Medicare ineligible patients

Who is a Medicare ineligible patient?

You are a ‘Medicare ineligible patient’ if you are an overseas visitor or student and:

• do not hold a valid Medicare card
• are not an asylum seeker or refugee
• are not a visitor from a country that has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia.

If you are a Medicare ineligible patient you will be charged fees for hospital treatment.

When you come to hospital you will need to provide us with:

• your passport and information about your visa
• your health insurance policy details
• evidence of your overseas residential address and phone numbers
• information on where you are staying and sponsor details during your stay in Australia.

Reciprocal Health Care Agreements

The Australian Government has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCAs) with the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Sweden, The Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Norway, Slovenia, Malta and Italy.

These agreements entitle you to hospital treatment at no or low cost, while you are in Australia. Depending on your country of origin, you may be required to enrol in Medicare.

View all countries with a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement

Asylum seekers and refugees

If you are an asylum seeker or refugee, you are eligible for free treatment in Tasmanian public hospitals. To confirm your status, you will need to produce documents from the Department of Home Affairs or a recognised asylum support agency (e.g. the Red Cross).

Patient charges

Will I have to pay for my health care while I'm in Tasmania?

Yes. You must make sure you have health insurance cover the fees for all hospital services.

There are fees for:

• Inpatient, outpatient and emergency department services
• Telehealth appointments
• Theatre (the room where you have surgery)
• Doctor services
• Anaesthetic services (this is what helps you not feel any pain during an operation or procedure)
• Prosthetics
• Medical imaging (for example, x-rays or MRIs)
• Pathology (for example blood tests)
• Pharmacy (for example prescription medicine) and
• Ambulance services

How much do I pay if I have health insurance?

You must pay the difference between the amount charged by the hospital and the amount paid by your health fund.

How much do I pay if I don't have health insurance?

If you don't have health insurance, you must pay the total fee for your hospital treatment. The fee will vary depending on your treatment.

How do I pay my account?

There are a number of ways you can pay your account for your hospital treatment:

• Over the phone by credit card (Mastercard and Visa cards accepted)
• Australia Post
• Service Tasmania

Refer to your invoice for further details.

What happens if I don't pay my account?

If you do not pay your account in the agreed timeframe, your details will be sent to a collection agency to handle.

If you are experiencing financial or other problems which make it hard for you to pay your account, please talk to our Revenue Management staff.

Overseas students

With the exception of students from Belgium, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden, it is a condition of your student visa that you take out Overseas Health Cover.

Medicare ineligible fees

• Medicare ineligible patients are required to pay for hospital treatment.
• It is important to understand the hospital fees for this treatment.
• The fees will vary depending on your treatment, and whether you are covered by a Health Fund.

Hospital fees

All rates are in Australian dollars.

Obstetric and gynaecological care (if you are pregnant)

• If you need antenatal care (care during pregnancy) or to give birth to your baby in our hospital, it is important to understand the fees for your care, if you are a Medicare ineligible patient.
• If your baby needs care in a Special-Care Nursery or a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, daily fees will also be charged.
• Your total fee will vary, depending on the treatment you and your baby receive, and whether you and your baby are covered by a health fund.

Please check with your health fund, to ensure you are covered for pregnancy related treatment. Make sure to ask if you are covered for both outpatient and inpatient treatment.

Please remember to add your baby to your policy as soon as possible after delivery, to ensure they are covered.

Special Care Nursery and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Fees

All rates are in Australian dollars.

More information

• Department of Home Affairs (for information on immigration and citizenship)
• Commonwealth Ombudsman (for information on Australian Private Health Insurance)

Contact us