What does Medicare primarily cover?

Medicare primarily covers a substantial portion of medical fees, specifically 85% of the fee for certain medical services provided by specialists and general practitioners. This coverage is intended to reduce the financial burden on individuals when accessing essential healthcare services. The program allows eligible Australian residents to receive medical treatment at little to no out-of-pocket costs for services deemed necessary.

The structure of Medicare is designed to ensure that significant healthcare needs are met while still encouraging the use of private health insurance for areas not covered, such as expenses related to private hospital admissions or elective surgeries that may exceed the benefits provided by Medicare. While other services, like ambulance coverage, may be under certain state plans or require additional insurance, the main focus of Medicare remains on providing essential health services to the majority of the population without direct charges at the point of service.