Lyla Lindsey
New Zealand and Australia have a reciprocal health care agreement, which means that citizens of either country may be eligible for free emergency treatment and some medical benefits when visiting the other country. Under the agreement, some medication may be subsidised, but there can be charges for some services, such as ambulance transport. The agreement covers medically necessary inpatient and outpatient care in a public hospital and does not include visits to medical practitioners out of the hospital. To be eligible for coverage under the agreement, individuals may need to provide proof of their citizenship or permanent residency status, such as a valid passport or visa. It's important to note that the reciprocal health care agreement may not cover all medical costs, and travellers are advised to obtain comprehensive travel insurance, including health insurance, before visiting the other country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reciprocal health agreement between New Zealand and Australia | Exists |
| Coverage for citizens/permanent residents of Australia visiting New Zealand | Medical treatment deemed immediately necessary by a medical professional, including pharmaceutical benefits, hospital services, and maternity services |
| Coverage for citizens/permanent residents of New Zealand visiting Australia | Emergency treatment at a public hospital, some medication, ambulance services not included |
| Eligibility for Medicare in Australia | New Zealand citizens living permanently or long-term in Australia, students staying longer than 6 months |
| Eligibility for publicly funded services in New Zealand | Australian citizens/permanent residents who have been in New Zealand for 2+ years or can demonstrate the intention to stay for 2+ years |
| Full coverage provided? | No, travellers are advised to purchase comprehensive travel insurance |
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What You'll Learn
Eligibility for New Zealanders in Australia
New Zealanders who are temporarily visiting Australia can get free emergency treatment at Australian public hospitals under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA). This includes medically necessary inpatient and outpatient care. However, it does not include visits to medical practitioners outside of the hospital setting, and ambulance services are also excluded. To be eligible for this, you must be a New Zealand citizen or resident prior to arriving in Australia.
New Zealanders who are staying in Australia for longer than six months may be eligible to enrol in Medicare as a New Zealand citizen. This will cover medically necessary care as a public patient, including inpatient and outpatient services in public hospitals, and some Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescription medicines at the general rate. To enrol in Medicare, you will need to show your current New Zealand passport.
New Zealanders who are living permanently or long-term in Australia may be eligible for Medicare, which includes free public hospital treatment and free or subsidised treatment from doctors. To be eligible, you must be able to prove that you have entered Australia long-term or permanently.
It is important to note that the reciprocal health agreement does not provide full coverage, so it is recommended that travellers from New Zealand obtain comprehensive travel insurance, including health insurance.
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Eligibility for Australians in New Zealand
Australia and New Zealand have a reciprocal health care agreement, which means that citizens of either country may be eligible for medical care in the other under that country's public health system. However, it is important to note that the agreement does not cover all medical costs and there are some services that are not publicly funded under the agreement. Australians visiting New Zealand are not, for example, entitled to publicly funded emergency transport by ambulance.
New Zealanders living permanently or long-term in Australia may be able to get free emergency treatment and some medical benefits under the reciprocal health care agreement. To be eligible for Medicare, New Zealand citizens must have been a citizen or resident of New Zealand before arriving in Australia. They must also be able to prove they have entered Australia long-term or permanently. New Zealanders who are eligible for Medicare will get free public hospital treatment and free or subsidised treatment from doctors.
New Zealand citizens who are temporarily visiting Australia can get free emergency treatment at an Australian public hospital under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement. Under the agreement, some medication may be subsidised, but there can be charges for some services, such as ambulance transport. New Zealanders who are not eligible for Medicare or help under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement have to pay all out-of-hospital costs.
If you are a New Zealand citizen staying in Australia for longer than six months, you may be eligible to enrol in Medicare. To enrol, you will need to show your current New Zealand passport. If you are not a New Zealand citizen and hold a Resident Visa, you will need to show your Visa label, eVisa verification or confirmation of status letter from Immigration New Zealand.
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What the reciprocal agreement covers
The Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) between Australia and New Zealand covers medically necessary inpatient and outpatient care in a public hospital. This includes some Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescription medicines at the general rate. However, it is important to note that the agreement does not include visits to medical practitioners outside of the hospital, and ambulance services are also excluded.
For New Zealanders visiting Australia, the RHCA may provide coverage for medical treatment if the need for treatment arises during their voyage or flight to, from, or through Australia. To be eligible for coverage under the RHCA in Australia, individuals must be New Zealand citizens or residents prior to their arrival in Australia.
For Australians visiting New Zealand, the RHCA covers immediately necessary medical treatment, including pharmaceutical benefits, hospital services, and maternity services. To be eligible, individuals must be Australian citizens or permanent residents on a temporary visit to New Zealand for up to two years.
It is important to note that the RHCA does not provide full coverage, and travellers from both countries are advised to obtain comprehensive travel insurance, including health insurance, before travelling to the other country.
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What the reciprocal agreement doesn't cover
The reciprocal health agreement between Australia and New Zealand does not cover the following:
- Visits to medical practitioners outside of a hospital.
- Ambulance services. New Zealand visitors to Australia are not entitled to publicly funded emergency transport by ambulance.
- Full coverage for all medical expenses. Travellers are advised to purchase comprehensive travel insurance, including health insurance.
- Out-of-hospital services. Under the agreement, you won't get a Medicare benefit for out-of-hospital services.
- Medical treatment in Australia if you travelled there specifically for medical treatment.
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Enrolling in Medicare as a New Zealander
New Zealand has a reciprocal health agreement with Australia. Under this agreement, New Zealand citizens visiting Australia are covered for medically necessary inpatient and outpatient care in a public hospital. However, this does not include visits to medical practitioners outside of the hospital.
If you are a New Zealand citizen moving to Australia, you can enrol in Medicare Australia. To enrol, you must demonstrate that you are living in Australia or have moved there permanently. This can be done by providing proof that you will be living in Australia for 6 months or more, or that you have lived in Australia for 6 months or more in the last 12 months. You will also need to provide a New Zealand passport and two documents that prove your family lives in Australia, dated within the last 6 months.
You can enrol online through myGov, or by mailing or emailing a completed Medicare enrolment form with your supporting documents to Medicare Enrolment Services. If your application is approved, you will receive your Medicare number and card in the mail. The processing time for applications is typically 16 calendar days, but some applications may take longer.
Until you enrol in Medicare, you can still receive essential treatment in a public hospital under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement. However, this is only a temporary measure, and longer-term treatment may require returning to New Zealand. Therefore, it is recommended that you take out suitable insurance cover for the period of your travel.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, New Zealand and Australia have a reciprocal health agreement.
New Zealanders who are temporarily visiting Australia can get free emergency treatment at a public hospital under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement. Some medication may be subsidised, but there are charges for services like ambulance transport.
Australian citizens and permanent residents of Australia's territories who are on a temporary visit to New Zealand of up to two years can get immediate, clinically necessary medical treatment, including pharmaceutical benefits, hospital services, and maternity services. Ambulance services are not covered.
To access reciprocal health services in Australia as a New Zealander, you will need to show your current New Zealand passport and, in some cases, your Medicare card. It is important to note that reciprocal health agreements do not cover all medical costs, so it is recommended that travellers also obtain comprehensive travel insurance, including health insurance.
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