What I could find on Australia's Medicare

"Medicare in Australia

Medicare is a National Subsidy Scheme that subsidizes services and prescription medicines bought from pharmacies. It provides free treatment in a public hospital. Medicare also provides free or subsidized payments to health professionals for specific services.

It was established in 1984 aimed at providing high quality health care that is affordable and accessible to all Australian residents regardless of their circumstance. For the period July 2004 to June 2005 alone, there are 20.5 million people who have registered for Medicare benefits. Also, there are about 236 million services processed during the same period.

Medicare is financed through progressive income tax and Medicare levy derived from incomes of Australian residents. The amount of contributions depends on their ability to pay.

Claiming Medicare benefits can be done in several methods. One is by paying the doctor’s fee in full and then reimbursing the benefit to Medicare at a later time. Another possible method of claims payment is by requesting the doctor’s fee in advance from Medicare. Medicare shall issue a check payable to the doctor. Doctors may also deduct the subsidy that will be provided by Medicare from the fees and submit the benefit claims directly to Medicare. Claims can be made through post or in person at Medicare offices or in designated agencies. Another aspect of Medicare was shared in the Australia Expat Forum last February 14, 2009:

You may have to take out private health but for prior conditions that will be expensive if you can get the illness covered at all. This link What Medicare covers – Medicare Australia says what is and isn’t covered by Medicare."