A Yellow Medicare Reciprocal Health Care Card is issued to visitors to Australia who are residents of countries with which Australia has reciprocal health care agreements. Their access to Medicare services has time limitations and does not cover treatment as a private patient in a public or private hospital.

Yellow Medicare card holders can still purchase a hospital or extras product with St Lukes, however, they will not be covered for treatment as a private patient in a public or private hospital, as our hospital cover excludes cover for procedures that are not covered by Medicare.

Yellow Medicare card holders are entitled to claim the full benefits stated on a St Lukes Extras cover, limitations only apply to hospital cover.

All Medicare card holders, regardless of colour, are entitled to claim the Australian Government Rebate on Private Health Insurance if they take out an eligible private health insurance policy (hospital or extras). 

To obtain adequate private patient hospital cover a Yellow Medicare card holder can obtain Overseas Visitors Health Cover or Overseas Student Health Cover.  It should be noted that these covers are not eligible for the Australian Government Rebate on Private Health Insurance or for Medicare Levy Surcharge Purposes.  St Lukes does not offer Overseas Visitors Health Cover or Overseas Student Health Cover. You can find out more information on these covers at https://www.privatehealth.gov.au/health_insurance/overseas/index.htm. 

For individuals or families who earn over the Medicare Levy Surcharge threshold you may consider taking out an eligible resident’s hospital policy with St Lukes in addition to the Overseas Visitors Health Cover.  Both covers are required to avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge and have an adequate level of private patient hospital cover.

If your Medicare eligibility changes contact us to discuss your options.