Medicare

Medicare provides three different areas of cover:

Firstly, hospital cover means you can be treated at a public hospital by a doctor chosen by the hospital for no charge.

Secondly, medical cover includes being treated at no charge while a public patient in hospital, or being reimbursed 85% of the Medical Benefits System (MBS) fee, or the entire fee if your doctor direct bills Medicare.

Thirdly, under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), the government pays a portion of selected prescription medicines. Medicare does not cover you for emergency or other ambulance services.

You need to either arrange cover with the ambulance authority in your state, or with your private health fund, if you choose to get ambulance cover.