Visiting from New Zealand

You’re covered for medically necessary inpatient and outpatient care in a public hospital under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA). Outpatient care doesn’t include visits to a medical practitioner.

The RHCA doesn’t apply if you travel to Australia for medical treatment.

You may be able to get medical treatment in Australia under the RHCA if you’re travelling to, leaving from, or diverted to Australia, and the need for treatment arose during your voyage or flight.

You don’t need to enrol in Medicare and won’t get a Medicare card.

Who can get it

To be eligible for Medicare you must have been both:

• a New Zealand citizen or resident of New Zealand before arriving in Australia
• temporarily visiting Australia.

If you’re a student and staying in Australia for longer than 6 months you may be eligible to enrol in Medicare as a New Zealand citizen.

If you're a diplomat

You’ll get the same entitlements as a non-diplomatic New Zealand citizen if you’re here for less than 6 months. This includes:

• medically necessary care as a public patient including public hospital inpatient and outpatient services
• some Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescription medicines at the general rate.

Your cover is for public inpatient and outpatient hospital care only. You won’t get a Medicare benefit for out of hospital services under the RHCA.

You may be eligible to enrol in Medicare as a New Zealand citizen if you’re staying in Australia for longer than 6 months.

What’s covered

The agreement covers both:

• medically necessary care as a public patient including public hospital inpatient and outpatient services
• some Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescription medicines at the general rate.

Your cover is for public inpatient and outpatient hospital care only. You won’t get a Medicare benefit for out of hospital services under the agreement.

What documents you need to show

At a public hospital or pharmacy you need to ask staff to treat you under the reciprocal health care agreement.

You’ll also need to show your New Zealand passport proving you’re a New Zealand citizen or resident.

When your cover starts and ends

Your cover starts the day you arrive in Australia. It ends the day you leave Australia.