norah9 Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Hello, after waiting months and months (and paying out quite a bit of money) for limited medical registration we are finally able to apply for our 457. Hoping to get there on time for our 4 children to start school in feb '13!!! I know we need health insurance on the 457. can anyone suggest a company. we are a family with 4 children. And once we are in oz can we cancel and just go with the reciprocal medicare agreement. we are coming from ireland. Not an easy time of the year to be applying for a visa, feel a bit emotional with the thought of leaving but we have had nearly a year of to get to this stage and now that we are at this final stage we are just getting a little fearful of saying goodbyes. So if anyone could advise me on an online reasonably priced insurance company it would be great. I did look online before but there seem to be lots of levels and not sure if the basic is enough to satisfy 457. thanks so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza9 Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 I just had my 457 approved with an annual policy from virgin. It was a basic policy and cost me £25 for the year. I won't bother cancelling it at that price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blossom Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 I just had my 457 approved with an annual policy from virgin. It was a basic policy and cost me £25 for the year. I won't bother cancelling it at that price. Is that travel insurance? Check the terms as most of them limit trips to 30 days and you have to be a resident of the uk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norah9 Posted December 23, 2012 Author Share Posted December 23, 2012 think that may be travel insurance. have been looking online and bupa, medibank and iman(sorry, might have not spelled this correctly!!) are charging nearly $200 a month for the basic package. Anyone know wich is the best. thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lebourvellec Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 If you are from the Republic of Ireland I dont think you can cancel the policy as you are only entitled to free health care in the hospitals, not same standard of reciprocal health care which is for certain passport holders - i.e. holders of a UK passport. You should check to be sure. Failure to have appropriate health care is breach of 8501 condition on your visa. Entitlements are very different for ROI and UK citizens. http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/medicare/reciprocal-health-care-agreements/health-care-for-visitors-to-australia Your entitlements As a resident of one of these countries, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Norway, Slovenia, Malta and Italy, you are entitled to the following health or injury treatments while you are in Australia: free treatment as a public in-patient or out-patient in a public hospital subsidised medicine under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatment provided by a doctor. Residents of the Republic of Ireland and New Zealand are entitled to : services as a public patient in a public hospital (including outpatient services) for medically necessary treatment medicines available on prescription which are subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), at the general rate. Irish or NZ passport holders do not receive Medicare cards but are required to show their passports at hospitals and pharmacies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozzchops Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 there is a govt site that does a comparison of the best/cheapest policy for your needs,i googled it ,best health ins policy in aus and it came up!Good luck,we moved from Ireland in august,given the state of Ireland your doing the right thing for your family,tough saying goodbye but a whole future to look forward to for your family.Good Luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rossmoyne Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 http://www.choosi.com.au You can check out all types of insurance and compare policies on this site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza9 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Is that travel insurance? Check the terms as most of them limit trips to 30 days and you have to be a resident of the uk. Yes it is travel insurance, DIAC checked the policy and they were happy with it. It covers for trips of maximum 90 days. As soon as I get To Oz I'll be registering with Medicare which will cover me anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VERYSTORMY Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Bupa does a very good visitors cover package. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blossom Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Yes it is travel insurance, DIAC checked the policy and they were happy with it. It covers for trips of maximum 90 days. As soon as I get To Oz I'll be registering with Medicare which will cover me anyway. Yep, not so good for the op though if they are from Ireland without full Medicare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norah9 Posted December 24, 2012 Author Share Posted December 24, 2012 have just signed up with bupa.$178 a month!!! Maybe once we are in the country we can get something cheaper if we cant get the full medicare cover. need to apply for 457 asap as we have 4 children who need to start school as close to the feb 4th start of term date as possible. now that we have come to this stage after months of head wrecking bureaucracy im getting cold feet and feeling very nervous of the move. Thanks everyone for the advise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blossom Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Ouch, that is pricey, but remember, you will get some of that back at tax return time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul566 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 hi just want to know if we are on a 457 are we entitled to medicare free or do we absolutely have to have medical insurance ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blossom Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 hi just want to know if we are on a 457 are we entitled to medicare free or do we absolutely have to have medical insurance ? If you are from the uk you get reciprocal health care. So you need to show you have health care to enter the country, which lots of travel insurance will do. Once here you can cancel it. Ireland however needs insurance as no reciprocal Medicare cards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardtochase Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 If you are from the uk you get reciprocal health care. So you need to show you have health care to enter the country, which lots of travel insurance will do. Once here you can cancel it. Ireland however needs insurance as no reciprocal Medicare cards. Hi, I didn't know you could cancel health insurance once here, this is music to my ears. I hope to get sponsored in my next job and wasn't looking forward to the $200 a month extra outgoings! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norah9 Posted December 24, 2012 Author Share Posted December 24, 2012 yes, it is pricy. seems like there are a lot more expenses in OZ than what im used to. I will be renting our house as we are in negative equity and the rents in oz are over three times what we would get for our home. really hope we are making the right move!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blossom Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Yes, I certainly find it more expensive, other than petrol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VERYSTORMY Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 Be aware that lots of people who get full Medicare including Australian citizens keep private as it offers a lot of benefit. For example, my wife needed physio recently. The wait time with Medicare was going to be months. Dental bills can be high here and in some states such as WA you can pay hundreds for an ambulance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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