Private Medical Insurance for 475 visa holders before entering Australia

[Guest evil_d]

HI,

 

I would like to whether Private Medical Insurance is a must for 475 visa holders before entering Australia.

 

Thanks

[Guest niliclan888]

Having had a similar thought previously and spent many an hour trying to get a correct answer from the insurance companies & DIAC, here is what I believe is correct ...

 

* No, it is not a must on this Visa type, as you do receive certain benefits through Medicare

* Dependent on income, it may be beneficial to hold some form of Private Cover as you get a Tax reduction (you had best see an accountant for exact details however I believe it is based on income of $140k +)

* All this said, it is then up to you as to whether you see the benefits of Private Cover, and certain Benefits they have, as the system is quite different to UK

* Medicare will be the ONLY support you receive on this Visa

* One final note is that as you do receive Medicare benefits, you can apply for a RETAIL Private Cover and don't have to take Visitors cover

 

Hope this helps somewhat?

 

Thanks,

 

Jason

[Guest Traceyp]

Hi Jason,we are on the 475 visa and have just arrived in Adelaide,what Medicare benifits are you referring to,there are no medicare benifits for 475 visa holders until you get PR.

 

We are researching private health insurance,Mutual and community is the one we decided on,we will pay $218 per month for 2 adults and 2 kids,wish it was cheaper as hubby is still trying for a job.

[Guest niliclan888]

Hi Tracey,

we are on 475 Visa and went in to see Medicare when we 1st arrived and they confirmed that we receive INTERIM Cover.

I know that when you applied and received info from DIAC it states that you may NOT receive benefits, however I suggest that you check. Not sure how/why we'd receive if you don't?!?

Sorry I can't be more help.

I do know that you don't receive much else support, as it gets costly with Nurseries etc, having to fully fund everything.

We have used Mutual Community also, they are very easy to deal with (& if you use them for car/house cover etc, you also get a discount!).

Do check re Medicare though, as that could also change your Private Cover as mentioned (to Retail).

Cheers,

Jason

[Guest Traceyp]

Thanks Jason,I will look into that asap.

[Guest niliclan888]

Very Welcome, good luck to you guys.

[Guest Tina P]

Hi

 

We were on the 475 visa when we joined Mutual Community Silver cover - this includes Ambulance cover. They didn't ask me which visa we were on !

 

Its just gone up, we pay $19.10 per week.

 

I wouldn't say its a must, the kids will get to see the school dentist for check ups but you will still need Ambulance cover which I think is around $120 per yr.

 

We didn't get it straight away - I think we had been here a good year before we joined !

 

Tina

[Guest niliclan888]

It seems that with most things here, there are lots of companies giving different answers, so getting some resolution is always nice ! I always like to have the correct info, as you can take the wrong cover (not your fault, maybe the salesperson didn't listen properly etc) and then have big problems if you come to claim.

 

I know we get Medicare Interim, and becuse of this we are entitled to Retail Cover. The difference is not on the added benefits side (Silver, Gold, Platinum etc) but more on the Hospital side, as ..... if you are on a Visitors Cover, you only get basic hospital coverage (that would be the same as Medicare), whereas on the Retail Cover, you get Private Cover (again, depends on the depth of cover you choose).

 

The reason I know this is that we were advised by the consultant at Mutual Community to take Visitors cover, however I didn't think there was any benfit and questioned this, and their resolutions team confirmed that as I was entitled to Medicare, then I could use the Retail cover (& the benefits that actually come with it)

 

For us, e.g, last year we had a baby. He was born at Flinders as we had Medicare only. NO problem, NO cost.

 

Now that we have Private Retail Cover (not Visitors), and that we are expecting again (we will have had the cover for more than 12 months), we are entitled to Private Cover. Under Visitors cover, we would get the same cover as Medicare, thus NO benefit (waste of cover basically).

 

Hope this is all making sense?

 

Anyway, hope this helps anyone else that was having the same sort of thoughts or misunderstanding?

 

NOTE - my only advice is that whatever cover you take, PLEASE make sure that you explain the whole situation to the company/broker as a lot of people on the other end of the phone aren't there to give advice and if you simply call to take cover, they'll seal the deal.

 

All the best,

 

Jason

[Guest evil_d]

Hi Jason,

 

Could please tell me how to enroll to medicare while on 475 visa.

 

Thanks

[Guest niliclan888]

Hi Jason,

 

Could please tell me how to enroll to medicare while on 475 visa.

 

Thanks

 

Hello evil !,

 

I just went to the local Medicare office (CBD for me) the 1st week we arrived, with copies of passports for the family & visa confirmation from DIAC. We were staying at friends when we 1st landed so didn't have our own address and they were fine with that, they just needed the place we were staying.

 

It was that easy. They completed the necessary forms and we received our cards through the post within a week. When we got a place soon after, I just changed address. And when we had our little boy (3rd!!) we took the birth certificate to medicare and they added him onto the cover.

 

If you don't have Private Cover then I recommend taking Ambulance Cover also (you can sort this at the Post Office and its approx $10 per month)) - however under most private cover policies this is a benefit (do check tho).

 

Good luck with everything, hope you found some of the info worthwhile.

 

Brgrds,

 

Jason

[Rich & Chit]

we are on the 475 visa and have just been quoted $107 per fortnight for classic visitors cover with Your Choice Extras or $124 per fortnight Classic Visitors cover with Silver Extras. This is for a family of 4. This was at the Marion branch and the rep seemed to know what she was talking about. Because the 475 visa is only a temp resisdency visa you have to have cover for overseas visitors this wil change once you get permanent resisdency. You must make it very clear when applying for cover that your visa only gives you temporary resisdency entitlements. If coming from UK you will be entitled to Medicare cover under the reciprocal agreement, basically emergency cover.

[Guest niliclan888]

we are on the 475 visa and have just been quoted $107 per fortnight for classic visitors cover with Your Choice Extras or $124 per fortnight Classic Visitors cover with Silver Extras. This is for a family of 4. This was at the Marion branch and the rep seemed to know what she was talking about. Because the 475 visa is only a temp resisdency visa you have to have cover for overseas visitors this wil change once you get permanent resisdency. You must make it very clear when applying for cover that your visa only gives you temporary resisdency entitlements. If coming from UK you will be entitled to Medicare cover under the reciprocal agreement, basically emergency cover.

 

As per initial thread, there seems to be many different answers dependent on who you talk with - my discussion was with both Hannah & Meghan (and their Supervisor) with the Resolutions team of Mutual Community. They asked me to go to Medicare and get a "Lifetime Health Cover" letter which proves we receive BASIC Medicare Cover.

Once this was looked at, Mutual Community explained that we are actually entitled to the "Retail" cover for residents (we are not permanent yet), which offers enhanced benefits.

The rep I spoke with initially also seemed to know what she was talking about, however when I decided to look at claiming, it made NO sense whatsoever to be paying for the Visitors cover as I received the exact same entitlements as I would through Medicare - nothing more (as also mentioned, I am not talking benefits cover here . i.e Silver. as that is the same)

I can only tell you what I have learnt by digging a little deeper, and would encourage you to do the same, as you may well be wasting money on something that is of no benefit.

Cheers,

[Guest evil_d]

Hi Jason,

 

So are there any payments involved in getting it ?

 

Thanks

[Guest niliclan888]

Hi Jason,

 

So are there any payments involved in getting it ?

 

Thanks

 

Not Medicare NO, however yes for the Private cover

[Jimjustin]

WE are on a 475 visa and have had medicare cover since we arrived. We just went to the medicare office and got it straight away, with no hassle.

Because Australia has a reciprical agreement with the UK, it means that medicare charge any costs back to the NHS in the UK.

 

I have been to the doctors a couple of times here, and have had much of the cost refunded through medicare. A GP visit costs between 65 and 100 dollars ish. Medicare give you $65 dollars back to cover it- it is up to you wether you choose a doctor that charges 65 or 100 dollars. You just chosse a GP you like and go there.

 

My GP sent me for a CT scan on my chest after some muscular damage- i went to a private radiology clinic who charged $400- medicare gave me over $330 back.

 

It also covers hospital visits and the like. When I came off my mountain bike and bust my wrist, I went to the main hospital in Adelaide. I was x-rayed, diagnosed and given a wrist splint all at no cost.

 

Medicare covers you for the things you must have done. It does mean you'll have to wait for non essential treatment though.

 

It doesnt cover you for dental, optical, cosmetic etc.

 

Apart from medicare, the only cover we have is for ambulance attendance- that isnt covered, and an ambulance can cost $900. Our annual cover for this is $60 for a couple.

 

You can get by here with just your medicare- its probably better than the NHS. You can get private health insurance that'll cover you for any extras, but it is VERY expensive.

 

We are happy so far to just have medicare, and pay a bit extra on the rare occasion that we need some form of treatment.

 

But it is different for everyone as all circumstances are not the same.

 

You can definitely get medicare cover on a 475 visa though.

[Guest evil_d]

Is it only for UK nationals the mdeicare is entitled while on 475 visa ? can other nationalities apply for it ?

[Jimjustin]

It depends on if your country of origin has a reciprical health ageement with Australia or not. This is copied from the medicare website...

 

The Australian Government has signed Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA) with the governments of the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Norway, Malta and Italy which entitles you to limited subsidised health services for medically necessary treatment while visiting Australia.

 

http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/public/migrants/visitors/uk.jsp

 

You should find all the info in that link. While a temporary resident on a 475 visa, you are classed as a visitor for these purposes.

[Guest darts]

Under the 457 you are covered by Medicare if you were living in the uk, malta, italy, norway,netherlands and belgium. you need to take all family members passports to the office and everyone above 15 needs to be present for initial enrolment. This will cover you as a public patient in a public hospital, gps, specialists (referred by gp), xrays, ultrasounds, patholy etc, and gives u a subsity on pharmecuticals. You will not necessay get all of the doctors fee back, as they are usually private surgeries. But Medicare on average covers roughly half.

 

If you are on a foreign passport to where you were residing then you need your insurance cars such as nhs, or european health insurance card or documentation proving u were living in that country.

I would reccomend private health insurance to claim ancillary(physio,chiro,ambuland etc).

You will be charged a lot for it though unless you apply for residency

Hope this helps!

[Guest darts]

And finland, sweden*

[Guest VIMAL]

Hi Jason,

 

Could please tell me

1 how to enroll to medicare while on 475 visa.

2 What I have to do first when I come to the Adelaide?

3 What are the benefits we will get from Medicare ?

 

Thanks

[Guest 1gmann]

Hi All,

 

was the original question answered that was asked by evil_d, which was do you need private medical insurance BEFORE you enter australia on a 457 visa?

 

the immi.gov.au website states;

"If you are overseas, you must arrange adequate insurance for your initial period in Australia and provide evidence of this insurance as part of your application. You may be eligible to then enrol with Medicare once you are in Australia. Being enrolled with Medicare is sufficient to comply with visa condition 8501."

 

As i am just about to lodge a 457 application myself i believe i need to provide proof of insurance cover (along all my other docs) at the time of lodging my application, although i can't register with medicare until i'm actually in Australia so do i need to arrange some private medical insurance BEFORE i enter australia on a 457 visa?

[Cherrypecker]

Hi All,

 

was the original question answered that was asked by evil_d, which was do you need private medical insurance BEFORE you enter australia on a 457 visa?

 

the immi.gov.au website states;

"If you are overseas, you must arrange adequate insurance for your initial period in Australia and provide evidence of this insurance as part of your application. You may be eligible to then enrol with Medicare once you are in Australia. Being enrolled with Medicare is sufficient to comply with visa condition 8501."

 

As i am just about to lodge a 457 application myself i believe i need to provide proof of insurance cover (along all my other docs) at the time of lodging my application, although i can't register with medicare until i'm actually in Australia so do i need to arrange some private medical insurance BEFORE i enter australia on a 457 visa?

 

This thread is discussing a 475 visa, you are applying for a 457 visa. They have different rules for each visa subclass. Paul

[Guest 1gmann]

Ah! Thanks for clearing that up.