Overseas Visitors at Alpine Health

Alpine Health is a public health facility. All patients utilising this facility for health care treatment must have a Medicare card. 

Overseas visitors from countries that do not have a Reciprocal Health Agreement with Australia are not eligible for Medicare. Those who are not eligible for Medicare benefits or have no Medicare card must organise payment for their treatment.

Medicare Ineligible Patients

A Medicare Ineligible Patient is any visitor to Australia who does not hold a valid Medicare Card, or where Reciprocal Health Care Agreements, or Asylum Seekers and Refugees status do not apply. 

Medicare ineligible patients are responsible for organising health insurance cover or money to cover their health care costs. The only exceptions are visitors who meet one of the following classifications:

Reciprocal Health Care Agreements

The Australian Government has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA) with Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden, and United Kingdom. These agreements may entitle a visitor to limited health services for medically necessary treatments whilst visiting Australia. You may not be covered if you are a student or have a 405 or 410 visa.

Please visit the Department of Human Services Medicare website for the most up to date information on Reciprocal Health Care Agreements for visitors to Australia. From 1 November 2017 there are changes to some of the benefits visitors to Australia can get under these agreements. Read more on the Department of Health website.

Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Asylum Seekers and Refugees are provided with free medical care in Victorian hospitals. Asylum Seekers and Refugees will need to produce appropriate documents to confirm their status from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship or a recognised asylum support agency, eg: Red Cross. Without documentation, payment will be expected for all medical costs but can be reviewed once documents are presented. 

Important points to remember;

• Reciprocal Health Care Agreements only exist for selected countries and conditions apply*
• It is your responsibility to ensure you have health insurance cover or money to cover the cost of your healthcare whilst in Australia
• You will be charged an upfront fee if attending Urgent Care at Alpine Health
• All attendances by a doctor at Alpine Health incur a separate upfront fee charged as a private patient by the medical centre
• Patients requiring admission will be charged additional fees

On attendance to Urgent Care

You will be required to provide the following information on attendance:

• Your passport
• Contact information whilst in Australia
• Health insurance details if applicable

Fees

Effective 01/11/2020 - (Fees subject to change – request an up to date quote on day of attendance or prior to admission)

Further Information

If you have questions about your admission to Alpine Health, please phone Client Services at the site locations below;