About benefits for pharmaceuticals
Visitors Health Insurance
Visitors to Australia are generally ineligible for benefits under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), so you may have significant out-of-pocket expenses.
Benefits are not payable for oral contraceptives or for pharmaceuticals prescribed for cosmetic purposes.
Working Visa Health Insurance
International visitors to Australia are generally not eligible for subsidised pharmaceuticals under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
With our Working Visa Health Insurance, Medibank will pay some benefits towards PBS listed drugs, prescribed according to PBS-approved indications, that are administered during and form part of your admitted episode of care (including drugs prescribed upon discharge). Your benefit is equal to the PBS government subsidy in excess of your patient contribution.
Pharmaceuticals used in oncology (cancer) and other treatments can be very expensive for people who do not have access to subsidised pharmaceuticals under the PBS. If high cost pharmaceuticals are required for your treatment when in hospital, you may incur significant out-of-pocket expenses.
No benefits are payable for oral contraceptives, or for pharmaceuticals prescribed for cosmetic purposes.
For more information on the PBS, visit health.gov.au.