Australian health insurance is designed to protect the individual against financial hardship should they become ill. Health insurance in Australia is highly developed, with a well-developed structure, but as with many other countries, healthcare is not equally distributed evenly across the country. Private health care is available in most parts of Australia, however most government-funded health care is not provided by government agencies.

As well as government-sponsored health insurance plans, there are a wide range of privately held health insurance plans. These plans differ from company to company, and in what way they cover services. For example, if you choose to have your general practitioner (GP) refer your claims to a specialist, this may be covered by a basic GP plan but is not covered by a specialist policy. Many of these plans cover routine care but may only offer limited coverage if you are self-employed.

While most people are aware that their general practitioner is likely to be insured through their Medicare scheme, it is often not known that their family doctor is also insured. This is sometimes called 'self-employed general practice' and can be very beneficial. If you are self-employed and are looking for health insurance, your options are varied. This article provides information on basic health insurance plans.

Most Australian residents have access to Medicare, which provides free medical checkups, treatment and prescriptions. In addition, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) provides a level of cover to eligible people over the age of 65. Some of this scheme is funded through the employer contributions that are made to the scheme.

A basic health insurance plan in Australia is designed to cover emergency or hospitalisation expenses incurred in the course of your employment or studies. It may also provide payment for accident, illness or disability benefits. Health insurance is available to people who have had no health insurance in the past and is usually designed to cover major illnesses, and cover the costs of medical and rehabilitation care. People who are retired, have chronic illness and suffer from pre-existing conditions are more likely to benefit from health insurance plans than people who are active participants in the workforce.

Some health insurance schemes will pay out for services when the first symptoms appear. A person who develops cancer at a young age, for example, may be able to claim benefits for treatment during this period.

One of the more popular types of health insurance in Australia is the supplement health care package. This covers the cost of specialist treatment and hospital admissions, but does not include routine treatments such as annual dental care or the operation of a ventilator.

It is important to note that health insurance is only available to people who are Australian residents. It is also compulsory for anyone travelling overseas.

The Australian Health Insurance Commission (AHIC) regulates the supply of health care insurance in Australia. There are three different categories of policies - Group health insurance, Family health insurance and Individual health insurance.

elevate-insurance of group health insurance is known as a 'group health insurance' scheme. This is a policy offered by a large employer that pays the same rate to all its employees regardless of age, occupation or medical history. It pays out benefits to people who join the scheme in the same category as the person who is insured and is aged at least thirty days.

Another option is a Family health insurance. This is an insurance policy that pays out benefits to people who are part of a married couple, single, or part of a union. With this type of insurance, a group insurance company will pay out benefits to both members of the couple or to cover any health problems that may arise within the marriage.

These insurance companies are regulated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). They are also required to ensure that policies and services of a group insurance company are provided with an appropriate degree of quality.