The Australian health care system has both a public option and a universal health care system. In 1984 the universal health care system was named Medicare. 

What services are provided by the Australian Medicare System?

According to the Medicare Australia website, “Medicare was established based on the understanding that all Australians should contribute to the cost of health care according to their ability to pay. It is financed through income tax and an income-related Medicare levy.”

Two basic services are provided:

• free treatment as a public patient in any public hospital, and

• free, or subsidized treatment by medical practitioners, both general and specialist.

Medicare provides out-of-hospital benefits for:

• consultation fees for doctors, including specialists

• tests and examinations by doctors and specialists needed to treat illnesses, including X-rays and pathology tests

• eye tests performed by optometrists

• most surgical and other therapeutic procedures performed by doctors

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