From: Australian health policy on access to medical care for refugees and asylum seekers
 | Australia | New Zealand | Canada | UK |
---|---|---|---|---|
Refugee | Medicare | NZ Health System coverage | Provincial Health Cover: Canada's Federal Health system (comprised of Federal and Provincial contributions) includes comprehensive health cover, including hospital, physician, surgical-dental and specialist cover. | NHS Coverage |
Asylum Seeker in detention | Health care through the private company in charge of the detention centres a | N/A: Asylum Seekers rarely held in detention for longer than 48 hours b | No overarching coverage: individuals are assessed on a case-by-case basis b | National Health Service (NHS) Coverage. Coverage includes: primary & secondary care, free prescriptions, dental services, coverage of travel costs to/from hospital b |
Asylum Seeker awaiting primary decision of refugee status | Depends on when visa applied for: If application submitted within 45 days of arrival, then individuals have access to Medicare but no translating services, Early Health Assessment and Intervention, and torture/trauma counselling, If application submitted after 45 days of arrival, then no Medicare access | NZ Health System coverage. Coverage includes all services, such as: Primary & secondary care, co-payment of pharmaceuticals, specialist referral and coverage, cost offsets for 'frequent users' of medical services, hospital & accident cover, dental, mental, maternity and sexual health care. | Interim Federal Health (IFH) Program coverage. Coverage includes essential health services for the treatment & prevention of serious medical conditions, essential prescription medications, contraception, prenatal care, obstetrical care, Immigration Medical Exam, emergency dental service. | NHS coverage |
Asylum Seeker appealing a negative Refugee Review Tribunal (or equivalent) outcome | No access to Medicare c | NZ Health System coverage NB: may take some time to receive Community Services Card, necessary for accessing a General Practitioner (GP) | IFH Program Coverage | NHS Coverage |
Refused Asylum Seeker who has exhausted all appeals | No access to Medicare d | NZ Health System coverage NB: may take some time to receive Community Services Card, necessary for accessing a GP | IFH Program Coverage | Primary & urgent care only e |