Working holiday makers who are not eligible for Medicare are entitled to claim an exemption from this levy. This is done by completing a Medicare Levy Exemption Certification through the ATO before lodging your return. Not claiming this exemption when you are entitled to it means paying a levy for a service you cannot access.

For more on which countries have an RHCA with Australia, see our guide on Medicare agreements with Australia.

Need help?

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