There are 11 countries that the Australian government has a reciprocal health care agreement with. This agreement allows Aussie travellers access to the public healthcare system in some countries. These countries are:
The RHCA can pay for hospital costs but may not cover ambulances, medication or rehabilitation. However, a travel insurance policy can cover you for these things and more. If you’re travelling to any other country, you’ll need to take out an overseas travel insurance policy to ensure that you are protected against expensive medical costs.
A basic travel insurance policy typically covers you for:
Reciprocal health care agreements are great – but it's still worth looking into travel insurance. It covers unlimited medical expenses and other much more common travel mishaps, like lost or delayed luggage and cancellations.
Gary Ross Hunter
Finder's insurance specialist
| Response | 75+ yrs | 65-74 yrs | 55-64 yrs | 45-54 yrs | 35-44 yrs | 25-34 yrs | 18-24 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical cover | 44.19% | 35.4% | 22.22% | 20.29% | 19.29% | 20.39% | 25.71% |
In most cases, no. Even though you’re not travelling internationally, the doctor treating you on the cruise ship may not be registered to practice in Australia.
The exact cover offered by Medicare for cruise passengers is detailed on the Australian Government’s Smartraveller website:
Medicare benefits are only available to cruise passengers who are travelling between two Australian ports, with no stops outside Australia along the way, and if the medical services they receive are provided by a Medicare-eligible doctor.
Cover will not be provided by your private health insurance policy either, so your best bet is to take out a travel insurance policy that will cover your medical costs. Make sure you have read your policy document thoroughly, as some providers require you take out a cruise travel insurance policy additional option.
You have plenty of options to choose from when shopping for travel insurance, and finding the right policy for your needs will depend on your budget and the type of holiday you are planning. Most providers will offer at least three levels of cover: basic, mid-level and comprehensive.
Next, decide on the type of policy you would like to take out:
When you’re shopping around for cover, make sure to compare the list of benefits included in a number of competing policies. Ask yourself:
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