Medicare ensures all eligible Australian residents have access to free or low-cost medical, optometrical and hospital care while being free to choose private health services.
Medicare provides access to:
free treatment as a public (Medicare) patient in a public hospital
free or subsidised treatment by health professionals such as doctors, including specialists, participating optometrists or dentists (Specified services only)
How to claim for a health care card:
http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/filestores/ss050_1101/$file/ss050_1101en.pdf