Visiting doctors while staying in Australia?
My job takes my overseas -- sometimes very far away. For now my wife is pregnant and is around 19 weeks. She is coming out to see me a few weeks at a time, and is intending on staying until she is due with the baby (so we can be together because I am obligated to be here 'til March or so).
The thing is, she will have to keep seeing doctors. When she's here (Australia), how would this work out? She has a passport and has been here before, but how would this work? Would the pay for checkups have to be done out of pocket? Is this something we should specifically work out before hand, as opposed to right on the spot? She will likely need to see weekly/bi-weekly checkups, combined with her regular doctor back at home.
The question is, more so actually, if we should prepare this before -- or just pay everything out of pocket when necessary? How would this work out?
I figured this question would fit since it involves variables surrounding travel -- and is not expatriate-related since this is only for several months or so.
Her health insurance has nothing mentioning international terms. And I'm just wondering if there's a "better" way of setting this up that should be noted.
Best Answer
Having a baby in Australia to non-Australian-resident parents is quite possibly an expensive proposition. A quick Google search shows that it would likely be at least $6000 for a natural full-term birth without complications. If there are any complications (premature birth, C-section, gestational diabetes, etc - and the list is long) then the medical charges will be much greater.
If your wife's health insurance doesn't mention international terms then nothing outside Canada is covered. You will have difficulty finding a travel insurance plan that allows your wife to travel much after about the 26th week, and even if you do then it won't cover any of the birth. You would have to ask your travel insurance provider if they cover regular pregnancy-related checkups.
If you work it out on the spot in Australia, then you will certainly be paying all of it out of pocket.
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Can I see a doctor in Australia tourist?
The Australian Government has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA) with many countries. Overseas visitors from these countries can access medical treatment in a public hospital. However, there are some services that are not covered, and so it is a good idea to have health insurance for your stay.Can I see a doctor in Australia without a Medicare card?
\u201cYou can see a doctor without a Medicare card. However you'll be expected to complete a private form or account for that treatment. If you do have a Medicare card, the Medicare card will cover a certain amount of the fees.\u201dAre doctors visits free in Australia?
Paying for your appointmentUnder Medicare, all Australian citizens and permanent residents have access to free or subsidised healthcare. In the case of a GP appointment, it might be covered in full (called bulk billing), or subsidised (private billing).How much does it cost to see a doctor in Australia without Medicare?
The average cost of an appointment with a GP (general practitioner) in Australia is around $50, while the average cost of a specialist appointment is around $130. Medicare is a public health system run by the Australian Government. It covers general medical treatments sought in a public hospital.Brief 6 Month review living \u0026 working in Sydney, Australia from a UK Doctor 🇬🇧
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