Does Medicare Cover Dental, Optical and Ambulance in Australia 2026?

Plain-language guide · general information, not immigration advice

No — Medicare does not cover dental care, optical care or ambulance transport. According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs' "Health and Wellbeing" page under Settle in Australia, these three sit outside Medicare entirely and are paid out of pocket or through private health insurance. What Medicare does provide is free public hospital care, help with the cost of out-of-hospital care such as GP and specialist visits, and subsidised medicines.

What does Medicare actually pay for?

Medicare is a federal government service that provides payment and services for health care and medicine. If you are eligible, it gives access to free public hospital care, contributes to the cost of seeing a local doctor or specialist, and helps pay for medicine and other treatment.

In most cases the sequence runs in one direction: you pay for the medical care first, then receive a refund for some of the payment after you submit a claim through Medicare. Private health insurance exists to cover the costs Medicare does not refund, and to cover the costs of private hospitalisation.

Does Medicare cover dental care?

No. The Home Affairs page states plainly that dental care is not covered by Medicare, and adds that dental care in Australia can be very expensive. Dentists look after teeth and oral health, and the bill for both routine work and major work is yours unless you have cover.

The practical route is private health insurance: health insurance "extras" packages will often include dental cover to offset check-ups and major work.

Does Medicare cover optical care?

No. Optical care appears on the same list of services Medicare does not cover, alongside dental care and ambulance transport.

On the private side, the wording is slightly narrower: private health insurance funds may include services that Medicare does not cover, "such as dental care, most optical care and ambulance transport". So when you compare funds, check what the optical component actually includes rather than assuming a uniform benefit.

Does Medicare cover ambulance transport?

No. If you are transported to a hospital in an ambulance, you must pay a fee. This applies to the transport itself: Triple Zero (000) is the emergency number in Australia and can be used to call ambulance, police and fire brigade services.

Most private health insurance schemes provide ambulance cover, and where they do not, the cover can be purchased separately at a much lower price. That standalone option is the reason a full hospital policy is not the only way to close this gap.

The three gaps at a glance

Service	Medicare	What you pay	How private cover helps
Dental	Not covered	Out of pocket; costs can be high	Extras packages often include dental cover for check-ups and major work
Optical	Not covered	Out of pocket	Funds may cover most optical care — check the benefit limits
Ambulance	Not covered	A fee applies when transported to hospital	Included in most private schemes, or bought separately at a much lower price

How does paying under Medicare actually work?

Doctors — both GPs and specialists — charge a fee for their service. The government returns most of that fee after you submit a claim through Medicare. Some health insurance policies assist with the gap between the doctor's fee and the Medicare refund.

Bulk billing is the exception. Some GPs will offer bulk billing, which means they do not charge the patient a fee; instead, Medicare pays them a fixed fee per service directly. You can ask your health care provider whether they bulk bill at the time of appointment.

How do private health insurance extras fill the gap?

Private health insurance funds may cover your treatment as a private patient in a private or public hospital, and can include services Medicare does not cover — dental care, most optical care and ambulance transport. Cover is available to citizens and non-citizens, and packages range from very small and specific to comprehensive health cover.

Because the cost and type of cover vary widely between funds, comparing different funds matters. The federal government operates privatehealth.gov.au, which provides detailed information about private health insurance funds and how the private system works, and links to the majority of health providers in Australia for a fair comparison of their services. The Australian Taxation Office provides rebates on private health insurance depending on your income level, and there is a surcharge for not holding the insurance if you are aged 31 or older. This article is general information only and is not personalised advice about which fund, tier or rebate applies to you — rely on the current official pages and on the fund's own documentation for a decision that depends on your circumstances.

Who can enrol in Medicare, and when?

Migrants, refugees and humanitarian entrants generally have immediate access to health care under Medicare, depending on their visa. Other temporary migrants may have to hold private health insurance.

Enrolment is done in person at a Medicare Service Centre office seven to 10 days after arrival in Australia, with a passport or travel documents. The office sits within a Services Australia service centre, which also includes Centrelink and My Aged Care. Medicare can be contacted on 132 011, and office locations can be found through Services Australia.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Medicare reimburse me anything if I pay a dentist first?

No. Dental care is not covered by Medicare, so there is no Medicare benefit to claim back for dental treatment. The routes described officially are paying out of pocket or holding private health insurance with dental cover, which extras packages often include.

Can I get ambulance cover without buying a full private health insurance policy?

Yes. Most private health insurance schemes provide ambulance cover, and where they do not, the cover can be purchased separately at a much lower price. This is worth checking before assuming you need comprehensive hospital cover purely for ambulance costs.

When should I enrol in Medicare after arriving in Australia?

Enrolment is normally done at a Medicare Service Centre seven to 10 days after arrival, with a passport or travel documents. The Department and Services Australia share client information electronically to facilitate the enrolment process.

Do temporary migrants get Medicare at all?

It depends on the visa. Migrants, refugees and humanitarian entrants generally have immediate access to health care under Medicare depending on their visa, while other temporary migrants may have to hold private health insurance.

Are prescription medicines handled the same way as dental and optical?

No. The government subsidises the cost of most medicine under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), which is administered by Services Australia. Dental, optical and ambulance services are the separate set of costs that Medicare does not pay for.

What number do I call in a medical emergency?

All serious medical emergencies should be dealt with by ringing 000. Triple Zero is Australia's emergency number and can be used to call ambulance, police and fire brigade services.