CISA Talk 3: The medical system in Australia and understanding it

The medical system in Australia is quite confusing for those that are not from Australia. But really it is easy to navigate. We explain the system.

Image courtesy of RMIT Newintstudents

Depending on your circumstances you will visit the GP as they do everything. The GP will recommend you see a specialist if you need to or go to the hospital. In Victoria there are a limited amount of beds in a hospital so you may be put onto the waiting list.

Bulk Bill vs paying the Gap.

In Australia we have a way of paying the doctor. If they are a member of your health fund all you need to do is just show them the card and they will directly deal with your insurer. This is known as bulk bill. But if the doctors fee is a lot higher than what the health fund (insurer) covers then you will need to pay the difference. This is known as the gap fee.

There is a waiting period of 12 months for funds to go into your account especially if you are signing up to a new provider for the first time. Eg. a new student signing up to OHSC.

Extras
Your insurer does not cover extras. However if you want them to do this then you will need to take out (buy) extra cover.

Pregnancy
This was a huge issue at the CISA talk sessions where some students have unplanned pregnancies. Pregnancy is a huge thing and it costs about $5000-$15000 just to have it. And then on top of that you'll have to take care of the baby. The decision to have the baby is the female's choice. You can have a termination and it is legal to do so.

Confidentiality
Your doctor will never tell DIAC or anyone else if you are feeling unwell. So you need not worry about your VISA being cancelled. But if you are feeling severely unwell for a long period of time it may be a good idea to tell your uni. Most uni's arrange special consideration and they may also talk to your GP about your applications in order to make the best decision for you.