Health Care

Australia’s national health system is called Medicare. It was created in 1984 and creates low cost, quality healthcare for any person who is a permanent resident of Australia.

Australia’s national health system is called Medicare. It was created in 1984 and creates low cost, quality health care for any person who is a permanent resident of Australia. Medicare covers 100 percent of all out-patient costs and around 75 percent of all inpatient costs at any public hospital. Because not all procedures are completely covered, many Australians also have private health insurance. Private insurance covers any extra costs, and also lets them receive care at a private hospital, which sometimes has faster or better care services.

Australia has over 1,000 acute care hospitals, of which over 70 percent are publicly owned. The public hospitals deal with most of the emergency and outpatient care, which are covered 100 percent by Medicare. The private hospitals are used largely for elective procedures or surgeries that have been planned out in advance.

The quality of life in Australia is very high. The WHO recognizes Australia as having the second highest life expectancy rate in the world. On top of this, 83 percent of all adults are in good, very good, or excellent health. The National Public Health Partnership is largely responsible for the healthy population. It synchronizes efforts between the government and the hospitals and also organizes awareness programs to promote good health in the population.