The main difference is that Medicare only covers hospital treatment as a public patient in a public hospital and a set range of non-hospital services such as GP visits and eye check-ups. Private health insurance offers benefits beyond the public health system. Ambulance journeys and some out-of-hospital costs such as dental check-ups and glasses are not covered by Medicare. In addition, appropriate private health cover allows you to choose your own doctor, be treated as a private patient in a public hospital (with access to improved facilities like a private room, subject to availability), cover gap fees and bypass long public hospital elective surgery waiting lists by choosing to have your treatment in a private hospital. There are multiple government incentives for people to buy private health insurance, such as avoiding the Medicare Levy surcharge.