Overview

The Commonwealth of Australia was formed on 1 January 1901. The six states unified to become an independent nation under a single constitution, with Queen Victoria as the head of state.

For many years, Australia was dominated by its colonial past and predominantly attracted expats from the UK. Today Australia has citizens from all over the world who call it home.

Health Insurance and Health Care in Australia

When you’re thinking about moving to Australia, your first concerns are probably about arranging accommodations and finding a job. However, you also need to think about your health. What will happen should you fall ill? It makes sense to think about private health insurance. Australia does have reciprocal health care agreements with certain countries, but these only entitle people to limited care and are not designed for expatriates.

Many insurers can help arrange full health insurance in Australia suited to your individual needs, so that you and your family get the best quality treatment, no matter how far you are away from home.

Great Britain, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Sweden — have reciprocal health care agreements with Australia, which cover medically necessary treatment for visitors along with subsidized prescriptions for medication required to treat these ailments.

Dental treatment, transportation by ambulance and optometry are not covered, and these agreements are designed for short-term visitors and holidaymakers rather than for expatriates. If you are planning to move, expat health insurance in Australia is thus strongly recommended

Australia has a well-respected universal health care system called Medicare, with more than 1,300 public and private hospitals, including nearly 740 public hospitals providing acute treatment.

Most private healthcare package choices specialise in surgery, in particular, non-emergency surgeries, such as orthopaedic surgery. Expatriates relocating to Australia need to prove to the Australian officials that they have sufficient medical coverage with a minimum level of private health insurance to be granted their working visa.

Although an expat is a citizen of a country with a reciprocal health agreement, they still need to take out health insurance coverage to qualify for their visa because they can only sign up for Medicare while residing in Australia. 

Reciprocal health agreements only offer limited access to Australian medical services and expats should research the extent of coverage these provide. Typically, it is only restricted to immediate necessary care.

Australian medical facilities have scored well in international surveys on quality of care, though small hospitals and health care centers in remote regions may not be able to offer a full range of treatments, and there are waiting lists for many elective surgical procedures.

A significant number of locals also choose some form of additional medical insurance.  Australia currently has around 11 percent of its total national health care budget covered by private funding of this kind, and for those insured, it offers a choice of hospitals, clinicians and timings for treatments.

Australia’s healthcare system is facing a set of serious challenges, some shared by health systems around the world. Three of the most serious concerns are the rising costs within the industry, an aging population, and younger people who are dropping private healthcare coverage.

Australia’s health care system also continues to vary based on the territory of Australia. In 2020 and 2021, different territories had very different responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout Australia, COVID-19 vaccines are free, and hospitals have plans to provide critical care coverage where required.

Australia is working towards healthcare change and improvements. In 2021, Australian health insurance was simplified and made consistent nationwide. This includes more coverage for mental health care and at-home rehabilitation. You can be confident that your private health insurance in Australia will give you excellent coverage and care.

Travel Insurance Australia

If you are planning to visit Australia it is important to take a comprehensive travel medical insurance policy to cover you while traveling, remembering to check if a policy covers scuba-diving if that is your planned activity there.

Australia is a generally safe and democratic country, and expatriates and travelers are unlikely to be at any serious risk. Nonetheless, there are some concerns over terrorist activity, with a number of recent arrests by Australian police forces of suspects on counter-terrorism charges.

Sydney is a top destination in Australia for visiting tourists, who want to see the Sydney Harbour and Opera House among other attractions. Other popular destinations include Melbourne, Port Douglas, Cairns, Brisbane, Byron Bay, Perth, Adelaide, Surfers Paradise and Hobart to name a few.

Travelers who have stayed more than one night (within the previous six days) in a country with a risk of yellow fever will need a certificate of vaccination against yellow fever. Otherwise, there are no necessary vaccinations for travel to Australia, but all travelers should make sure that their tetanus, diphtheria and polio inoculations are up to date. Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccines are also recommended for those in certain risk groups, and inoculation against Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is also recommended if you plan to visit or work in agricultural areas of the Islands of Torres Strait and the Cape York Peninsula.

Australia is home to a significant number of poisonous insects, spiders and snakes, as well as larger dangerous creatures like crocodiles and sharks. The climate can be hot and harsh too — even in the cities — so it’s a good idea to ensure you carry water to drink, wear a high factor sunscreen and keep covered up with a hat. Swimmers and surfers should also be aware of strong tides and currents off many beaches, and should remain in supervised areas with lifeguards in attendance.

Life Insurance Australia

Expat life insurance in Australia is something that everyone with a young family should look at. It is often the case that the main income generator for expat families in Australia is one person so the impact on the family should a death occur to this person is potentially catastrophic.

Life insurance in Australia can allow you to cherish your years more easily without the stress brought on worrying about what will happen to your loved ones after your death. Life Insurance in Australia will bring additional peace of mind as you take on a new life with new challenges to face.