Landed all safe but healthcare? Now what?

[Revs30]

We have been here for 2 weeks now and sooo confused!
We are here on a 457 and don't know what to do regarding cover, we have asked someone in a Medicare office but to be honest the person was rude and treated us as if we were just here for the benefits............erm yeah right?!
Anyway, what cover should we get and where from?
Dentist cover?
Health cover for any injuries (we have 2 toddlers so accidents could happen)?
Ambulance cover or something I have heard you need otherwise an ambulance costs are dear?

Someone help please as our kids love to climb EVERYTHING and the last thing we want is a broken bone and having to pay thousands (which we dont have).

John

[wakeboard1980]

Try this website it may help you a bit iselect.com.au I think it depends on what state you live in for the ambulance cover you need, we are in nsw and have taken it out

[Revs30]

Try this website it may help you a bit iselect.com.au I think it depends on what state you live in for the ambulance cover you need, we are in nsw and have taken it out

Many thanks, just had a look at cover for the family.
$3800 for the year............is that a good price?!

[guest36187]

Sounds good for a family x

Welcome to oz by the way x x x x

[Ozmaniac]

If you're eligible for Medicare because you're from the UK, your family will all be covered for 100% of treatment in a public hospital. Kid breaks leg - take to public hospital - all covered.

If you're eligible for Medicare, you can't get private insurance to cover things that Medicare covers e.g. GP or specialist visits, pathology and the like.

Medicare picks up some of the cost of private hospital care, but it doesn't cover dental, physio, optical or ambulance though in some states (e.g. QLD), ambulance is handled in a different way and most people are covered. You can therefore get private insurance for private hospital care and those other extras.

$3800 seems a bit high. You should be able to get good cover for private hospital with a $250 excess per adult ($0 for kids) on private hospital treatment for a bit over $3200 and 70% extras or $3600 with no hospital excess.

[Quoll]

Under the reciprocal health agreement you are covered for "essential" treatment (so if you want something elective then you may not get it unless you pay for it). I believe temporary visa holders do pay more for health than permanent residents do - there are some special policies that other 457 visa holders will know more about I am sure. We currently pay around $3k pa for a family but are citizens which probably makes a difference

Dentist - not covered by medicare so you either self insure or get extras on a private health policy. In the throes of big dentistry myself at the moment and the quote is around $6k - replacing old fillings, new restorative work etc so the dentist bills can come in as a shock.

Ambulance - not covered (and can be extraordinarily expensive) so either take out just ambulance cover or private health insurance in which case it will be covered.http://www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/Families.html

[Joy Please]

Read this -

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/457-h...isa-holder.htm

I think you're covered under Medicare.

[Petals]

In Victoria anyone who does not have a pension card should take out ambulance insurance. If not taken out its very expensive if you or your family have to use an ambulance.

Dental, well I used to have dental insurance but really the amount paid and the amount received back do not add up to a benefit in my view.

Emergency then head for the nearest public hospital.

[Revs30]

In Victoria anyone who does not have a pension card should take out ambulance insurance. If not taken out its very expensive if you or your family have to use an ambulance.

Dental, well I used to have dental insurance but really the amount paid and the amount received back do not add up to a benefit in my view.

Emergency then head for the nearest public hospital.

Many thanks for that Petals but on a 457 Visa it stipulates that you must have health insurance of some sort to cover yourselves. Otherwise they can void your visa, send you home, and jeapordise any chance of coming back :(

[paisleylass]

Many thanks for that Petals but on a 457 Visa it stipulates that you must have health insurance of some sort to cover yourselves. Otherwise they can void your visa, send you home, and jeapordise any chance of coming back :(

As I understand it, for people from countries with a reciprocal healthcare agreement such as the UK, in the longer term medicare is sufficient to satisfy visa conditions BUT you need additional cover until you get registered for medicare, say the first week or so after arrival. Hubby's HR officer said travel insurance should cover it but I'm yet to find out whether our annual cover is sufficient!