Overview
The health system is made up of services and organisations that provide health care. These include hospitals, health clinics and health care workers such as doctors, nurses, and interpreters. However, it can be complex, and many people do not know what services are available or what they provide.
Medicare and the public hospital system
Medicare is Australia’s universal health care system. All permanent residents of Australia and some visa holders are eligible for a Medicare card. If you have a valid Medicare card, the Australian government will pay some or all costs of your health care including the cost to see your doctor and receive treatment in a public hospital or clinic.
If you have a Medicare card, you are also able to buy many prescription medicines at low cost through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Always take your Medicare card with you when visiting your doctor, hospital, or clinic.
Click here for more information on Medicare.
Private health insurance
Private health insurance gives you a choice of services that are outside the public system. For private health care services, both in and out of hospital, you pay towards the cost of your health care.
Private health insurance may also pay for some other treatments that Medicare may not cover such as dental services, physiotherapy, and eyeglasses. However, it does not always cover the whole cost of the service.
Always check with your health care worker, such as your doctor, and your insurance company to find out:
- how much the service costs
- how much your insurance policy will pay for
- how and when you need to pay.
For more information about private health insurance, visit:
Private health insurance | Australian Government website
Health and Wellbeing
International Students Health Hub.
Local health districts
New South Wales has 15 Local Health Districts (LHDs). These are areas that manage health services and hospitals in different parts of the state.
There are six LHDs in Sydney area, and nine LHDs in rural and regional NSW.
Do you know your local health district? Find local health information and services by visiting your local health district’s website.
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