Do foreign residents in general have to rely on private health insurances in Australia? Or can they avail public health facilities no matter what visa they are on?
In general, foreign residents who hold a temporary or provisional visa, including subclass 188 business visa holders, have to rely on their private health insurance in Australia to cover any unforeseen medical treatment they might need in Australia. As they are personally liable for all their healthcare costs while they are in Australia, adequate insurance can help limit their financial liability.
Generally speaking, provisional visa holders need to have private health insurance to cover their health needs until they obtain permanent residency. Once they have been granted their permanent visa, they will be eligible for Medicare. Treatment will be provided to all people seeking healthcare, but if not covered by a private health insurance policy, they may incur costly fees for the service. The following countries are also eligible for Medicare under a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia: Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
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