Medicare in Australia’s universal health system provides all Australians with easily manageable and accessible medical services. Understanding what your medicare is, how it works, and how it can benefit you surely increases your experience about your health. This concept what is my medicare will enrich your information about your Medicare, how it works, and how it will be grateful to it for services.

What is meant by Medicare?

Medicare is the foundation of the Australian health-care system. The government of Australia provides funds for this system. In this way, Medicare is playing a vital role in providing health care services to all eligible Australians. Medicare was introduced in 1984, and now it is playing a crucial role in providing medical services to millions of people. It is working without causing people to worry about excessive costs.

How does Medicare work?

Medicare is working with the help of the Medicare levy. The Medicare levy is a tax that is paid by working Australians. In return, Medicare provides these working Australians with easily available and affordable medicare services in which visits to doctors,  specialists, and different allied health professionals are also included.

Here’s a basic breakdown of how Medicare works

• Bulk billing: When a person provides bulk bills, he can get the benefits of Medicare as their full payment service. This means that you do not have to pay money.
• Partial coverage: In some cases, Medicare provides services only for one part of the medical fees. If there is a difference between the Medicare cost of services and the healthcare provider’s fee, then you have to pay the “gap” fee
• Public hospital treatment: If you are a public patient in a public hospital, then Medicare would pay all the costs of treatment. But if you are not a public patient but instead a private patient in a private hospital, then you have to pay the charges for taking doctor’s services or other facilities.

Who is eligible for Medicare?

Medicare provides services to the citizens of Australia, the people who are living in Australia permanently, and some visa holders. To get services from Medicare, you have to live in Australia as well as meet the specific requirements of eligibility.

How to enroll in Medicare?

If you are newly shifted to Australia or recently met the eligibility criteria for medicare, then you can enroll yourself in Medicare with the following tips:

1. Check your eligibility: For enrolling yourself in medicare, you have to make sure that you have been living in Australia, and you also have to check all your visa requirements.

2. Gather necessary documents: To enroll yourself, you need some of your important documents to make sure of your identity, abidance, and your relationship status.

3. Complete an enrolment form: In the process of enrolling yourself, you can go to the website of Medicare and download the form from there. You can also get a form from any Medicare service center.

4. Submit your application: After filling out the form, you can submit it along with the required documents. You can submit your application online by mail. You can also submit your application to a person at the Medicare service center.

Once you enroll yourself in Medicare, you will get a card. You will use this card whenever you have to take healthcare services.

What does Medicare cover?

Medicare covers a huge range of vital healthcare services. By understanding what Medicare covers, you can easily make decisions about your health.

Medicare covers

• GP visits: If the doctor bulk bills, then you can properly meet with your GP.
• Specialist appointments: Medicare offers half coverage for visits to medical specialists. You can visit specialists like dermatologists, cardiologists, and many others.
• Hospital care: Medicare provides you with complete hospital facilities if you are admitted to a public hospital.  In some cases, if you are a patient in private hospitals, then medicare may partially subsidize the treatment.
• Medical tests and scans: Medicare offers services of medical tests that are required for general treatment. These services may include blood tests, ultrasounds, X-rays, etc.
• Prescription medicines: Medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) are contributed. Medicare also makes certain drugs more affordable.

Medicare does not cover

• Ambulance services: Medicare does not provide ambulance costs. So you have to arrange a private ambulance to reach your medical center.
• Dental and optical care: Medicare does not give dental and optical care. It offers limited services in this regard, especially to eligible children and those allowance holders.
• Cosmetic surgery: Surgeries are not allowed in Medicare’s services until it is not medically necessary.

Benefits of Medicare

• Provides free or sponsored healthcare services to Australians.
• Offers the most important services and cure medicines.
• Covers financial protection through the Medicare Safety Net.

Limitations of Medicare

• Does not cover different services like dental, physio, or cosmetic surgery.
• The waiting time in public hospitals may be lengthy in non-urgent cases.
• In public hospitals, there is a limited choice of doctors or specialists.

Conclusion

In short, Medicare is important for all Australians. It offers them a wide range of facilities, from their GP to certain medical diagnoses. The complete information about the advantages and limitations of Medicare gives you a chance to make healthy decisions about your health. You can also get to know when you need additional private services. So, this Australian healthcare system named “Medicare” provides you with a great chance to enjoy medical support.