Medicare and Emergency Department fees

Emergency | Charges | More Information

How much will a visit to the emergency department cost me?

If you are an Australian citizen and have your Medicare card with you, your care in the emergency department will be free.

What if you don’t have a Medicare card?

You will be charged $85.00 for each procedure you receive in the emergency department if you do not have your Medicare card. This money can be claimed back through Medicare. Please ask the clerical staff for information about how you can claim back your treatment costs. All Australian citizens are eligible for a Medicare card which entitles you to free treatment in the emergency department. Medicare cards can be obtained through the Health Insurance Commission’s Medicare office. For more information please call 132 011.

What if you are not an Australian citizen?

Some countries have a reciprocal arrangement for health care with Australia. For citizens of these countries Emergency Department treatment is free. These countries are:

You will need your passport to establish your citizenship and entitlement.

If you are not a citizen from one of these countries you will be charged $AU85.00 for the initial consultation and an additional $AU85.00 for each procedure provided in the emergency department.

The clerical staff will explain the methods of payment to you at the time of your visit.

All travellers to Australia should consider taking out traveller's insurance which includes medical costs to ensure you are not out of pocket in case of an emergency.

Will you be charged for anything else?

The hospital will charge you for the hire and use of some equipment, such as crutches and special medical devices, if necessary.

Privacy

The medical information collected in the emergency department is essential for your treatment and is only available to the clinicians