Definition

Medicare

Australia's public health insurance system. Reciprocal agreements may give eligible arrivals from Ireland and the UK limited access; Canada and the US have no agreement.

Medicare is Australia's universal public health insurance system, funding public hospital care and subsidising many medical services and prescription medicines for residents.

What a working holiday maker gets under a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) depends on the country they were living in before Australia and that agreement's evidence rules, not on the Application Passport alone. Eligible arrivals from Ireland may receive medically necessary public hospital care and some subsidised prescriptions. Eligible UK residents receive broader cover, including medically necessary out-of-hospital care, and student-visa holders can qualify. Canada and the United States have no RHCA with Australia, but someone arriving from another agreement country should check that country's residence conditions.