We have a two tiered system - Public (Universal healthcare, ie Medicare) and Private. Anyone can use the public system, but it's your choice whether you also take our private cover as well. If you do take out private cover you get some tax breaks in regards to the public system (you don't have to pay the annual tax levy for medicare, for example). I use the public system - which for Psychiatrists who bill through medicare (public system) usually means a general payment of around $50 a session. Because I see my Pdoc through a Government run clinic though and not as a private provider who simply bills through medicare, I don't have to pay anything.

In terms of medication we have the PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme), which makes medication more affordable, but it still ads up. Monthly, for myself alone I'm looking at.

Zyprexa - $36.90
Tramadol (for neuropathy) -$30.10
MS Contin (for endometriosis) - $18.50
Valium - $13.40
Ventolin - $8.50

Total $107.40

Like I said you add that onto mortgage payments, food, bills, credit card debts from a previously failed business (damn global financial crisis/recession), higher education fees + involved costs for husband's uni degree (working to get a better career in order to improve our own standard of living), and things soon start to get pretty tight money wise. Of course we try to keep a small amount aside for recreation, and the odd treat every now and then - still keeping within our budget. Some might argue I could use that to buy fish oil capsules, but I find having that allowance for recreation/treats is also beneficial to me mental health wise, perhaps more so.

There's more info on our healthcare system here:

Health care in Australia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia