Australians are served by one of the highest quality health care systems in the world.
The system is complex, with many types and providers of services and a range of funding and regulatory mechanisms. Funding for health care provision is primarily provided by the Australian (Federal) Government, State and Territory governments.
At the Federal level the Department of Health and Ageing oversees the health care of the nation.
The Health and Ageing Department’s vision is better health and healthier ageing for all Australians through a world class system which:
= meets people’s needs throughout their life;
= is responsive, affordable and sustainable;
= provides accessible, high quality service including preventative, curative, rehabilitative maintenance and palliative care; and
= seeks to prevent disease and promote health.
Australian Government funding includes two major national subsidy schemes, Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). These schemes cover all Australians and subsidise their payments for medical services and for a high proportion of prescription medications.
Medicare
For twenty years, Medicare has been a central part of our world class health system that has guaranteed quality and affordable health care for all Australians. Medicare now delivers even more for Australian residents. The mainstays of Medicare remain. Australians continue to receive:
= free treatment as a public patient in a public hospital;
= the Medicare rebate, which pays 85% of the schedule fee for a visit to a doctor outside hospital;
= affordable medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
The many new improvements to strengthen Medicare include:
= a new Safety Net to protect Australians against medical costs for various treatments;
= extra money to GPs who bulk bill;
= an increase of doctors in medical workforce and nurses in doctors’ surgeries;
= more convenient ways of claiming your Medicare rebate.
Visitors from countries with health care agreements are entitled to limited access to Medicare. The agreements are with the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Italy and Malta.
All visitors, students or temporary residents from countries covered by the health care agreements are encouraged to seek information on their Medicare eligibility at the Australian Embassy or visa issue agency. For more information, call 1800 011 163 or visit the web site www.health.gov.au
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) helps improve the health of all Australian residents by ensuring they have access to necessary and lifesaving medicines at an affordable price. Approximately 75 per cent of medicines available on prescription are subsidised under the PBS.
For all information on pharmaceutical benefits and safety net arrangements for those requiring a lot of PBS medicines, contact the PBS information line on freecall 1800 020 613.
Private Health Insurance
Many Australians belong to a private health insurance fund. Private health insurance complements the public system and offers consumers broader choice in health service options including: choice of doctor, hospital and timing of procedures.
Private health insurance can also provide cover for services not covered by Medicare, such as physiotherapy, dental, optometry and podiatry services.
30 per cent rebate
One initiative by the Federal Government to make private health insurance more affordable is the 30 per cent rebate on private health insurance premiums. The Rebate helps you and your family, and the many Australians with private health cover, to meet the cost.
All Australians who are eligible for Medicare, and who are members of registered health funds, are eligible for the Rebate.
You can claim the rebate through your registered health fund, Medicare offices, or in your tax return.
Lifetime Health Cover
Lifetime Health Cover is a Federal Government initiative that started on 1 July 2000. It’s designed to encourage people to take out private health insurance earlier in life, and to maintain their cover.
Under Lifetime Health Cover, health funds are able to charge different premiums based on the age of each particular member when they first take out hospital cover with a registered health fund.
Lifetime Health Cover recognises the length of time that a person has had private health insurance and rewards that loyalty by offering lower premiums. People who take out hospital cover early in life will be charged lower premiums throughout their life, relative to people who take out cover later.
A list of all registered health benefits organisations in Australia and information on the range of tables and products offered is available from:
Private Health Insurance Administration Council
Suite 1, 31 Thesiger Circuit
Deakin ACT 2600
Phone: +612 6285 1644
Website: www.phiac.gov.au
DISEASE PREVENTION
Immunisation
The Immunise Australia Program is a joint Federal and State program which aims to increase national childhood immunisation rates so as to reduce the incidence of morbidity and mortality from vaccine preventable diseases in the Australian community.
The program builds on initiatives under the National Immunisation Program. It includes the provision of free vaccines to all providers, the establishment of the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register, provider and community education programs and a national adverse events reporting scheme.
All essential childhood vaccines routinely used in the government’s National Immunisation Program are available free of charge. In addition, the government currently provides free measles immunisations to all people aged between 18 and 30 through the Young Adults Measles Program and free influenza immunisation for all Australians aged 65 and over.
From 2003, all children turning 12 months of age will be eligible to receive free Meningococcal C vaccine under the National Immunisation Program.
In addition to this, the National Meningococcal C Vaccination Program will provide free Meningococcal C vaccine for all children and adolescents turning one to 19 years of age, over the next four years. This will be the largest vaccination program ever seen in Australia.
For more information contact the Immunisation information line on freecall 1800 671 811 or visit www.immunise.health.gov.au
Quality Health Information Online
Developed by the Department of Health and Ageing, HealthInsite is an Internet gateway linking users to reliable, high quality information online. This website aims to meet the needs of a growing number of Australians seeking easy access to high quality information about health and wellbeing so that they can make more informed healthcare decisions.
Containing links to more than 70 approved information partner websites, HealthInsite provides access to up-to-date information on important health topics such as fitness, nutrition, heart disease, diabetes, mental health, asthma, cancer and children’s health, to name just a few.
www.healthinsite.gov.au
Useful Websites
Australian Department of Health and Ageing
www.health.gov.au
The website provides comprehensive information on the Health and Ageing portfolio covering the Department, its agencies, health and ageing policies and programs, and access to key documents that demonstrate Government action on health and ageing issues.
It also provides links to other high quality and relevant sources of health and ageing information, including:
= HealthInsite (the Department’s Internet gateway to quality health information for consumers and health professionals);
= extensive links to a range of related sites including information relating to older Australians, e.g., the Seniors Portal;
= the latest information about Government campaigns (e.g., PBS, Strengthening Medicare); and
= access to the Department’s Ministers’ team page and Media Centre.
Health Insurance Commission
www.hic.gov.au
Each State and Territory has a health department, which is responsible for the health care delivery in their area
Australian Capital Territory Health Department
www.health.act.gov.au
New South Wales Health Department
www.health.nsw.gov.au
Northern Territory Department of Health & Community Services
www.nt.gov.au/health
Queensland Health Department
www.health.qld.gov.au
South Australian Department of Human Services
www.dhs.sa.gov.au
Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services
www.dhhs.tas.gov.au
Victorian Department of Human Services
www.dhs.vic.gov.au
Western Australian Department of Health
www.health.wa.gov.au
