Healthcare in Melbourne
Healthcare in Melbourne is governed by the same hybrid public-private sector service provision that is found in Australia as a whole.
Expats who are eligible to take advantage of the public system, Medicare, will find that certain aspects are left uncovered - like ambulance transport and dental care. The private system fills in the gaps accordingly. These extras can be incredibly expensive without coverage though, and for this reason even expat permanent residents who are eligibile for Medicare - temporary residents are not eligible - should take out private health insurance.
Expats who are relocating to Oz on the 457 visa will need to organise private health insurance in order to be approved for their visa.
The standard of public healthcare in Melbourne is as good as anywhere in the world but like any health system, it has its flaws.
Public hospitals in Melbourne and Victoria are run by the state government, and the city is the only one in Australia with a public hospital, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, solely dedicated to cancer treatment, research and education.
Other stand-out medical facilities include:
Regardless of the standard of care though, due to legislative limitations and general personal preference the only time that most expats are likely to see inside a public hospital is if they are taken there in an emergency - as these are the only hospitals with accident and emergency departments. In an emergency, you don’t have any choice but to go to the nearest public hospital to where you live.
The only other situation in which expats typically use public hospitals is if they opt for an elective surgery as a private patient in a public hospital.
Permanent residents who are eligible are entitled to use Medicare and should, as a matter of principle, enrol in the system. To find your nearest Medicare office visit Medicareaustralia.gov.au.
Emergency care in Melbourne and Victoria
Dial 000 to call an ambulance in Melbourne, but remember that the ambulance service is not free; one serious disadvantage of the Australian public-private system. Many Australians, without cover, delay calling an ambulance as they are worried about the cost of the call-out. There are over 20 public hospitals in the greater Melbourne region and in any emergency you will be taken to the nearest one. Make sure you know which one that is in case you ever need to use it.
If you are new in town and don’t yet have a network of friends to give you recommendations, Liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au will help you locate health practitioners.
Private hospitals, where you get your own room (but not always better food) are the best option for elective surgery or any other non-life threatening treatment.
As mentioned previously, the minimum level of health insurance that expats need is Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) that complies with the 457-visa requirement. If your employer offers health insurance cover as part of an expat package then take the highest cover they offer. Otherwise how much insurance you take out will be determined by such factors as your general state of health and your age. If you already have private healthcare, some international insurers offer policies that do comply.
To help you choose which provider is right for you, you can check costs and the level of cover for health insurance at the following price comparison websites:
Expats who are eligible to take advantage of the public system, Medicare, will find that certain aspects are left uncovered - like ambulance transport and dental care. The private system fills in the gaps accordingly. These extras can be incredibly expensive without coverage though, and for this reason even expat permanent residents who are eligibile for Medicare - temporary residents are not eligible - should take out private health insurance.Expats who are relocating to Oz on the 457 visa will need to organise private health insurance in order to be approved for their visa.
Public healthcare in Melbourne
The standard of public healthcare in Melbourne is as good as anywhere in the world but like any health system, it has its flaws.
Public hospitals in Melbourne and Victoria are run by the state government, and the city is the only one in Australia with a public hospital, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, solely dedicated to cancer treatment, research and education.
Other stand-out medical facilities include:
- the teaching hospital, The Royal Melbourne
- the specialist hospital, The Royal Children’s Hospital
- Austin Health, which includes a specialist liver transplant facility and spinal health unit
- the other major teaching hospital, The Alfred
Regardless of the standard of care though, due to legislative limitations and general personal preference the only time that most expats are likely to see inside a public hospital is if they are taken there in an emergency - as these are the only hospitals with accident and emergency departments. In an emergency, you don’t have any choice but to go to the nearest public hospital to where you live.
The only other situation in which expats typically use public hospitals is if they opt for an elective surgery as a private patient in a public hospital.
How to enrol in Medicare in Melbourne
Permanent residents who are eligible are entitled to use Medicare and should, as a matter of principle, enrol in the system. To find your nearest Medicare office visit Medicareaustralia.gov.au.
Emergency care in Melbourne and Victoria
Dial 000 to call an ambulance in Melbourne, but remember that the ambulance service is not free; one serious disadvantage of the Australian public-private system. Many Australians, without cover, delay calling an ambulance as they are worried about the cost of the call-out. There are over 20 public hospitals in the greater Melbourne region and in any emergency you will be taken to the nearest one. Make sure you know which one that is in case you ever need to use it.
How to find a GP, dentist or other health practitioner
If you are new in town and don’t yet have a network of friends to give you recommendations, Liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au will help you locate health practitioners.
Private healthcare in Melbourne
Private hospitals, where you get your own room (but not always better food) are the best option for elective surgery or any other non-life threatening treatment.
As mentioned previously, the minimum level of health insurance that expats need is Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) that complies with the 457-visa requirement. If your employer offers health insurance cover as part of an expat package then take the highest cover they offer. Otherwise how much insurance you take out will be determined by such factors as your general state of health and your age. If you already have private healthcare, some international insurers offer policies that do comply.
To help you choose which provider is right for you, you can check costs and the level of cover for health insurance at the following price comparison websites:
- iSelect.com
- HelpMeChoose.com.au
