Yes, you can use your Australian Medicare card in the UK to access free or subsidised medically necessary care through the National Health Service (NHS) under a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement. This covers essential, non-elective treatments like GP visits, hospital care, and some prescriptions. You must present your Medicare card and passport.
You can recover some costs through Medicare, Australia's universal health insurance scheme. You can enrol with Medicare through Services Australia. If you're not covered by reciprocal healthcare arrangements between Australia and the UK, costs of treatment can be high.
In most situations, Medicare won't pay for health care or supplies you get outside the U.S. The term “outside the U.S.” means anywhere other than the 50 states of the U.S., the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Understanding Australia's Reciprocal Health Care Agreement
There's a reciprocal healthcare agreement between Australia and the UK. Some GP and hospital treatments are free if you're in the UK for a short visit. Check the Department of Human Services to find out what's covered. You'll need to prove you're eligible.
For visitors coming for less than six months, we would advise that you have travel insurance to cover for your healthcare. For those visitors coming for six months or more, you must have paid the immigration health surcharge, and have a valid visa in place, to enable you to access free NHS healthcare.
If you're visiting England for less than 6 months, you should ensure you're covered for healthcare through personal medical insurance during your visit, even if you're a former UK resident.
Remember to take your Medicare card with you.
You'll need it, along with your passport, to prove you're eligible for reciprocal health care.
Medicare doesn't cover your healthcare costs overseas – you will need travel insurance. But countries that have a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with us may cover some of your costs.
Healthcare in England is mainly provided by the National Health Service (NHS), a public body that provides healthcare to all permanent residents in England, that is free at the point of use.
The best Medicare plans for travelers include both Medicare Supplement, also known as Medigap, (Plan G or Plan F) and Medicare Advantage PPOs with multi-state networks. Medicare does not typically cover international or overseas travel, but some Medigap plans provide limited foreign travel emergency benefits.
The National Health Service (NHS) provides free healthcare at the point of use to UK residents. Services include general practitioner (GP) visits, hospital treatments, maternity care, and mental health services. Key aspects of NHS care: GP Services: Registering with a GP is the first step to accessing healthcare.
Most UK residents are entitled to free healthcare from the NHS. But many people also take out private medical insurance, which covers the costs of being treated by private healthcare providers.
If you don't have your card with you
A PRC gives you the same level of cover as a UK GHIC or UK EHIC. A PRC also covers you if you've applied for a UK GHIC or UK EHIC and it has not arrived yet. You'll need to pay in full for treatment if you do not have a UK GHIC, UK EHIC or PRC.
According to the latest 2025 CEOWORLD Health Care Index, Taiwan once again ranks as the country with the best healthcare in the world, maintaining its top position with an overall score of 78.72. South Korea (77.7) and Australia (74.11) remain in second and third place, respectively.
Get travel insurance.
Find out if your health insurance covers medical care abroad. Travelers are usually responsible for paying hospital and other medical expenses out of pocket at most destinations. Make sure you have a plan to get care overseas, in case you need it.
Yes, you generally lose direct Medicare coverage when you move overseas but can retain eligibility for up to 5 years as an Australian citizen; however, you won't be covered while you're away unless you're in a country with a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) and need immediate care, and you'll need to re-enrol upon returning, potentially facing waiting periods, especially if gone over 12 months or 5 years, with different rules for permanent residents.
Eligible Countries:
No, Medicare does not cover Australians overseas. Whether you are in another country for a short-term visit or to live long-term, you are not covered by Australia's universal health care system, Medicare.
Travel insurance can minimize the considerable financial risks of traveling: accidents, illness, missed flights, canceled tours, lost baggage, theft, terrorism, travel-company bankruptcies, emergency evacuation, and getting your body home if you die.
You're an Australian resident if your domicile (the place that is your permanent home) is in Australia, unless we are satisfied that your permanent place of abode is outside Australia. A domicile is a place that is your permanent home by law.
Those who visit the UK from overseas are eligible for free NHS primary medical care only. Therefore anybody may register and consult with a GP WITHOUT charge.
Even if you're staying in the UK for your break, having holiday insurance will provide cover for lost, damaged or stolen possessions such as baggage, and cancellation, cutting your trip short or delay to your trip in some circumstances.
An Overseas Visitor is someone who is not ordinarily resident in the UK and does not permanently live in the UK. If you are visiting the UK or have been living outside the UK for more than six months, you may have to pay for NHS hospital treatment whilst you are here.