Overseas and compensable patients

People with working and student visas should arrange for their own private health insurance to assist in covering hospital costs.

Tourists and other visitors are encouraged to arrange appropriate travel insurance. Please ensure you are familiar with your health or travel insurance coverage and all children or dependents are added to your policy.

In the unfortunate event that your child or dependent is required to attend Perth Children’s Hospital for medical treatment, you will be charged for the attendance and any subsequent treatment related to your child or dependant. It is important to understand that these charges are set by the WA Department of Health.

Charges applicable to overseas patients may include:

• Hospital accommodation
• Radiology
• Pathology
• Pharmacy
• Consultants’ professional fees
• Prosthetic costs
• Emergency attendance
• Outpatient attendance

Insurance coverage is a personal responsibility of the parent or guardian of the patient and prepayment of charges may be requested at the time of visit or during your child or dependent’s admission. The parent or guardian is responsible for the charges and any issues of health insurance are between the parent or guardian and the insurer. 

If you are an Australian Resident returning home permanently and have been living out of the country for 5 years or longer you will be treated as an Overseas Visitor and will be charged for your hospital visits. It is recommended you re-enrol in Medicare and provide the hospital with your new Medicare number for your child or dependent in order to be treated as a public patient for any future visits. Find out more about re-enrolling in Medicare on the Services Australia website.

Resources

• WA Health Fees and Charges
  • WA Health Fees and Charges (Arabic)
  • WA Health Fees and Charges (Dari)
  • WA Health Fees and Charges (Mandarin)
  • WA Health Fees and Charges (Vietnamese)
• Outpatient fees for Overseas Patients
• Information for Overseas Patients

Overseas visitors holding a valid visa and being a resident of a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) country are eligible for ‘medically necessary’ treatment.

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

Countries with reciprocal health agreements with Australia are:

• United Kingdom including Northern Ireland
• Malta
• Italy
• Sweden
• New Zealand
• The Netherlands
• Finland
• Republic of Ireland
• Norway
• Belgium
• Slovenia

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 as part of their visa requirements.

In order for the Reciprocal agreement to apply to your child or dependent's visit, you will need to refer to your country's current agreement with Australia and supply the relevant information to a Revenue Liaison Officer.

Resources

• Reciprocal Agreements information sheet

Compensable patients are those patients who are subject to compensation claims in relation to injuries that might be treated at the hospital. These patients are not classed as public or private patients.  

Patients who have been involved in a motor vehicle accident in Australia that is covered by motor vehicle accident coverage will have charges raised and sent to the Motor Vehicle Insurance Trust.  

Patients subject to workers’ compensation or other compensation claims will have charges raised and sent to the appropriate party dealing with charges related to the compensation claim. 

Charges applicable to compensable patients may include hospital accommodation, radiology, pathology, consultants’ professional fees, prosthetic costs and outpatient attendance. 

The motor vehicle (Third Party Insurance) Act 1943, Section 10, requires you to report your Motor Vehicle Accident which involved bodily injury, to the Insurance Commission of WA online at: www.crashreport.com.au or by phone (08) 9264 3333.

When you have reported the accident, the Insurance Commission will forward the necessary claim forms to you. Please complete these forms and return to the Insurance Commission to enable your claim to be assessed.

The following information will be required if available or known:

• Date of accident
• Location of accident
• Time

 The following information could prove helpful in processing a claim:

• Number of vehicles involved
• Registration numbers
• Address of drivers Involved
• Name and addresses of all parties involved
• If the Police attended

If you are not going to report your accident, can you please advise this office immediately on 6456 0320 or via email PCH.AccountsReceiveable@health.wa.gov.au