• Skip to main content
  • Skip to navigation
  • Accessibility
  • Contact Us
Government of Western Australia Crest
Government of Western Australia
Government of Western Australia Crest

Additional Menu

  • Accessibility
  • Contact us
Go to WA Government search
  • About SMHS
    • Health Service Board
    • Strategic focus
      • Vision and values
      • Strategic Plan
      • Annual Report
      • Environmental sustainability
      • Innovation
    • Executive
    • Conduct and standards
    • Freedom of Information
    • Governance
    • SMHS Excellence Awards
    • Contact SMHS
  • Our services
    • Our hospitals
    • Elective surgery
      • Contracted medical practitioners
    • Outpatients
    • COVID-19 information
      • SMHS staff self-reporting
    • Aboriginal health
    • Mental health
      • Kara Maar
      • Peel Mental Health Taskforce
    • Health promotion
      • Our priorities
      • Public health planning
    • Community Services
    • Health care snapshot
    • SMHS Online Services Portal
    • Western Australian Limb Service for Amputees
    • Library and Information Service
  • Our care
    • Safe, quality care
      • Reduce your falls risk
      • Preventing pressure injuries
      • Supporting patients with cognitive impairment
      • Understanding delirium
      • Hand hygiene
      • MySay healthcare survey
      • Healthcare associated infections
      • "What matters to you?"
    • Understanding where you will receive care
    • For overseas visitors and students
    • Patient rights
    • Patient stories
    • Private patients
    • Support for carers
      • If you can't visit an older patient
  • Our community
    • Consumer experience
    • Partnering with consumers
      • Community advisory councils
      • 'Put it to the People' engagement platform
    • Engaging with our community
      • GP Engage
      • Fiona Wood Public Lectures
      • Voluntary assisted dying podcasts
      • Health Stories podcasts
    • Disability access and inclusion
      • DAIP strategies
      • DAIP initiatives
      • Supporting people with disability
    • SMHS HealthReady Pipeline
      • About HealthReady
      • Get involved in HealthReady
      • Current HealthReady projects
    • Our volunteers
    • Events
  • Our research
    • About research at SMHS
    • Current research
      • Allied Health Research Unit
      • Nursing and Midwifery Research Unit
    • Our research stories
    • For researchers
      • SMHS Research Integrity Advisors
    • Participate in our research
      • Valuing the consumer voice
  • Work with us
    • Career opportunities
      • Allied health and health professionals
      • Clinical academics
      • Corporate and non-clinical careers
      • Medical
      • Mental health
      • Nursing and midwifery
    • Employee benefits
    • Apply for a job
    • Living in WA
  • News
  1. Home
  2. Our care
  3. For overseas visitors and students

Hospital treatment costs for overseas visitors and students

Learn about the treatment costs you are expected to pay for while in Australia

Hospital treatment costs for overseas visitors and students

If you are an overseas visitor or student and need health care at a SMHS hospital while you are in Australia, it is important to know what you will have to pay for.

If you have travel health insurance

If you have travel health insurance, let the hospital staff know so they can record your insurance details.

Depending on your level of cover, your insurer may pay some or all of your hospital treatment costs. Check with your insurer to see what treatment you are covered for.

In some cases, you may need to pay a deposit, but the hospital will let you know.

The hospital will contact you directly if there is a problem with your claim.

Reciprocal Health Care Agreements

Overseas visitors holding a valid visa and who are residents of a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) country can receive ‘medically necessary’ treatment under the Australian Government’s Medicare system.

‘Medically necessary’ treatment covers ill-health or injury that occurs while visiting Australia and requires treatment before you return home.

RHCA eligibility generally depends on a person being a resident (not necessarily a citizen) of their home country and a visitor to Australia.

Australia currently holds agreements with the following countries:

  • Belgium
  • Finland
  • Italy*
  • Malta*
  • the Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Republic of Ireland
  • Slovenia
  • Sweden
  • United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland).

*First six months of arrival.

To receive free emergency treatment under an RHCA you must provide proof of your eligibility, usually in the form of a valid:

  • Reciprocal Medicare card
  • passport and/or European Health Insurance Card for the relevant country.

Visit Services Australia (external site) for more information about these agreements, including information in different languages.

For residents of countries without an RHCA

If you are a resident of a country that does not have an RHCA with Australia, you:

  • cannot receive free treatment via Medicare
  • are responsible for the payment of all costs associated with your hospital treatment, unless you hold adequate travel health insurance.

These costs include:

  • accommodation costs for inpatient and same day admitted services – you can request a list of these costs from admissions or emergency department clerical staff or the Compensable Patient Liaison Officer
  • emergency department costs based on level of urgency as determined by nursing staff
  • for treatment at Rottnest Island Nursing Post, which is charged as an outpatient fee per occasion of service
  • costs for medical services, pathology, radiology, pharmaceutical, prosthesis, and orthoses
  • outpatient treatment costs per appointment (including telephone consultations).

If you are on a student visa

Only overseas visitors on student visas from the following countries are covered by RHCAs:

  • New Zealand
  • United Kingdom
  • the Netherlands
  • Belgium
  • Sweden
  • Italy.

Most foreign students studying in Australia are not covered by a RHCA. These students are required to take out Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) and must maintain that cover throughout their stay in Australia.

Pay your SMHS invoice online

Read how to pay your invoice online (Healthy WA).

If you have questions about your invoice, please phone the number provided on the top right of the invoice.

More information

If you require more information about your eligibility, need your hospital journey explained, or have questions about any hospital bills you have received, please contact:

Fiona Stanley Hospital

Compensable Patient Administration Officer Phone: (08) 6152 7910
Email: FSH.Revenue@health.wa.gov.au
7am – 4pm, 7 days per week

Fremantle Hospital

Compensable Patient Administration Officer
Phone: (08) 9431 2479
Email: PPLOFH@health.wa.gov.au
8am – 4pm Monday to Friday

Peel Health Campus

Compensable Patient Liaison Officer
Phone: 9531 8000
Email: phc.cplo@health.wa.gov.au
8am – 4pm, Monday to Friday

Rockingham General Hospital

Compensable Patient Liaison Officer
Phone: (08) 9599 4382 or (08) 9599 4306
Email: rpg.pplo@health.wa.gov.au
8am – 4pm, Monday to Friday

 

Last Updated: 28/02/2025
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

Footer menu

  • wa.gov.au
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

Brought to you by the Department of Health, Western Australia

© Government of Western Australia 2018 to