Guest Black Pear Posted September 6, 2011 Report Share Posted September 6, 2011 I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!!! Now filling in the visa applications and I am stuck on the travel \ health insurance bit. As I am from the UK I understand that I am eligible for medicare cover under a reciprocal agreement. However I am told that I still need health care cover for the duration of the travel time out to Australia. Is this correct? if so does anybody know of any brokers that provide this sort of cover? Also does it mean that I have to sign up to medicare before I travel to Australia or is that something I have to do once I arrive? if so do I have to be insured from the time i get of the plane in Australia until the time I sign up for medicare or is the cover automatic as I am a UK citizen? Lastly I understand that it may benefit me in the long term to take out private health insurance but I would like more time to research this once I arrive. So I would like to know if I can opt out of medicare at a later date once I have had chance to review my options. If anybody can advise me on this it would be a great help. Many thanks in advance Stu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest johnygang Posted September 6, 2011 Report Share Posted September 6, 2011 Hi Stu We are in the same boat and have just lodged our 457 application today. You need to have a health insurance policy in place when you lodge your application although this can be for a future date when you anticipate heading out there. We put the beginning of November as the date for the policy to commence and had to make the initial monthly instalment when we took out the policy. it was $165 a month for us and 3 kids. You sign up for medicare when you arrive in oz so i imagine your travel insurance would cover you till then. My sponsor/agent said you can cancel your health insurance once youve got your medicare in place but be warned that it doesnt cover you for things like ambulances, dental care, opticians etc. Hope this helps and good luck with your application. Are you using an agent. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest diamondfoxy Posted September 6, 2011 Report Share Posted September 6, 2011 Hi Stu Ive just received my 457 visa and I had to take out a health insurance policy, they wouldn't grant the visa until I gave them evidence of the policy! I got mine from HBA (BUPA Australia). It has cost the same as Steve's. I was under the impression I could cancel it as soon as I got there and change to medicare but someone has mentioned something about medicare levy surcharge which is fairly costly apparently. Hope thats of some help!! Clare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Stu Posted September 7, 2011 Report Share Posted September 7, 2011 Alright Stu, take it the interview went ok then? Medicare is the 'free' health care. It is paid for through taxes and you are eligible to get it once you arrive. It covers you for most things, think of it a bit like the NHS but without necessarily the after care, or getting you to the hospital bit. It will take you longer to get any treatment through Medicare though. Private health insurance will cover the gaps, such as ambulance ($850 a trip), dentists, some reduction in glasses/contacts, physio etc. All trips to the local GP can be claimed back to a maximum of $35 per visit, however finding a GP that chagres that is almost impossible. If you have private health cover you will get 30% of the annual costs back at the end of the tax year (the rebate is paying for a trip back to the UK this year). If you don't have private cover I believe you pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge if you earn over the threshold at 1.5% of your annual salary. I would suggest getting cover starting from when you arrive (you can change the start date if plans change) and then shopping around once your here. All the best Stu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest johnygang Posted September 7, 2011 Report Share Posted September 7, 2011 Hi Clare Congrats on your visa coming through. How long did it take. Weve just lodged ours and the agent said the Perth 457 office has been really slow of late! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cozzy Posted September 7, 2011 Report Share Posted September 7, 2011 Interesting thread with some good info, Thanks people! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest4575 Posted September 7, 2011 Report Share Posted September 7, 2011 Very many congrats on getting the job!!! Woohoo!And thanks everyone - you've answered a number of questions I was about to ask!(My final interview is on the 20th....fingers crossed! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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