Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA)

What is a RHCA?

Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA) are special arrangements between Australia and 11 countries. They let Australians access essential medical services when they visit those countries, and in return, visitors from these nations get equivalent benefits when they come to Australia.  

If you’re from an RHCA country, you might be able to access certain free services under Medicare, Australia’s universal health insurance scheme.  

Which countries have an RHCA with Australia? 

Australia has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with the following countries: 

• Belgium
• Finland
• Italy
• Malta
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Republic of Ireland
• Slovenia
• Sweden
• United Kingdom 

What benefits can I access under RHCA as an overseas visitor?

What’s covered: 

• Medically necessary care: If you get sick or have an accident that requires urgent medical attention, Medicare has your back. It’ll help cover visits to the doctor or treatment at a public hospital.
• Discounted prescription medication: You may be eligible for cheaper prescription medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), a government program that makes essential medication more wallet-friendly.   

What’s not covered: 

• Elective procedures: Medicare isn’t a medical tourism scheme, so it won’t cover planned surgeries or elective procedures that can wait until you return home.
• Treatment at a private hospital: Don’t get caught off-guard – Medicare only pays for treatment in the public system, not at private hospitals.
• Ambulance services: Medicare doesn’t cover the ride if you need emergency transport to a hospital. You’ll have to pay out of pocket or rely on private health insurance.
• Ancillary health services: Need a dental check-up, new glasses or a physiotherapy session? Medicare won’t be picking up the tab for those.
• Repatriation benefits: Medicare won’t cover the costs of evacuating you back to your home country for treatment. To get this benefit, you’ll need travel insurance with an appropriate level of medical cover.  

Summary of benefits for each RHCA country  

The table below gives a quick snapshot of the healthcare benefits available for each RHCA country.  

An important caveat: while most visitors from the countries on the list are covered for GP visits, those from New Zealand and Ireland aren’t.  

Also, the length of time you’re covered by the RHCA varies by country, so be sure to check how long your benefits will last during your stay in Australia. 

If I’m from an RHCA country, how do I access Medicare? 

To get Medicare benefits while you’re here, you’ll need to enrol for Medicare. You can do this online or by submitting a form to Medicare Enrolment Services.  

You’ll generally need to show a few key things:  

Your passport

Proof of a valid visa for Australia

Proof you’re a citizen or resident of an RHCA country

Proof of coverage under your home country’s national insurance

Depending on where you’re from, you might need to provide a few extra supporting documents, such as rental statements or utility bills. Check the country-specific Services Australia page for more information.

Helpful tip

If you’re a Kiwi and are only planning staying in Australia for six months or less, then you don’t need to worry about enrolling in Medicare. Simply ask to be treated under an RHCA at a public hospital and show your passport or proof of New Zealand residency.

For New Zealanders who plan to stick around for more than 6 months, you can sign up for Medicare. This way, you can just flash your Medicare card instead of digging out your passport whenever you need treatment.

Do I need private health insurance if I’m from an RHCA country? 

Even if you’re covered by RHCA, it’s still a good idea to consider private health insurance. RHCA only covers the basics. 

Private health insurance for visitors is known as Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC). With this insurance, you can get cover for other treatments not part of your country’s reciprocal agreement, including access to allied health services like dentistry, optometry and physiotherapy.  

What if I’m from a country that doesn’t have an RHCA with Australia? 

If RHCA doesn’t cover your country, you won’t be able to access Medicare. You’ll be responsible for paying the whole gamut of medical expenses, including doctors’ fees, diagnostic tests, hospital stay, medicines, and ambulance fees at the time of treatment. Ouch, the costs could add up quickly! 

That’s where OVHC comes in handy. It helps take the sting out of those out-of-pocket costs and even covers extras like dental and optical care. 

How do I compare overseas visitors health insurance? 

Keep it simple and compare your overseas visitor health insurance options online. Or, if you want to chat it out, hit up our comparison experts at 1800 784 772 so you can focus on your destination.