As a Medicare ineligible patient it is your responsibility to ensure that you have health insurance cover or adequate money to cover the cost of your health care. You will be required to pay for all the cost of your medical care at South West Healthcare.
A Medicare ineligible person is any visitor to Australia who does not hold a valid Medicare card, or does not fall under one of the classifications below:
Reciprocal Rights: The Australian Government has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with the governments of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Sweden, The Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Norway, Slovenia, Malta and Italy. Visitors from Malta and Italy are covered for Medicare for a period of six months from date of arrival in Australia.
If you are a resident of a country that has a health care agreement with Australia (known as a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement) you may be entitled to limited subsidised health services for medically necessary treatment. It only applies to ill-health or injury which occurs while you are visiting Australia and requires treatment before you go home; it does not include planned or elective treatment. Visitors to Australia on student visas may not be eligible for Medicare assistance and may be required, as a condition of their student visa, to take out Overseas Student Health Cover.
Patients who may be eligible for reciprocal rights will also need to show a current passport or Reciprocal Health Care Card. Visitors from Belgium, the Netherlands and Slovenia may also be required to show a current European Health Insurance Card.
For any enquiries regarding eligibility and applications for a Reciprocal Health Care Card, contact Medicare on 13 20 11.
Asylum Seekers and Refugees: Asylum Seekers and Refugees are provided with free medical care (including diagnostic services) in Victorian hospitals.
Please note Asylum Seekers/Refugees will need to produce appropriate documents confirming their status from the Department of Immigration and
Citizenship or a recognised asylum support agency, such as Red Cross. If the document is not produced you will be expected to pay for all associated medical costs; however the fee will be waived once the documents are presented.
You will be required to provide the following information:
Emergency, outpatient and standard ward rates including rehabilitation, intensive care, maternity, paediatrics and psychiatric):
| Emergency attendance | $675 per visit |
| Day rate (bed rate) | $2,205 per day |
| Overnight (bed rate) | $2,205 per night |
| Outpatient (medical fee) | $410 |
| Hospital in the home | $700 per day |
| Interpreter | $270 |
| Maternity (normal delivery) | $2,000 (does not include overnight bed rate) |
| Maternity (complex delivery including caesarean) | $2,800 (does not include overnight bed rate) |
| Antenatal visits | $410 |
| Post natal home visits | $410 |
| Baby with mum | $400 per day |
| Baby in special care nursery | $3,020 per day |
| Uninsured maternity care & birthing | $17,075 (10% discount of $1,707.50 if paid in full before 1st appointment OR 3 equal instalments of $5,692 each, 1st instalment to be paid at 1st appointment) |
| Insured maternity care & birthing | Costs vary depending on your health fund/policy and coverage |
| Theatre/Prosthesis | fees if applicable |
| Intensive care admission overnight (bed rate) | $6,955 per night |
Ambulance transfer/s costs will be passed onto patient if transferred to another facility.
Diagnostic and radiology charges are required to be paid to the healthcare imaging department directly as this is an external service provider.
Pathology costs will be charged separately and are payable to the external pathology service provider.
Pharmacy costs are payable directly at the time of being dispensed.
Note: Doctors’ and anaesthetists’ fees will also be payable directly to each provider.