Health care

[siandear]

Hi

 

I am moving to Adelaide in March on a 457 long term visa - does anyone know what sort of health insurance I need - I followed the link that my future employer sent me - but it was so general, it wasnt clear?

 

Many thanks

 

Sian

[Guest The Bells]

Hi Sian

We too will also be on a 457. Have been advised to take out health care with say Bupa before we leave , and we are able to cancel it once in Oz as we are eligible to claim Medicare (as we'r British) altho I do believe we need certain cover ie Ambulance service !!! We have looked into it and for us, we would prob continue to have some private cover including dental so that when we need it - we'v got it!

 

Hope this helps (where are u heading)

 

Ema. X

[siandear]

Oh, that sounds good so Bupa is ok when in australia - I thought it would have to be an aussie insurance? I shall look into that, thank you. for replying :-)

Heading out last week of March - quite nervous - leaving my sons behind :-( they in their 20s and do not want to come - been a very difficult decision!!

[Sallyh]

Why are you getting Bupa before you leave? Why not just get here and get an Australian policy?

 

In my view you do need a policy with extras cover (dental, chiro, podiatry, etc) and we have the highest level of hospital cover. 2 of us have had operations in the past 6 months or so and we haven't paid a thing for it. Amazing. Medicare is also very good but we definitely use our extras cover and have also had good use out of our hospital cover, as WELL unfortunately this year as having also reached the medicare "safety net" where you then start to get bigger rebates from them if your family goes over a certain level. Just had an unusual number of referrals this year.

[Guest The Bells]

Why are you getting Bupa before you leave? Why not just get here and get an Australian policy?

 

In my view you do need a policy with extras cover (dental, chiro, podiatry, etc) and we have the highest level of hospital cover. 2 of us have had operations in the past 6 months or so and we haven't paid a thing for it. Amazing. Medicare is also very good but we definitely use our extras cover and have also had good use out of our hospital cover, as WELL unfortunately this year as having also reached the medicare "safety net" where you then start to get bigger rebates from them if your family goes over a certain level. Just had an unusual number of referrals this year.

 

 

Because you have to prove cover is in place before the 457 visa is approved!

[Guest The Bells]

Hi Sian

 

Its info we have been advised by agent. We too are in same situation as have kids at Uni !! They are ok with it and fingers crossed at a later stage will follow us but I know how you feel !!!!!

[rachel31]

we were advised to get ambulance cover at the leat before coming over - if you need an ambulance be it 20 ft or 20 k's its about $870, so not cheap option!

 

We have been here nearly 4 years and although luckily we have never required hospital stays for any of us I have found private health brilliant for most things like physios and chiropractors but not very good for major dental work like plates/ braces.

 

I have also heard over the last 12 months or so that taxes will be increased for people who do no have private health.

 

PM me if you have any more queries

 

Rach

[siandear]

what sort of cost is the provate health care - on a monthly basis?

[siandear]

Ah really! I felt like I was the only person in the world doing it - thank you for letting me know!!!!! How do they seem? Do you Skype a lot - or do they seem quite detached now you are away with busy lives of their own?

[Guest magicsprout]

what sort of cost is the provate health care - on a monthly basis?

im on single active saver with medium extras which covers basic hospital, ambo, major and general dental and optical plus other stuff like physio etc and its about $80 a month so not cheap.

[elainew]

Sorry disagree with your agent .

you can get cover here once you've arrived .

Having worked in the private sector I do not recommend it . Go with extras plus quite sufficient .

[catherine.c]

Get cover when you get here if you want but I do not think that it is strictly necessary (or wasn't when I came in 2008) if you are from the UK which has a reciprocal agreement.

I work for a private hospital and see what the different health funds provide and would not touch BUPA (medibank) Hospital cover with a bargepole!

Public waiting lists here can be ridiculous - one of my family has been waiting to see a specialist for 2 years (Flinders) and has been told that she would likely wait another 2 before being seen.

I gather that emergencies are generally handled well in public hospitals but we waited so long in emergency in Flinders that we went next door to the private hospital instead where we received excellent care.

[Sallyh]

We have had amazing treatment at Modbury, quickly when we've gone there with our children. At WCH we have always been pleased too though a longer wait there.

[jimmyskinner]

Sorry disagree with your agent .

you can get cover here once you've arrived .

Having worked in the private sector I do not recommend it . Go with extras plus quite sufficient .

If you are coming on a 457 you do need it before the visa is issued , we did. We used IMAM and pay $157 per month for 2 adults.

[Guest ebstar]

We are a family of 5 and have medibank private cover (basic hospital,ambo and basic extras) and pay $81 per fortnight. We had several visits to the GP before getting insurance and this was covered by medicare. Since getting the insurance my oh has had speciallist referals and only had around $80 gap to pay and several dentist visits including abcess and tooth extraction have never been more than $30-40 gap. Look very carefully at what is covered and to what extent before taking out a policy though. For instance with orthodontics to go to the top level of cover the maxi claim is $3000. This can't be claimed in the first 12 months and then only starts at $1000.Each year it goes up by $500.After 5 years the full benefit is payable but during this time you have paid an extra approx $5000 on top of what you would have paid for the basic cover.Prices for orthodontics work are normally around $5-6000 so unless you think you may use alot of the other services,it may be better to open a seperate account and just save that money where possible. Insurance is definately worth having but really look closely at what you need, the wait times and what you can claim compared to your premiums.

[Guest Claire-n-tel]

Instead of your health insurance i suggest you to try some healthy and natural treatments like taking honey with milk which will keep you healthy and fit always, as i regularly use it and i feel too healthy every day!!

 

Tee hee hee!

 

imagine writing that on DIAC forms.....no insurance but i take milk and honey every day!