Reciprocal Health Care Agreement

New Zealand and Australia have a reciprocal health care agreement, which means that New Zealand citizens travelling to Australia are eligible for limited subsidised health services for medically necessary treatment while visiting Australia. The reciprocal health care agreement covers treatment that is medically necessary. Medically necessary treatment means any ill-health or injury which occurs while you are in Australia and which requires treatment before you return home.

We still recommend people take out suitable insurance cover for the period of your travel. Reciprocal health care agreements do not replace the need for private travel health insurance.

For more information on the reciprocal health care agreement, please visit this website or email medicare@humanservices.gov.au. You can also phone Medicare directly on 0061 2 9895 3333.