Public healthcare access for asylum seekers
People seeking asylum in Australia who are not eligible for Medicare (Australia's publicly-funded universal health care insurance scheme) can access public hospitals in Queensland for free, as set out in the fees and charges for Health Care Services Directive.
On this page
- Services available
- Services not available to asylum seekers through public hospitals
- Cost recovery for service providers
- Information for service providers and healthcare workers
- Public health care in Queensland for people fleeing the Israel-Gaza conflict
- Healthcare access for asylum seekers who do not have a Medicare card
- Humanitarian Program arrivals
Services available
Asylum seekers are able to access medical, dental and pharmaceutical services provided by Queensland's Hospital and Health Services (HHSs) network.
Medical services
Services available to asylum seekers through public hospitals include (but are not limited to):
- medical
- surgery
- allied health
- mental health
- pathology
- radiology
- cardiology
- maternity.
Dental services
Asylum seekers are entitled to a general course of public oral health services delivered through HHSs, as stated in the Oral Health Services Eligibility Queensland Health Guideline (PDF 944 kB).
A referral form is required from an authorised support agency or community health clinic.
Pharmaceuticals
Fees for pharmaceuticals should not be charged to people seeking asylum if they do not have a Medicare card.
Services not available to asylum seekers through public hospitals
GP services
GP services are not normally provided by HHSs except in some rural and regional areas. In those areas the fees and charges for Health Care Services Directive applies.
The directive does not apply to providers who are not employed through or by an HHS, such as private providers.
Private practice clinic consultations
Private consultations are not a public health service under the fees and charges for Health Care Services Directive.
Cost recovery for service providers
HHSs must ensure there are no costs directly charged to Medicare-ineligible asylum seekers for public health services.
HHSs should seek reimbursement from other sources before writing off the fees. In certain circumstances, medical and pharmacy costs can be recovered from International Health and Medical Services (IHMS) and Status Resolution Support Service (SRSS) providers (e.g. Red Cross, Access Community Services and Multicultural Australia).
- Some asylum seekers may qualify to have their healthcare costs covered through SRSS. New entrants placed on a temporary visa while a decision on their Medicare-eligibility can contact their allocated SRSS providers for cost recovery options.
- Clients should provide a letter of supply from their SRSS service provider. HHSs can also contact the person’s SRSS provider if they have their consent.
- When an asylum seeker who lives in community or facility-based detention accesses public hospital services, fees can be directed to the Department Home Affairs via its health service provider, IHMS.
Where costs cannot be recovered by the IHMS or SRSS provider, they will be borne by the HHS.
Information for service providers and healthcare workers
Practical guides, handbooks and other resources is aimed at healthcare workers to help them achieve better health outcomes for people from a culturally and linguistically diverse background.
Public health care in Queensland for people fleeing the Israel–Palestine conflict
Queensland Health will recognise people fleeing the conflict in Israel and Palestine as asylum seekers and provide them access to public hospitals and health services free of charge. This arrangement will end on 31 May 2025.
People fleeing the conflict will be eligible for this recognition if they:
- arrived in Australia on or after 7 October 2023
- hold a Visitor visa (subclass 600) or a subclass 449 Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) visa
- do not have private medical insurance.
More information is available in this community fact sheet (PDF 305 kB).
Healthcare access for asylum seekers who do not have a Medicare card
- Medicare for Ayslum Seekers_Amharic (አማርኛ) + English (PDF 687 kB)
- Medicare for Asylum Seekers_Arabic (عربي) + English (PDF 1197 kB)
- Medicare for Asylum Seekers_Dari (درى) + English (PDF 927 kB)
- Medicare for Asylum Seekers_Farsi (فارسی) + English (PDF 929 kB)
- Medicare for Asylum Seekers_Tamil (தமிழ்) + English (PDF 1126 kB)
- Medicare for Asylum Seeker_Tok Pisin + English (PDF 874 kB)
- Medicare for Asylum Seekers_Urdu (اردو) + English (PDF 1003 kB)
Humanitarian Program arrivals
Our Healthcare in Queensland guides provide Humanitarian Program arrivals with information about our healthcare system and contact information for accessing services. The guides are available in languages other than English.