Medicare and SIR VISA

[Guest 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

[Guest Guest75]

Good post Liz.

 

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

[Guest 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

[Guest betty22]

Hi,

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

 

Liz

[Guest 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?

[Guest 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

[Guest 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

[Guest 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:wacko:

sarah

[cormcvcr]

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:wacko:

sarah

 

Hi Sarah,

 

could you possibly tell me the name of the company, as we are in the process of trying to look for some type of cover. We were definately going to get the ambulance cover, but just adding in the extras sounds good.

[Guest Nick11]

I bet she's got medibank - we had that originally - think it worked out at about $75 a month. We later transferred to mutual community - $55 a month - but doesn't include ambulance cover.

We changed as they didn't have any childrens dentists on their list and thats why we really took it out.

If you go to Marion shopping centre medibank and mutual are next door to each other - opposite medicare.

Hope this helps

Nick

x

[Guest sarahsmartiepants]

You guessed right Nick! Mine does give ambulance but i have yet to look into cancelling the individual ambo cover. What do you mean about childrens dentist?

sarah

[Guest Nick11]

You guessed right Nick! Mine does give ambulance but i have yet to look into cancelling the individual ambo cover. What do you mean about childrens dentist?

sarah

 

My kids are going to need a lot of dental work doing in the future!! 11 year old needs braces and op to remove baby teeth - 7 year old had accident when he was 3 and knocked out 3 teeth which again means he will need braces!

My 7 year old is terrified of dentists after the accident - his teeth splintered in his gums - hospital didn't realise this - 1 week later he was rushed into hospital looking like the elelphant man - infection from the teeth had got as far as his eyes - heading for the brain!!!!!! Maxi facial guy took one look at him and operated on him there and then. Since then he's been terrified!

I wanted to find a dentist that specialised in kids - not many about in Adelaide. The one I did find gave extra benifits to mutual community. That's why I swopped.

Nick

x

[Guest Nick11]

Forgot to say - neither of them have a filling, as I've always tried to make sure their teeth are healthy!!

Must be looking at $10,000 plus for both of them in the future!!!!!!!

[Guest sarahsmartiepants]

Ah I see what you mean! Mine are big kids 16 and 19 the older had his ortho work in the uk and the younger didnt need it fortunatly. Neither of them have any fillings so should be right!

 

I forgot to say earlier the cover i got is $68 a month.

sarah

[minkyme29]

Hi all...

 

Just found this thread and intrigued as we too are on the SIR 495. We got our Medicare cards sorted but of course it says on the card that it is for emergency cover only.

I am currently struggling with ear problems and have been worried about going to the docs in case it costs me a fortune to rectify - would I be able to claim for having my ears syringed or similar?

What does the term 'emergency' mean to Medicare?

 

Thanks

Dette

[Guest Nick11]

If your ears are causing you pain - yes you are covered.

Apart from elective surgery - eg v. veins, gastric band - you're covered for most things.

Hubby went a couple of weeks back and he had a couple of nasty skin tags - doctor cut them off and medicare footed the bill.

[Guest sarahsmartiepants]

Just got the paper work from medibank and it does include ambo cover. That is I think $110 a year so I wont have to pay that as well now, plus we will all get the free check and clean twice a year with that.

sarah

[Guest paul_smart]

So would the recommendation be both? medicare for general health and medibank for extra's, teeth, ambulance, or can you get it all through the one service??

 

ta.

[Guest cunnah10]

Hi Thanks for info regarding medicare issues!

Put my mind at rest a bit now!

But one question : my 9 year old daughter has worn glasses since she was 4!

We go back every 12 months and each time her prescription has got stronger hence needing new glasses!I just let her choose from the trendy free ones!I take it this wouldn't be the case in Adelaide?Also obviously her check up appointments are always free here and i've lost count of replacement (free again)glasses we have had due to them getting broken!

 

How much does it cost for kids eye check ups and i take it glasses would be priced individually!

 

Gill