Illness dearer in Australia

Press, 15 September 1976, Page 10

Illness dearer in Australia

To avoid risking possible heavy medical bills, New Zealanders intending to holiday or stay in Australia after October 1 should first take out travel insurance.

At present, ail overseas visitors to Australia are covered for almost all of their doctor and hospital fees, but from next month they will not be covered at ail. This is because of changes in the Australian National Health Medibank scheme. A spokesman for the Southern Cross Medical Care Society said in Auckland this week that although society members were covered to some extent in Australia they should take out additional insurance, because of the much higher medical and hospital costs there. Not- only were fees higher, but unlike New Zealand there were no Government subsidies to help pay hospital costs, he said. ‘‘Depending on their length of time over there, I encourage people to take out travel insurance, which covers them to a wider extent,” he said. A travel policy covers baggage losses, medical expenses, loss of cash, personal liability and death. Mi G. F. Alp*, president S.

of the Travel Agents Association of New Zealand, says that travel agents always try to sell travel insurance to clients. It was reasonably priced, he said, and for people travelling to Australia there would now be a real need for it.