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Australian Health System explained

• How does the Australian Health System work?
• What services does the Australian Health System provide?
• Who manages the Australian Health System?
• How are hospital cases managed within the Australian Health System?
• How is the Australian Health System funded?
• How much do health services cost in Australia?
• What challenges does the Australian Health System face?

• What is the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)?
• What is the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)?
• What is the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)?
• What is the National Immunisation Program (NIP)?
• What are Primary Health Networks (PHNs)?
• What is the difference between the health systems in Australia, the UK and the US?

Australian health professionals explained

• Who provides health care in Australia?
• How to navigate the Australian Health System
• What is a medical practitioner?
• What is a General Practitioner (GP)?
• What is a medical specialist?
• What are the specialist medical colleges?

• What is a registered nurse?
• What are allied health professionals?
• How are healthcare professionals regulated in Australia?
• What is the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APRA)?
• What are my rights as a patient in the Australian Health System?
• How do I complain about a healthcare professional or service provider?

Private health insurance explained

• What is private health insurance?
• Is private health insurance community rated or risk rated?
• How does private health insurance work?
• Do I need private health insurance?
• Why don’t private health insurers cover the entire cost of treatments?
• Will I get treatment faster if I have private health insurance?
• What happens if I don’t have private health insurance?
• What are private health insurance incentives?
• What are private health insurance surcharges?
• How much tax will I save with private health insurance?
• What is the best way to compare private health insurance policies?

Managing your private health insurance

• How to choose private health insurance
• What is a Private Health Information Statement (PHIS)?

• What are private health insurance premiums?
• What are private health insurance waiting periods?
• What is an excess?
• What is a co-payment?
• What are out-of-pocket costs?
• How can I avoid out-of-pocket costs?
• How to make a private health insurance claim
• What is informed financial consent?
• What is a Medical Gap?
• What is a Hospital Gap?
• What is the Medical Gap Cover Scheme?
• When does private health insurance reset?
• What can I do if I have a problem with my private health insurance?
• How do I change to a different private health insurer?
• How do I cancel my private health insurance?
• What is a Private Health Insurance Statement?

 Private Health Insurers Guide 

• What are the private health insurers in Australia?
• What are the registered private health insurers in Australia?
• What are the largest private health insurers in Australia?
• What is an open insurer?
• What is a restricted insurer?
• What is a for-profit insurer?
• What is a not-for-profit insurer?

• What is a mutual?
• How are the private health insurers regulated?
• What is white labelling in health insurance?
• Can private health insurers increase their premiums whenever they want to?
• What is the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman (PHIO)?
• What is Private Healthcare Australia?
• What is the Members Health Fund Alliance?

 Medicare Guide 

• What is Medicare?
• Who is eligible for Medicare in Australia?
• How does Medicare work?
• What is Medicare Bulk Billing?
• What is a Medicare Card?
• How to apply for a Medicare Card
• What are Medicare Benefits?
• What is a Medicare Rebate?
• How to claim a Medicare Benefit
• How is Medicare funded?
• What is the Medicare Safety Net?
• What does private health insurance cover that Medicare doesn’t?
• How to enrol in Medicare
• How to order a new Medicare Card

• How to get my own Medicare Card
• How to get an extra Medicare Card
• How to get a digital copy of my Medicare Card
• How do I find my Medicare Number?
• What is the Individual Reference Number (IRN) on my Medicare Card?
• How to add someone to a Medicare Card
• How to remove someone from a Medicare Card
• How long can I stay on my parents’ Medicare Card?
• How to update my details with Medicare
• How to link Medicare to myGov
• How to get a linking code to link Medicare and myGov
• How to link Medicare to Service NSW
• How to add Medicare Card to Apple Wallet
• How to contact Medicare

 Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Guide 

• What is the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)?
• What is the difference between the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and the Medicare Benefits Scheme?
• What is the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Fee?
• What services are included on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)?
• What services are not included on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)?
• Has the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) been reviewed or updated?

 Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Guide 

• What is the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)?
• What does the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) cover?
• How does the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) work?
• How to claim a refund through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
• What is the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Safety Net?
• How does the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) work for pensioners and concession card holders
• What is the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS)?
• How is the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) funded?

 Public Hospitals Guide 

• What is a public hospital?
• Are public hospitals in Australia free?
• Who funds and manages public hospitals in Australia?
• What is the difference between a public and private hospital?
• What is a public hospital surgery waiting list?
• How many public hospitals in Australia?

 Private Hospitals Guide 

• What is a private hospital?
• Who owns and operates private hospitals in Australia?
• Which private hospitals have emergency departments?
• How much do private hospitals cost?
• Why are private hospitals expensive?
• How many private hospitals in Australia?

 Medicare Levy Guide 

• What is the Medicare Levy?
• What is a Medicare Levy Exemption?
• How to apply for a Medicare Levy Exemption?
• What is the Medicare Levy Surcharge?
• How much is the Medicare Levy Surcharge?
• How to avoid paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge
• Can I avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge if I can access Medicare under a reciprocal healthcare agreement?

 Private Health Insurance Rebate Guide 

• What is the Private Health Insurance Rebate?
• How does the Private Health Insurance Rebate work?
• How to calculate the Private Health Insurance Rebate
• How to claim the Private Health Insurance Rebate
• Does the amount of my Private Health Insurance Rebate change each year?
• Are overseas visitors and overseas students eligible for the Private Health Insurance Rebate?
• How many Australians claim the Private Health Insurance Rebate?

 Age-based Discount Guide 

• What is the Age-based Discount?
• How much is the Age-based Discount?
• Can dependants claim the Age-based Discount?
• Do insurers have to offer the Age-based Discount?
• How to calculate the Age-based Discount

 Lifetime Health Cover Loading Guide 

• What is the Lifetime Health Cover Loading?
• How long does the Lifetime Health Cover Loading last?
• How much is the Lifetime Health Cover Loading?
• What is the Lifetime Health Cover Loading Base Day?
• How do I calculate my Base Day?
• Do I have to pay the Lifetime Health Cover Loading if there has been a gap in my Hospital Cover?

• How does the Lifetime Health Cover Loading work for people with a disability?
• How does the Lifetime Health Cover Loading work for new migrants to Australia?
• Do I have to pay the Lifetime Health Cover Loading if I am an Australian who lives overseas and return to Australia temporarily?
• How does the Lifetime Health Cover Loading work if I am an Australian who has been living overseas and return to Australia permanently?
• Who receives a Lifetime Health Cover Loading exemption?

About Hospital Cover

• What is the difference between Hospital Cover and Extras Cover?
• How does Hospital Cover work?
• Should I take out Hospital Cover?
• How to understand the difference between Basic, Bronze, Silver and Gold Hospital Cover

• What is Basic, Bronze and Silver Plus Cover?
• How should I decide what Hospital Cover tier is best for me?
• Can I get Hospital-only Cover?
• Can I get Hospital Cover without a waiting period?

Hospital Cover Clinical Categories

• Assisted Reproductive Services
• Back, Neck and Spine
• Blood
• Bone, Joint and Muscle
• Brain and Nervous System
• Breast Surgery (medically necessary)
• Cataracts
• Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy and Immunotherapy for cancer
• Dental Surgery
• Diabetes Management
• Dialysis for Chronic Kidney Failure
• Digestive System
• Ear, Nose and Throat

• Eye (not cataracts)
• Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
• Gynaecology
• Heart and Vascular System
• Hernia and Appendix
• Hospital Psychiatric Services
• Implantation of Hearing Devices
• Insulin Pumps
• Joint Reconstructions
• Joint Replacements
• Kidney and Bladder
• Lung and Chest
• Male Reproductive System

• Miscarriage or Termination of Pregnancy
• Pain Management
• Pain Management with Device
• Palliative Care
• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (medically necessary)
• Podiatric Surgery (by a registered podiatric surgeon)
• Pregnancy and Birth
• Rehabilitation
• Skin Conditions
• Sleep Studies
• Tonsils, Adenoids and Grommets
• Weight Loss Surgery

About Extras Cover

• What is Extras Cover?
• What are the common treatments covered by Extras Cover?
• How does Extras Cover work?
• Are there different levels of Extras Cover
• Why should I take out Extras Cover?

Understand Extras Cover treatments

• Acupuncture
• Antenatal/Postnatal Classes
• Audiology
• Blood Glucose Monitors
• Chinese Medicine
• Chiropractic
• Dietetics/Dietary Advice
• Endodontic Services
• Exercise Physiology

• Eye Therapy (Orthoptics)
• General Dental
• Health Management/Healthy Lifestyle
• Hearing Aids
• Home Nursing
• Major Dental
• Myotherapy
• Non-PBS Pharmaceuticals
• Optical

• Orthodontics
• Orthotics (Podiatric Orthoses)
• Osteopathy
• Physiotherapy
• Podiatry
• Psychology
• Remedial Massage
• Speech Therapy
• Vaccinations

About ambulance services

• What is an ambulance service?
• Does Medicare cover ambulance services?
• How do ambulance services work in Australia?
• What is Ambulance Cover?
• What questions should I ask before taking out Ambulance Cover?

Find out whether you need Ambulance Cover based on where you live

• ACT
• NSW
• NT
• QLD
• SA
• TAS
• VIC
• WA

• AAMI Health Insurance
• ACA Health
• ahm
• AIA Health Insurance
• APIA Health Insurance
• Astute Simplicity Health
• Australian Unity
• Bupa Health Insurance
• CBHS Corporate
• CBHS Health
• Hunter Health Insurance
• see-u
• Defence Health
• Doctors Health
• Emergency Services Health
• Frank
• GMHBA

• GU Health
• HBF
• HCF
• HCi
• HIF
• Hunter Health Insurance (by CDH Benefits Fund)
• ING Health Insurance
• Health Partners
• Latrobe Health Services
• Medibank
• Mildura Health Fund
• onemedifund
• Navy Health
• nib
• Nurses and Midwives Health
• Peoplecare

• Phoenix Health Fund
• Police Health
• Priceline Health Insurance
• Qantas Insurance
• Queensland Country Health Fund
• Real Health Insurance
• Reserve Bank Health Society (RBHS)
• rt health
• Seniors Health Insurance
• St Lukes Health
• Suncorp
• Teachers Health
• Territory Health
• Transport Health
• TUH
• UniHealth
• Union Health
• Westfund