Hi dbrim,
The health system is a bit different in Australia to say America because you don't need private health insurance to cover hospital visits, dr visits, medications etc.
All Australians are covered under medicare but Im not sure how it works for tourists or people on visas.
Here is a little bit about medicare -
Medicare is a publicly funded universal health care scheme in Australia. Operated by the government authority Medicare Australia, Medicare is the primary funder of health care in Australia, funding primary health care for Australian citizens and permanent residents (except for those on Norfolk Island). Residents are entitled to subsidised treatment from medical practitioners, eligible midwives, nurse practitioners and allied health professionals who have been issued a Medicare provider number, and can also obtain free treatment in public hospitals.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicare_(Australia)
The cost of medication depends on the persons situation & the type of medication. If you are on a centrelink benefit eg unemployed, pension you are entitled to a health care card or pension card which reduces your medication to $6.
We also have the PBS (Pharmaceutical benefit Scheme) which reduces the costs, the government covers part of the cost & the patient pays the remainder amount. Unfortunately not all medications are covered by PBS so some meds can still be expensive.
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme or PBS is a programme of the Australian Government that provides subsidised prescription drugs to residents of Australia. The PBS ensures that Australian residents have affordable and reliable access to a wide range of necessary medicines.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme
I was on unemployed benefits for years until I got my current job in August lat year which is full time. Because I was long term unemployed I was allowed to keep my health care card for 6 months. I will be losing my health care card in March so will have to pay regualr price for my medications.
Luckily all the epielpsy medications I have been on in teh past are covered by PBS, I am currently on Keppra. The full cost for Keppra is about $120 but once I lose my health care card I will pay approx $34 because it is covered under the PBS.
Alot of the times the generic brand is cheaper then the name brand but a chemist told me that because Keppra is an expensive medication the price for the generic & brand name is the same.
You can get private health but I dont think it covers medications.
I got private health just after I started my job & it covers hospital, ambulance, some specialists & I got the extras which covers dental, optical & physio/chiro.
The waiting lists for operations & surgeries for public patients can be very long but if you are in a private health fund the waiting list is shorter.
I mainly got my private health because it comes in handy especially if I had to go to hopsital or needed an ambulance. Also the dental & optical will come in handy, I don't go to chiropractors but you never know if I will ever need to go to a physio.
I hope this has helped lol, if you have any more questions let me know.
Where in Australia will you be staying?