Medicare is Australia's publicly funded universal healthcare system, providing citizens and permanent residents with free or subsidized access to a wide range of essential medical services. This includes free or fully covered treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, as well as rebates for professional fees charged by doctors, specialists, optometrists, and certain allied health practitioners. Additionally, Medicare subsidizes prescription medications through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), ensuring affordable access to vital treatments. However, it generally does not cover private hospital accommodation, ambulance services in most states, elective cosmetic surgery, dental care, physiotherapy, or routine optical services like glasses and contact lenses, which typically require private health insurance or out-of-pocket payments.
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