Medicare in Australia for Indian Permanent Residents — Complete Guide (2026)

Getting your Australian permanent residency (PR) is a milestone moment. One of the immediate benefits is access to Medicare — Australia's universal health insurance scheme. As an Indian permanent resident, Medicare significantly reduces your medical costs and replaces the need for OSHC or OVHC.

This guide explains exactly who is eligible, how to enrol, what is covered, and what you still need to pay for out of pocket.

What Is Medicare?

Medicare is the Australian Government's universal health insurance scheme. It provides free or subsidised medical care to eligible Australian residents and citizens.

Medicare is funded through the Medicare Levy — a 2% tax on taxable income paid by most working Australians. Unlike private health insurance, you do not pay a separate premium for Medicare itself.

Who Is Eligible for Medicare?

As an Indian in Australia, your Medicare eligibility depends on your visa status:

Visa / Status	Medicare Eligible?
Australian Citizen	✅ Yes — full access
Permanent Resident (any PR visa)	✅ Yes — from day one
Applied for PR (partner, some family visas)	✅ May be eligible — check below
Temporary Graduate Visa (485)	❌ No (need OVHC)
Skills in Demand Visa (482)	❌ No (need OVHC)
Student Visa (500)	❌ No (need OSHC)
Visitor / Tourist Visa	❌ No
Working Holiday (417/462)	❌ No
Bridging Visa	⚠️ Depends on type

India does not have a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with Australia. Countries like the UK, New Zealand and several European nations have RHCAs that give their visitors limited Medicare access. Indian visitors and temporary visa holders cannot access Medicare.

Can I Enrol Before My PR Is Granted?

Yes — in some circumstances. You may be eligible to enrol in Medicare before your permanent residency is finalised if:

• You have applied for a permanent visa (such as a partner visa or certain family visas), AND
• You are currently living in Australia, AND
• You have a valid temporary visa, AND
• You have a family connection to an Australian citizen or permanent resident (partner, parent or child)

This pathway is most commonly used by people on a Partner Visa (820/801) who have lodged the permanent stage application and are waiting for it to be decided.

If your PR application is refused, your Medicare access ends (unless you have an appeal pending with the AAT).

Just got your PR? Find an Indian bulk-billing GP near you today. AustraliaWasi lists Indian doctors across all Australian cities — many bulk bill, meaning you pay nothing for the visit → Find Indian Doctors

How to Enrol in Medicare

Method 1: Online through myGov (Recommended)

1. Go to my.gov.au and sign in (or create a free account)
2. Select "View and link services"
3. Choose Medicare from the list
4. Select "Enrol in Medicare"
5. Follow the prompts — enter your personal details, visa information, and passport details
6. Upload or confirm your documents
7. Submit

If successful, you will receive a temporary Medicare number immediately online. Your physical Medicare card will arrive by post within 2–4 weeks.

Method 2: In Person at a Services Australia Centre

If you prefer to enrol in person, visit your nearest Services Australia (Centrelink) centre. Take:

• Your current passport
• Your PR visa grant notice (printed or digital)
• Proof of your Australian address (utility bill, rental agreement)

You will receive a temporary Medicare number on the day and your card arrives by post.

What Documents Do You Need?

For permanent residents:

• Passport or ImmiCard
• Proof of permanent residency (visa grant letter from Department of Home Affairs)

For PR applicants:

• Passport
• Evidence of your lodged permanent visa application
• Proof of Australian residence (two documents — one from Australia, one from India showing you left)

What Medicare Covers

Free Services (Bulk Billed)

Bulk billing means the doctor accepts the Medicare rebate as full payment. You pay absolutely nothing. Many Indian GPs across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth bulk bill, making healthcare completely free for PR holders and citizens.

• GP consultations at bulk-billing clinics
• Pathology (blood tests, urine tests) at most collection centres
• Diagnostic imaging (X-rays, some MRIs) at bulk-billing facilities
• Emergency department treatment as a public patient
• Inpatient treatment in a public hospital

Subsidised Services (You Pay a Gap)

Some doctors charge more than the Medicare rebate. You pay the difference (called the "gap"):

• GP visits at clinics that do not bulk bill ($20–$80 out of pocket typical)
• Specialist consultations ($50–$300+ out of pocket depending on specialist)
• Some pathology and imaging services

Subsidised Medicines (PBS)

Medicare also includes the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), which significantly reduces the cost of prescription medicines.

In 2026, the maximum patient contribution for PBS medicines is $31.60 per prescription for general patients. Concession card holders pay even less.

What Medicare Does NOT Cover

Understanding what is not covered is just as important:

• Dental treatment — no Medicare cover at all for routine dental (fillings, crowns, braces)
• Optical — glasses and contact lenses not covered
• Physiotherapy, chiropractic, psychology — not covered under Medicare
• Private hospital accommodation — if you choose a private hospital or private room, Medicare does not cover the accommodation costs
• Ambulance — varies by state. QLD and TAS include ambulance for residents. NSW, VIC and WA do not — you need ambulance cover separately
• Cosmetic procedures — not covered
• Overseas medical care — Medicare does not cover medical costs outside Australia

Do You Still Need Private Health Insurance?

With Medicare, basic healthcare is essentially free if you use bulk-billing GPs and public hospitals. However, many Indian Australians choose to add private health insurance for:

• Dental cover — routine check-ups, fillings, crowns (not covered by Medicare at all)
• Optical cover — glasses and contact lenses
• Private hospital cover — choose your doctor, avoid public hospital waiting lists, private room
• Extras cover — physiotherapy, chiropractic, psychology, podiatry
• Ambulance cover — essential if you live in NSW, VIC or WA

Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS)

If your income is above $93,000 AUD per year (2026) and you do not have private hospital cover, you pay an additional 1% to 1.5% Medicare Levy Surcharge on your taxable income.

For many Indian professionals earning above this threshold, it is often cheaper to take out basic private hospital cover than to pay the MLS.

Income	MLS if no private cover
Under $93,000	0% (no MLS)
$93,001 – $108,000	1%
$108,001 – $144,000	1.25%
Over $144,000	1.5%

Using Medicare — Practical Tips for Indian Families

Find a bulk-billing GP near you: Not all GPs bulk bill. Indian doctors across western Sydney, Melbourne's western suburbs and Brisbane's southern suburbs commonly bulk bill. AustraliaWasi lists them by suburb.

Get a Medicare card for your whole family: When you enrol, add your partner and children under 15 to your Medicare card. Children over 15 need their own myGov account to enrol separately.

Link Medicare to myGov: Once enrolled, link Medicare to your myGov account to view your claims history, download immunisation records, and access your My Health Record (digital health records).

Understand referrals: To see a specialist on Medicare, you need a referral from a GP. Without a referral, you pay the full specialist fee with no Medicare rebate.

Ambulance cover: If you live in NSW, VIC or WA, sign up for ambulance cover as soon as you get your PR. An ambulance call-out without cover costs $1,000–$2,000+ in these states.

Medicare for Visiting Indian Parents

This is one of the most common questions in Indian Australian families.

Indian parents visiting Australia on a tourist visa cannot access Medicare. India does not have a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia.

You must arrange travel health insurance for Indian parents before they depart India. A single hospital admission in Australia without insurance can cost $20,000–$100,000 AUD.

Travel insurance for Indian parents is available from Indian insurance companies (like New India Assurance, ICICI Lombard) and Australian travel insurers. Premiums depend on age and pre-existing conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I enrol in Medicare after getting my PR?

You can enrol immediately — from the day your PR visa is granted and you are in Australia. There is no waiting period.

Can I use Medicare while my PR application is still being processed?

In some cases, yes — if you have lodged a permanent visa application and have a family connection to an Australian citizen or PR. Contact Services Australia to check your specific situation.

Do I get a Medicare card?

Yes. After enrolling, you receive a physical Medicare card by post (2–4 weeks). You can also access a digital Medicare card through the Medicare Express Plus app or your myGov account.

What is bulk billing and how do I find a bulk-billing GP?

Bulk billing means the doctor charges Medicare directly and you pay nothing. Ask any GP clinic whether they bulk bill before booking. AustraliaWasi lists Indian GPs across Australia — many bulk bill.

Can I use Medicare at a private hospital?

Medicare covers some costs at private hospitals (like the Medicare rebate for doctor fees) but does not cover accommodation in a private hospital. For full private hospital coverage, you need private health insurance.

Is dental covered by Medicare?

No. Routine dental is not covered by Medicare. There is a limited Medicare scheme for children (Child Dental Benefits Schedule — up to $1,095 over 2 years) but adults must pay for dental out of pocket or through private extras cover.

Find Indian dentists in your area: AustraliaWasi lists Indian dentists across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth → Find Indian Dentists