Healthcare

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Australians and New Zealanders are a health-conscious bunch, embracing everything from conventional healthcare to a variety of alternative therapies

Medicare is Australia's equivalent to the NHS and holds a reciprocal arrangement with the UK, as does New Zealand's healthcare system. Both countries' citizens and permanent residents are entitled to free or subsidised state health benefits. While both systems are deemed to be world-class, private health insurance is commonplace among migrants. The reason for this is because it's well known that Medicare, like many other countries' national healthcare systems, suffers from under-funding and staff shortages.

The 36,000 Brits who made the permanent leap to Australia and New Zealand in 2005 were almost certainly seeking a healthier and more active lifestyle than they had back home. Antipodean culture is a more relaxed version of our own, and on average Australian and New Zealand males and females live to a generous 78 and 83 years respectively; two years longer than their UK cousins.

The sun-bleached beaches and World Heritage National Parks encourage many migrants to reap the benefits of outdoor living, swapping TV for bungee and slippers for flippers. The warm climate and exercise are sure to help you stay in shape, but what else do you need to know about staying healthy Down Under?

The healthcare systems

Unlike the British NHS, not all services are free Down Under, though common consensus suggests that quality of service and hygiene standards are much higher. The Medicare system comprises public and private health service providers working alongside voluntary workers and charities. Whereas the government develops national policies, it is down to state and territory authorities to actually run and monitor public health services.

The New Zealand Ministry of Health, along with District Health Boards, manage their country's healthcare, with social security funds met by general taxation. In Australia however, as in the UK, contributions are taken from salaries.

Most doctors in Australia are self-employed, but work within state-funded Medicare. Unlike the UK, there is no requirement to register with a doctor or dentist, but you will want to locate them upon arrival for when you need them.

A quick analysis of someone's smile is a good way of choosing your dentist! Dentists are prolific in cities but sparse in remote areas, especially in Australia, where mobile dentists or the flying doctors will assist in emergencies. The remarkable non-profit Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia operates 24-hours. They not only attend emergencies, evacuate and provide healthcare to remote areas, but also deliver health education to those living in the bush. One of their bases at Broken Hill (which is actually the film set from the Mel Gibson movie Mad Max) is open to the public and well worth visiting to see these high flyers at work in the outback.

Visiting a doctor

Many doctors work in group practices/walk-in clinics, although some operate independently. Consultations usually last between 10-20 minutes (the UK average is 8-10), though bulk-billing doctors are often restricted to six-minute consultation times. You have the right to visit any doctor without applying to change.

Doctors in private practices may bill Medicare directly if their surgery bulk-bills. If they bill you, pay in full upon consultation and claim back your benefit from Medicare, either at an office, by mail, or electronically. Otherwise, post your unpaid bill and claim form to a Medicare office to receive a cheque made payable to your doctor. You then pay any difference (known as the 'gap') between the benefit provided by Medicare's Schedule Fee (price set by government) and the doctor's original bill.

New Zealand's doctors charge between NZ$35 and NZ$50 (£12-£18) for consultations (the concessions that are available vary). By July 2007, these fees will be reduced by Primary Health Organisations (various practitioners, including nurses and dieticians), who work together for the prevention and treatment of illness.

If you visit a New Zealand doctor more than 12 times yearly for the same condition, a High Use Health Card enables you to reduce your consultation fees to NZ$15-NZ$20 (around £5-£7).

Also, it's worth noting that New Zealand's nurses are highly trained and can prescribe certain medicines and administer particular treatments that aren't permitted in other countries.

Out-of-hospital entitlements

Medicare provides free or subsidised doctor and specialist consultation fees and treatment, including most surgical procedures (concessions vary). As in the UK, medicines Down Under are subsidised by government agencies. You pay a set fee of A$29.50 (£12) in Australia and NZ$15 (£5) maximum in New Zealand (concessions vary).

Certain surgical procedures by Medicare-approved dentists are covered, as are optometrist-performed eye tests. Medicare also subsidises acupuncture, while New Zealand's system subsidises physiotherapy treatment, chiropractic work and osteopathy procedures (by doctor referral only).

Every two years, free mammograms are offered to women over 40 years old in Australia (in New Zealand, the age limit is for those over 45) at fixed or mobile units.

In-hospital entitlements

Unlike in Australia, New Zealand's ambulances are free (dial 111 in an emergency). Still, public patients in public hospitals in both Australia and New Zealand receive free treatment and after-care.

If you are a private patient in a public or private hospital, Medicare will pay 75 per cent of the Schedule Fee for your treatment. Part or all of the balance may be paid by your private health insurers, as will hospital accommodation, theatre fees and medicines. Public hospitals in New Zealand don't allow private patients.

A major difference in having an accident in New Zealand as opposed to Australia or the UK is that rather than being covered by the state, all A&E costs are compensated (generously) through the governmental Accident Compensation Corporation. Uniquely, patients undergoing lengthy accident rehabilitation will receive weekly allowances throughout (monitored) recovery.

Private health insurance

Lengthy waiting lists are the main reasons that induce migrants to seek private insurance. Both countries have suffered negative press with horror stories of patients waiting an eternity for treatment; but in truth, so has the UK. In fact, the average hip replacement waiting time (in months) in Australia is five, New Zealand six to nine, and in England 11.

Some policies cover health checks and complementary therapies such as chiropractic/osteopathy treatments, acupuncture and homeopathy. Also, the Australian government refunds 30 per cent of your premium; though note that premiums increase if joining after the age of 31.

You can get dental insurance in Australia, but standard policies do not cover treatment for crowns, bridges or dentures. Private dental insurance in New Zealand is highly recommended. While their dentists are world-famous for their quality of training and expertise, the prices vary enormously. In general you can expect to pay around NZ$65 (£23) for a check-up and NZ$90 (£32) for a filling. However, the price for dentures can rise to the thousands. Also, you will have to be declared 'dentally fit' before you're accepted, so invest in your teeth by seeing your UK dentist just before you emigrate.

Complementary therapies

While relatively recent, the rise of complementary therapies Down Under has been meteoric. The desire to avoid unwanted side-effects from prescription drugs has promoted the use of natural herbal remedies, hands-on therapies and nutrition. Unlike here in the UK, most chemists - and even health food shops across Australia - have a qualified naturopath on-site, who can give their professional advice on a wide range of conditions and treatments to help you determine which is the most appropriate in your particular case.

Such is the demand from patients that an impressive 60 per cent of Australia's doctors are seeking further training in acupuncture, chiropractic/osteopathy, homeopathy, reflexology or aromatherapy massage. In comparison, approximately 50 per cent of UK doctors are integrating complementary therapies into their practices, and 50 per cent of the population of New Zealanders have tried complementary therapies.

Sydney's Australasian College of Natural Therapies (www.acnt.edu.au) is now one of the world's leading promoters of professional natural healthcare and trains conventional medical practitioners to integrate complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) within their surgeries.

Natural remedies

Zinopinr is proven to massively reduce the risk of DVT on long-haul flights. It has also been claimed that this herbal supplement prevents jetlag, too. For a natural mozzie-repellent, get down to that Italian restaurant. Garlic repels the little buzzers who hate the smell, and if you (or your friends) can bear it, rub it onto your skin.

Finally, get to those juice-bars - you can help protect your skin from the Antipodean sun by feasting on beta-carotene-rich cantaloupe melons, carrots and tomatoes.