Medicare and SIR VISA

[betty22]

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 11:11 am Post subject:

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Hi All,
Thought I would put this in the Health Care folder as well

we have been here for nearly 2 years now on an SIR visa so I will try and explain the medical issues.

If you are from a Reciprical country you do get Medicare.

Ok so here goes Nick went to Docs (not Bulk Billed) paid $45 for the appointment and got $31 from the medicare. You can either go the medicare office to get your money or have a cheque sent to you.

I went to docs, paid my $45(had a cheque sent back for 431), but also had to have a scan, they got me in the next day. I paid $180 and got $90 back.

Cervical screening is FREE. (no appointment charge)

So its a bit of a semi private system. You pay up front then the medicare pays you back a percentage. We have also never had to wait days for appointments.

A+E or any surgery conected to accidents etc is FREE

Children are FREE even at a private Docs.

You can go to any Doc you want. ie Nick went to one near his work and then the next time he went to mine.

If you go to a BULK BILLED Docs you pay nothing.

When you arrive here just go along to the medicare office after about 10 days with your passports and fill in the forms. You get a temp number straightaway and then they send you your medicare card a few weeks later.

I wouldn't waste your money on Private healthcare. If you go to hospital the first thing they will ask you if you are public or private. If you are private you get the same treatment but then you get stung for the GAP as the private will only pay so much (very complicated and expensive)

DEFINATLEY get Ambulance cover $107 a year per family is well woth it for peace of mind. Thankfully never had to use it but know that you will get a bill of about $600 if you have to use it.

Hope I have explained it OK. If not ask and I will try again

Liz

[Tyke]

Good post Liz.

I'll back you up on the Ambulance cover bit :-)

[rockpool crab]

Hi there,

My Father-in-law came up with this question.

What if the worst happens and you have such a bad accident that it costs in the region of 20,000 australian dollars of hospital care. Would medicare still cover most of it, and if so..what would they pay out of that?

Thanks guys.

Carol Ann

[betty22]

Hi,
Yes of course you would be covered. They don't put price tags on things when you are a public patient.

Liz

[theforrests]

We're on a SIR 495 visa and have been recommended to have private health care, coz for us, our Medicare only covers us for GP visits and life-threatening hospital visits (we have to pay for all antibiotics). However, reading your post below - we may be covered for more than we think - perhaps we only need ambulance cover?

[soggy]

hi,
I have a sir495 and only have the reciprical cover, I went to the medicare office 2 days after I arrived and got my medicare number, the day after that I felt ill, I had got toncilitis, day 4 I phoned a doctor who bulkbilled, went along the same day, he perscribed antibiotics, the doctor cost nothing and the antibiotics $15 and a few cents.

Simon:D:D:D:D

[Libby1971]

I think everyone pays for medication no matter how old ie no free presciptions for kids. Also we had free meds in UK due to ongoing med condition, and there is none of that here. However there is the pHarmaceutical Benefit Scheme which to some extent protects you. All the prescriptions you buy are added up and once you hit $1000 or just over that, the cost of your prescriptions drops significantly. This is determinded per family, not per person. I am not sure how long it will take us to reach the number but knowing our luck, we won't!!!

Libby

[Bic]

We have been wondering about this for ages. So thanks for clarifiying it. We are going over on a 495 (hopefully) and we were quite worried about the medical side of things so this has put our mind at rest a bit.

We thought there was some kind of reciprocal healthcare but have struggled to find the extent of it and thought we would have to take out expensive private cover. Ambulance cover does sound like a good idea though.

Any other information you have, gladly welcomed.

[Rachiegarlo]

It is however worth paying for extras cover for dental etc, because medicare doesn't cover teeth at all and dental care is expensive. The extras cover can be had without getting full private medical cover and isvery reasonable. There is usually only a 2 month waiting period before you can claim except major dental, eg root canal/crowns which is 1 year.

Rachel

[sarahsmartiepants]

It is however worth paying for extras cover for dental etc, because medicare doesn't cover teeth at all and dental care is expensive. The extras cover can be had without getting full private medical cover and isvery reasonable. There is usually only a 2 month waiting period before you can claim except major dental, eg root canal/crowns which is 1 year.

Rachel

I just got extras yesterday...wish I had done it sooner! My son needs chrio, he has contacts and we all need a trip to the dentist!
The one I joined give 2 free check ups and clean twice a year each...not bad as the check up and clean is $127 !!!
I think I get the ambulance cover in that too, will ahve to check, although i think i paid for this year already
sarah