| Information for Patients from Overseas |
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Residents of the following countries are covered by a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement between their country and Australia. This agreement enables them to receive free emergency treatment under Australia's Medicare system should they have an accident whilst in Australia.
The countries and its residents covered by this agreement are:
 Finland
Italy (for six months from the date of arriving in Australia)
Malta (for six months from the date of arriving in Australia)
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Republic of Ireland
Sweden
United Kingdom
Travellers from New Zealand and the Republic of Ireland need only present their passport to hospital clerical staff to be eligible for cover under Medicare.
If you are a resident from one of the other listed countries, you must take your passport and visa to a Medicare office where you will be registered and given a Medicare number. This number must then be presented to hospital clerical staff as proof of your eligibility to Medicare. This can be done during or after your hospital stay. The telephone number for Medicare is 132 011. They will advise you of the location of your nearest Medicare office.
Overseas students
Overseas students studying in Australia are required to be insured with the Overseas Student Health Cover Scheme regardless of which country they are a resident. This is done when enrolling for studies in Australia. The scheme is administered by some Australian health funds and covers medical fees and public hospital shared ward fees.
Other travellers
Residents of countries who do not have a reciprocal agreement with Australia are not eligible for free treatment, either as elective or emergency patients. Such patients will be responsible for the payment of all expenses associated with their treatment, including medical, diagnostic, hospital stay, prosthetic, pharmaceutical and ambulance fees. Holders of travel insurance will be able to claim these costs through their travel insurance company if they have been an emergency patient. | 
