Australia Health

Australia has a scheme called Medicare which helps provide  a rebate on medical costs to anyone who is eligible.                         

Medicare Australia also runs the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). They also administer the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register for those with children under 7 (always remember to bring your childs immunisation records with you to you new doctor), the Australian Organ Donor Register                  for those over 16 years of age who can choose to go on the donor register.

They also run the Family Tax Benefit scheme, Baby Bonus, Child Care Benefit, and Maternity Immunisation  Allowance.
                                                                                                     
To be eligible for Medicare benefits you need to hold a permanent  visa, temporary visa holders are not eligible. You need to visit the Medicare office along with you passport, travel documents and permanent visa to get signed up. Medicare will then give you a Medicare number to use until your card arrives in the mail  within 3 weeks.

You need to take your card or number to each doctors appointment, you must then take the receipt into a Medicare office or post to them to receive the rebate.                     
                                                                                                    
Further information is available through the Medicare office, in the form of a kit. The kit is available in 19 langauges, in English large print, Braille and audio CD and Casette.                                          

To contact Medicare:                                              
                                                                                                   
Website: www.medicareaustralia.gov.au
                                                                                                      
Email: info(at)medicareaustralia.gov.au
                                                                                                      
Telephone: 132 011 - Medicare
                 1800 020 613 - Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme              
                 1800 653 809 - Australian Childhood Immunisation            
                                       Register                                                  
                 1800 777 203 - Australian Organ Donor Register               
                 1800 552 152 - Hearing and Speech impaired                   

                 131 450 - Translating and Interpreting Service

Mail: Medicare Australia
        GPO Box 9822
        In you capital city