Sickness, injury or death overseas

Medical emergencies

You should contact emergency medical services in your destination and get to a hospital as soon as possible. You may need to pay or provide proof of insurance before you get emergency treatment. Find out more about medical emergencies overseas on the Smartraveller website.

If you get a Services Australia payment

You may be able to get an extension to your payment overseas if a medical emergency delays your return to Australia. For more information, call the Centrelink international services line on the Services Australia website.

Medical treatment

Most medical treatment you get overseas won’t be subsidised through the destination’s public health care system. You may need to pay the full costs of the treatment yourself. Find out more about medical assistance overseas on the Smartraveller website.

If you have travel insurance

Your travel insurance policy may cover some or all of the costs of the treatment. Contact your insurer to check what costs they can cover and if they can refer you to a preferred doctor or hospital.

Subsidised medical treatment

In some situations you may be able to get subsidised or free health care.

Reciprocal health care agreements

If you’re visiting a country that has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia, you may be able to get subsidised or free health care.

Find out more about reciprocal health care agreements on the Services Australia website.

Dual nationals

You may be able to access a country’s public health care system if you’re a national of that country. Find out more about access to public health care on the Smartraveller website.

Government policy

Sometimes a government’s policy permits medical treatment before payment or proof of insurance. You will still need to pay any medical bills you receive after your treatment. Find out more about paying for medical treatment overseas on the Smartraveller website.

Death overseas

If someone you know dies overseas, local authorities should notify the Australian embassy or consulate. The consulate or embassy will then notify police in Australia. The consulate can give guidance on what to do next.

Learn about what happens when someone has died overseas on the Smartraveller website.