Medicare (Australia)

Common card · No. 324937

Medicare is the publicly-funded universal health insurance scheme in Australia. The program is managed by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, while Services Australia is responsible for claims processing and registration. The scheme either partially or fully covers the cost of most health care and medical treatments, with services being delivered by state and territory governments or private enterprises. All Australian citizens and permanent residents are eligible to enrol in Medicare, as well as international visitors from 11 countries that have reciprocal agreements for medically necessary treatment. The Medicare Benefits Schedule lists a standard operating fees for eligible services, called the schedule fee, and the percentage-portion of that fee that Medicare will pay for. When a health service charges only how much Medicare will pay, this is called a "bulk billed" service. Providers can charge more than the schedule fee for services, with patients responsible for the...

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