Tourists bleed hospitals

FOREIGN tourists who refuse to pay their Australian hospital bills are costing taxpayers millions of dollars a year.

But the Queensland Government is trying to stop a push by other states to force holiday makers to obtain health insurance, warning it could drive away backpackers.

Temporary visa holders are not covered by Medicare and Australian hospitals are meant to chase them for payment.

Queensland hospitals were ripped off by $11 million last financial year by foreigners who refused to pay bills, figures obtained by News Corp reveal.

People not eligible for Medicare were invoiced $62 million for treatments in Queensland that year, with $52 million paid back, mostly by travel insurance payments.

Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles warned the state’s tourism industry could suffer if tougher rules were introduced. “I am not supportive of any model that would have a negative impact on tourism in Queensland or deter visitors from seeking the healthcare they need when they’re visiting,” he said.

Federal and state ministers have agreed the “benefit to public hospitals from changing conditions to temporary visa classes should be weighed against possible impacts on the tourism, education and skilledworker sectors”.

The Federal Government last year unsuccessfully tried to toughen visa rules to force more tourists to get insurance.