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rontho

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Posts posted by rontho

  1. Hi Everyone,

    We received our golden email today, details in my signature below. Direct grant without communication from CO. Request someone with admin rights to update the spreadsheet, I am on the 5th row in 'Feb 2018' sheet (Name: RT)

    Wishing the very best to everyone on this forum who are eagerly waiting for their grant.

     

    • Like 4
  2. 1 hour ago, Eddy101 said:

    You are required to change to domestic private cover as medicare users are no longer covered by the 457 visitor cover. 

    This is based on my conversation with a Bupa agent. 

    That's right. And I am worried that many on the forum are unaware of that. That's why I earlier encouraged anyone on 457 visitor cover after getting Medicare to speak to your insurance provider asap.

  3. 32 minutes ago, ICT Customer Support Officer said:

    I believe it's BUPA 457 visitor insurance, it has hospital cover + extras, dentist, all this sort of things. 

    Ok, here is what happened to me. Hopefully, this is useful for others as well.

    Medicare approved on 7/2/2018. I got my BUPA private insurance on 15/3/2018. Effectively, waited more than a month. The Lifetime Health Cover letter from Medicare only suggested getting a private cover within 12 months, so I just assumed I have time since I am on 457 visitor cover as well.

    @ICT Customer Support Officer Two things you need to be aware of

    1. 457 visitor insurance does not qualify for the Lifetime Healthcover Loadings Rebate. So change to a domestic private cover asap if you are still within 12 months of receiving Medicare. If you miss the 12 month Medicare cut-off, you will effectively be paying 2% additional premium every year after 30. I.e., 2% for 30, 4% for 31, 6% for 32, etc. upto a max of 20% if I am not wrong.  https://www.privatehealth.gov.au/healthinsurance/incentivessurcharges/insurancerebate.htm
    2. Once your Medicare is approved, you have to pay your Medicare Levy and Medicare Levy surcharge (MLS). However, if you are on a domestic private insurance, you can technically claim back your MLS portion during the annual tax filing. I was on 457 visitor insurance from 7/2/2018 to 15/3/2018, and had to pay for my visitor cover, Medicare Levy and MLS. I could have technically claimed back my MLS if I had got my domestic private insurance on 7/2/2018 itself, instead of waiting more than a month. Lost significant amount of money.

    Again, 457 VISITOR HEALTH INSURANCE IS NOT THE SAME AS DOMESTIC PRIVATE INSURANCE. Speak to your private insurer asap for more details.

     

    Edited: As @Sickofqueuessuggested, the refund amount that you can receive really depends on total family income. From what i recollect, generally, if you are a low earner, you are better off without private insurance. Whereas, high earner, you are better off getting a private insurance. Again, your private insurer will be the best person to advise you on this based on your personal circumstances.

  4. 28 minutes ago, ICT Customer Support Officer said:

    Not sure if it's been asked before. 

    We are on 457, applied 186 in Feb.

    As far as I understand we are eligible for Medicare (blue or something like this).

    Question: if we will apply to Medicare and we will get it, do we still need to pay for 457 Health Insurance (Private fund)? 

    As far as I understand as we are still on 457 (expires 2020) we must have the appropriate level of cover.  Is Medicare cover good enough? 

    How does it work?

     

    Thanks. 

     

     

    I am not sure whether Medicare is sufficient to meet 457 health requirements if you are still on 457.

    But from a tax refund perspective, it's ideal that you maintain a private insurance if you can afford it. Basically, come tax time, Medicare pays you back the Medicare Surcharge. So if you take out a private insurance, you get better coverage for the amount (Surcharge) that you would have otherwise paid to Medicare. Speak to a private insurer and they will be able to explain it better. FYI, I am using BUPA.

    And get it asap, cos I lost around $2000 in 2018 cos I waited 1 month after getting Medicare to get my private insurance. Your 457 visitor insurance is not eligible for Medicare surcharge refund once you are on Medicare.

    And as @Watters mentioned, depends on whether you have a reciprocal insurance, which we didn't.

  5. 8 minutes ago, Frankiemark said:

    That’s the point,I’m on the same boat with you. 457 is going to expire very soon,but no any news. If I got refused,I can’t even re-apply 186 with expired 457 visa. And renew a 457 visa is like applying a new 457visa,which takes 13-15months..what can we do?

    @Frankiemark

    Weren't you issued a bridging visa once you submitted your application?

    I submitted my application on 7-Feb-2018 and once IMMI acknowledged my applicaiton, I received my bridging visa. However, the bridging visa does not kick in until 29-Aug-2019, when my visa 457 expires.

    You should find you bridging visa information in your Immiaccount online.

  6. 1 minute ago, Roberto1987 said:

     

    Hi guys! 

    One question

    how can i check the status of my visa ? 

    i ve lodged with a migration agent 

    You can create an Immiaccount and "import" your application to your Immiaccount using your Application ID or Transaction Reference number. Once completed, you can login in to your Immiaccount anytime to view the status.

  7. @EDB07 Could you please add me to the spreadsheet as well?

    Name: RT

    State: NSW

    Country: HR (India)

    Occupation: Management Consultant

    Stream: ENS TRT

    Location: Onshore

    Number of applicants: 3

    Visa & Nomination: 7-Feb-2018

    Status: Received

    Comments: Health check-up and police clearance completed and documents provided on 16-May-2018.

    • Like 1
  8. Hi Everyone,

    First of all, a big thank you to all contributing to these discussions. I found this forum recently after a wait of 8 months for approval and it has been very useful for me personally. However, I noticed that there are not many approvals in the last 10 days? I really hope that those who are granted visa approval can make sure that they update the forum/admin so that the spreadsheet is up to date and provides a clearer picture of the processing times for the rest of us who are restlessly waiting! :(

    Can the admin add me to the spreadsheet?

    Name: RT

    State: NSW

    Country: HR (India)

    Occupation: Management Consultant

    Stream: ENS TRT

    Location: Onshore

    Number of applicants: 3

    Visa & Nomination: 7-Feb-2018

    Status: Received

    Comments: Health check-up and police clearance completed and documents provided on 16-May-2018.

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