How do I access everyday health care?
In civilian life, your GP is usually your first point of contact for health care. Your GP can treat common conditions, prescribe medication, and refer you to specialists when needed.
Specialist appointments usually require a referral from a suitably qualified health care professional and getting this referral may involve out-of-pocket costs. Services such as dental, physiotherapy and optical care are generally not covered by Medicare.
Understanding how everyday health care works helps you manage costs and get the right care sooner.
Where do I go if I’m sick?
Knowing where to go makes a difference.
After transition, navigating the health system can feel unfamiliar. Understanding where to go for care can save time, stress and money.
Your usual starting point: a General Practitioner (GP).
For most health concerns, your GP is your first point of contact. They can:
- assess your condition
- prescribe medication
- refer you to specialists for further investigation
- help coordinate ongoing care
- recommend changes to your exercise or dietary regimen
- treat minor wounds or injuries on-the spot
Your GP is central to your health care journey outside the ADF.
If your GP bulk bills, the cost of your visit will be fully covered by Medicare. If the GP does not bulk bill, you will usually pay the difference between the Medicare benefit and the doctor’s fee. This is known as an out-of-pocket cost or a ‘gap’.
Private health insurance does not cover GP out-of-pocket costs.
If you or someone else becomes seriously unwell or injured, call 000 for an ambulance or attend a public hospital emergency department.
Public hospital emergency departments are open 24 hours a day. A triage nurse will assess you on arrival and determine how urgently you need to be seen by a doctor. The level of urgency and the number of people waiting will determine how quickly you’re treated.
You’ll receive initial treatment in the emergency department and if clinically required, you’ll be admitted to a ward.
Ambulance services are not covered by Medicare. Private Health Insurance or State-based cover can help manage these costs. It is recommended that everyone in your family is insured for ambulance treatment either through private health insurance or a State ambulance subscription. The requirements and options for cover for ambulance treatment vary from State-to-State.
What qualifies as serious?
Breathing difficulty, bleeding that won’t stop, broken bones, head injuries, chest pain or signs of a stroke are a few examples. Any of these symptoms require urgent treatment at an emergency department of a public hospital.
If you need specialist care, such as a cardiologist or orthopaedic specialist, you’ll usually need a referral from your GP.
If a specialist recommends hospital treatment, you have a choice to be fully covered by Medicare as a public patient in a public hospital. Or, if privately insured, you can be treated as a private patient in a hospital of your choice.
Medicare contributes to specialist fees, but out-of-pocket costs are common.
Many, minor ailments can be alleviated or fixed with general treatment such as physiotherapy, podiatry, psychology or alternative therapies such as acupuncture and remedial massage. Medicare doesn’t cover any of these services (except for chronic or terminal conditions where GP Management Plans or Team Care Arrangements are in place.)
Private Health insurance extras cover can contribute towards these types of general treatment.
Transition Newsletter
Our monthly Transition Newsletter shares practical information about health care after service, aligned to where you are in the transition journey.