Will I have to pay for any services?
Alfred Health is part of Australia's public healthcare system and offers hospital care to any Australian resident under Medicare arrangements
Are you a patient without a Medicare Card?
Patients without a Medicare card (or ineligible Medicare patients) need to pay for hospital services. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have adequate and appropriate health insurance cover or adequate money to cover the cost of your healthcare.
Australian Government has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA) with:
United Kingdom, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Sweden, The Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Norway, Slovenia, Italy*, Malta*
(*six months Medicare coverage from date of arrival in Australia)
If you are from one of these participating countries, these agreements may entitle you to limited subsidised health services for medically necessary treatments while visiting Australia. Free medical care is also available to asylum seekers, refugees and people suffering from tuberculosis.
Find out more about Reciprocal Health Care Rights. Or alternatively, contact our Emergency Department (ED) Finance Patient Liaison Team or Finance Patient Liaison Team.
All account and payment queries should be directed to the Overseas Billing Clerk. You may also want to make a payment.
Private patients
You can choose to be admitted as either a public or private patient at our hospitals. By using your private health insurance you are helping The Alfred meet the costs of its services and purchase and upgrade equipment. This is entirely up to you and you will receive the same treatment whether you are a public or private patient. Contact the Finance Patient Liaison Team for further information.
TAC, WorkCover and veterans
TAC, WorkCover and Veterans’ Affairs patients do not need to pay for hospital services. These costs are covered by third party providers.
Medications and equipment
You do not need to pay for medicines given to you to take while in hospital.
All patients will be charged for medications provided on discharge and any equipment issued as part of the discharge arrangements.
Other fees for services
Some of our community services charge a small fee for their services. Find out more by visiting the service you will be attending on our Services & clinics page.