Medicare Cover for Australia

[carterb]

Hi, Im going from the UK to Australia in a couple of months. Just read on my insurance that if any need any medical treatment while im there (hopefully I won't!) that if I don't have Medicare I may not have a valid insurance claim. Someone who has already been to Oz didn't get it and said it wasn't needed. Does anyone have any idea if I need to get this before I go?

Thanks for your help.

[GK Fanatic]

Absolute rubbish. All you need is full Worldwide insurance cover and you are all set. Of course if you are going to do any dangerous sports like a bit of bungee or hang gliding you would need to top it up. The Medicare thing is absolute tripe!! Have a great time and if you are in Sydney do the Bridgeclimb (they insure you don't worry) its fabulous !!!

[dzug]

If you need emergency medical treatment while you are there then you are covered by a reciprocal agreement between the Aus government and the NHS. Doesn't mean that it is free - it will be under the same conditions as an Australian resident, whatever they are. But it's not dependent on joining Medicare.
Maybe your insurance policy is saying you must take advantage of this before making a claim?

[carterb]

Thanks for the info. Think Insurance company's must put all sorts of clauses in these days to try and confuse! Not sure where im headed yet GK, starting in Melbourne but if I make Sydney I will look at doing the Bridgeclimb!

Thanks