Australia operates a universal public health insurance scheme called Medicare. It covers Australian citizens and permanent residents. Temporary visa holders are not covered by Medicare unless they are from a country that has a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia.

However, holders of certain temporary work visas, including some 482 visa holders, may be eligible to enrol in Medicare under a Ministerial Order if their visa does not carry condition 8501. Check your visa grant letter and confirm eligibility with Services Australia before purchasing private health insurance. 

Medicare provides access to:

• Free treatment in public hospitals (as a public patient)
• Subsidised consultations with general practitioners (GPs) and specialists who bulk-bill
• Subsidised prescription medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
• Various allied health services under the Chronic Disease Management plan (up to 5 visits per calendar year)
• Mental Health Care Plans (10 subsidised psychology sessions per year)

Indian nationals who obtain permanent residency (subclass 189, 190, 491 pathway through 191, 186, or partner visa) are eligible to enrol in Medicare from the date of grant. Enrolment is done in person at a Services Australia (Centrelink) office with proof of identity and visa documentation.

The Medicare card is a physical and digital card used at medical appointments and pharmacies to access the subsidy. Bulk-billing occurs when a doctor accepts the Medicare benefit as full payment the patient pays nothing. Not all doctors bulk-bill; some charge a fee above the Medicare benefit (called a gap payment), which the patient pays out-of-pocket.

Medicare does not cover dental treatment (except for children under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule), most optical services, ambulance services (covered by state schemes or private insurance), or elective cosmetic procedures.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme subsidises many prescription medications. As of 2024–25, the maximum co-payment per PBS prescription is AUD 31.60 for general patients and AUD 7.70 for concession card holders. This is a significant reduction from the full cost of many medicines.

Indian migrants who manage chronic conditions (diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders, all common among Indian-origin populations) will find that PBS-subsidised medications are far cheaper than in India for high-cost pharmaceuticals, though cheaper generics widely available in India may not have an exact equivalent in Australia.

India does not have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia. This means Indian nationals on temporary visas (482, 485, 500, 309) are not eligible for Medicare. They must hold private health insurance or pay out-of-pocket for medical care.

Countries that do have reciprocal agreements with Australia include the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, and the Republic of Ireland.

Private health insurance in Australia has two components:

• Hospital cover: covers private hospital treatment, including choice of treating doctor, private room (subject to availability), and access to benefits for procedures not covered in the public system
• Extras cover (ancillary): covers dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropractic, and other allied health services

Monthly premiums for a family of two adults and two children range from AUD 300 to AUD 700 depending on the level of cover and the insurer. Top-tier hospital cover with comprehensive extras costs more.

The Australian government's Private Health Insurance Rebate reduces premiums for income-eligible families. For families earning under AUD 93,000, the rebate is approximately 24.6% of the premium cost.

For students on Subclass 500 visas, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is mandatory. OSHC must be purchased from an approved provider before the visa is granted and must cover the full duration of the student visa. Annual OSHC costs approximately AUD 700–900 per year for a single adult student. Family OSHC (covering spouse and children) costs approximately AUD 2,000–3,000 per year.

General Practitioners (GPs) are the primary point of contact for medical care in Australia. All non-emergency specialist care requires a referral from a GP. This gatekeeper model is different from the more direct specialist access common in India.

GPs in Australia provide a wide range of services including chronic disease management, mental health assessments, vaccination, women's health, minor procedures, and referrals. Finding a regular GP ("My Doctor") and maintaining that relationship is important GPs who know their patients' histories provide better continuity of care.

Appointments with GPs last 10–15 minutes for standard consultations. For complex issues, a long appointment (30 minutes) should be requested. Walk-in urgent care clinics exist in most suburbs for non-emergency acute issues when your regular GP has no same-day availability.

Australia's public hospitals are funded by state and territory governments and the federal government. Wait times for elective procedures in public hospitals can be long months to years for non-urgent procedures such as joint replacements or hernia repairs. For urgent and emergency care, the public system is well-equipped and free at the point of care.

Emergency departments triage patients by clinical urgency using the Australasian Triage Scale (ATS). Category 1 (immediately life-threatening) is seen immediately. Category 5 (less urgent) may wait up to 2 hours. Waiting times for lower-category presentations in major city hospitals can be long.

Major teaching hospitals associated with Group of Eight universities are particularly well-resourced. Royal Melbourne Hospital, Sydney Hospital, Princess Alexandra Hospital (Brisbane), and Royal Perth Hospital are among the flagship public institutions.

Mental health support is available through:

• GPs (who can issue a Mental Health Care Plan providing access to 10 subsidised psychology sessions per year, with an additional 10 available in exceptional circumstances)
• Headspace (for youth aged 12–25)
• Beyond Blue (telephone and online support: 1300 22 4636)
• Lifeline (24-hour crisis support: 13 11 14)
• Open Arms (for veterans and families)

For newly arrived migrants, adjustment stress and cultural isolation are real challenges. The experience of being in a new country without family support, adjusting to workplace culture, managing financial stress, and navigating bureaucratic systems simultaneously can affect mental health. Many Indian community organisations offer informal support networks, and some GPs who are themselves of Indian background can be easier to communicate with on sensitive health issues.

Dental care is not covered by Medicare for adults. Routine check-ups, fillings, extractions, and orthodontic treatment are private costs. Dental care costs in Australia:

• Routine check-up and clean: AUD 200–350
• Filling: AUD 150–350 per tooth
• Root canal: AUD 1,000–2,500
• Crown: AUD 1,500–2,500

Private health insurance with dental extras significantly reduces these costs. Many Indians find dental costs in Australia among the most unexpected expenses.

Children under 17 may be eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, which provides up to AUD 1,000 in benefits over two years for basic dental services.

Optical care (spectacles and contact lenses) is also not covered by Medicare. A basic pair of glasses costs AUD 100–400; premium frames and lenses may cost AUD 600–1,500. Private health insurance extras cover a portion of optical costs.