Travel insurance needed for the flight and first few days?

[Rangerboy]

Just wondering if anyone else had got health / travel insurance for the flight and first few days before they could get medicare sorted out? We fly out on the 28th of August!!! very excited for the new chapter in our lives but want to double check we have everything in place!!

[SJT]

Hello

 

We got our migration insurance through Go Walkabout and they were the only ones that covered you from the time you paid your premium up to and beyond the moment you stepped through the customs in Perth. All the other Insurers only cover you up to the customs point, which seemed such a waste and made no sense to me, especially as I am a worrier and said that my husband would most probably have a heart attack, the moment we walked through the exit doors of the airport and then what!!!! and because I use to work for loss adjusters I know how they look at claims so normal insurance is no good if you plan on migrating. They were the only ones when I rang them who mentioned to make sure I had cover until I had sorted Medicare. There were all levels of cover, like 7 days, 14 days and 21 days cover after you land. Because I am a worrier I had the top cover which was £150.32 for the five of us for 21 days after we landed, but we had Medicare sorted within a week, and you can do it sooner if you wish, so 7 days cover would most probably have done us.

 

You must be very excited, we landed here two weeks ago today.

 

Good luck with everything.

 

 

 

 

Sarah

[phil]

That's the thing, some travel insurance will have an exclusion for migration journeys. You want to have a look for migration insurance. I think we used Go Walkabout or Go Matilda.

[rossi_lfc]

I'm confused by this. Are permanent residents not covered by Medicare from the moment you land in Australia? Or is it only when you register at a Medicare office you become covered?

[Lou8670]

I'm confused by this. Are permanent residents not covered by Medicare from the moment you land in Australia? Or is it only when you register at a Medicare office you become covered?

 

Logic says Medicare don't know about you until you register so you would need other cover.

 

You've got me thinking now though, as what happens on a validation trip? I didn't think you should register for Medicare until you move permanently so where does that leave us for our validation trip. Do we need specialist insurance or does not normal travel insurance still cover us? Best I start checking the small print!

[phil]

I'm confused by this. Are permanent residents not covered by Medicare from the moment you land in Australia? Or is it only when you register at a Medicare office you become covered?

I believe you're covered for Medicare. But it was things like the $800+ for an ambulance and the other things that Medicare doesn't cover that made us think we should get cover to last until we sorted out Aussie health cover.

There's also tax implications. When the end of the tax year comes around, if you don't have private cover, you can end up paying more in the increased levy than if you'd bought cover.

[neenie]

We used direct travel, very helpful and lovely on the phone (you have to ring them as they don't have one way/emigrating option on line) Very reasonable price, and for us cheaper than Go walkabout, but then I guess it depends what you are looking for.

 

Also a lot of the emigration insurance stops the moment you set foot in the customs hall, so make sure you have a look at that in your policy terms and conditions

[Lou8670]

What about validation trips? Surely until you register for Medicare and get your TRN, and if you aren't taking up permanent residency immediately, you are covered by your holiday insurance?

[phil]

Depends on the details of the holiday insurance policy.