rich Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 Hi everyone, I'm a new expat here in Australia (Sydney) on a 457 visa, currently with specific private 457 tailored health insurance, but am looking to sort out my options now I'm here. Note I'm being paid less than $90,000. From what I've read I think I have two options, but am unclear on their cost/details/eligibility. I think I can do: 1. Apply for Medicare and then get top up insurance for everything else. Q: What does medicare NOT cover that I might need to think about, prescriptions that are from a GP? ambulances? Q: How easy is it to find specific top up insurance? 2. Get private health insurance and then claim the medicare rebate (http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/medicare/australian-government-rebate-on-private-health-insurance) Q: Am I eligible for the rebate as a Brit on a 457 on less than $90,000? Q: Is the rebate good? Q: How does it work with the medicare tax contribution? General question: Which is more cost effective? What do you do? Thanks! Rich. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich Posted August 24, 2015 Author Share Posted August 24, 2015 Another thing I've a little confused about is the possibility of Medicare exemption. If I were to use private healthcare could I apply for this? I think I can't because of the UK's RHCA, but the exact wording found here (http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/medicare/medicare-entitlement-statement) is unclear. Explicitly is says Other people who are not eligible for Medicare include: a person who is not from a country with whom Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement or does not meet particular requirements under that specific agreement a person who has not applied for permanent residency persons not covered by a Ministerial Order Now, does one have top meet all of that criteria or just one, which are necessary and which are sufficient? For instance I don't meet criteria 1 or 3, but I do meet criterion 2. Rich. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickyNook Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 (edited) Because you qualify for Medicare under the reciprocal arrangement you don't qualify for the Medicare exemption. Considering you will be paying the 2% base Medicare levy (whether you like it or not :wink: ) so you might as well use it. You won't have to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge (an extra 1.0%-1.5% on top of the base 2%) because you earn less than $90k. If you're a young, fit, healthy person then you probably don't really need any private hospital cover on top of the Medicare cover. You might want some Extras cover - stuff like ambulance, optical, dental, physio etc. Up to you. Most health funds deduct the government rebate at source so you just pay a reduced premium. I don't think it's anything you have to make a claim for (not that I'm aware of, anyway). Edited August 24, 2015 by NickyNook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianaK Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 I have read through several discussions regarding private health insurance vs Medicare and I still have one question - if you have a private health insurance and your GP sends you to a specialist, can you choose to see this specialist as a public health patient or you do not have a choice and you have to see him as private? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortlepuss Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 I have read through several discussions regarding private health insurance vs Medicare and I still have one question - if you have a private health insurance and your GP sends you to a specialist, can you choose to see this specialist as a public health patient or you do not have a choice and you have to see him as private? Your Dr will ask you if you have private health insurance before recommending a specialist. For many the advantage of private health is that you are seen very soon, and can schedule when you see someone. One problem with being admitted to hospital is that 'out of pocket' expenses could bankrupt you if you say you want to go private... Excellent care available on the public system for emergencies. We have a mantra in our family to not own up to having insurance if we have to go to hospital for something serious.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bungo Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 Your Dr will ask you if you have private health insurance before recommending a specialist. For many the advantage of private health is that you are seen very soon, and can schedule when you see someone. One problem with being admitted to hospital is that 'out of pocket' expenses could bankrupt you if you say you want to go private... Excellent care available on the public system for emergencies. We have a mantra in our family to not own up to having insurance if we have to go to hospital for something serious.... Yes, I always said the same and drilled it into the OH in case of emergency. Australia's private health insurance is the weirdest I have ever heard of, as it seems you are generally worse of for having it. We only really had it for tax reasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich Posted August 25, 2015 Author Share Posted August 25, 2015 I've managed to sign up to Medicare now and am considering my own top up insurance: My understanding based on the chat with the Medicare lady I spoke to was that I am not covered for 1) Ambulances 2) Hospital accommodation for non-emergency procedures 3) Ancillaries eg. dental optical etc. Does anyone know of a provider which will provide these and these alone? As I don't want to pay for things twice... Also looking at the rates for just general private cover I'm pretty sure that the RHCA thing is a total swizz. I have to pay ~$1700 on the Medicare levy a year. I can't opt out of this because I am entitled to it, but would be able to if I were from a non RHCA country. But I can get (what looks to me like) equivalent cover plus other stuff (ambulance etc.) privately for ~$1000. In what world does offering reciprocal care mean the person is $700 worse off than the person who has no reciprocal health care agreement? Seems mad to me... Or am I missing something? Rich. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bungo Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 I've managed to sign up to Medicare now and am considering my own top up insurance: My understanding based on the chat with the Medicare lady I spoke to was that I am not covered for 1) Ambulances 2) Hospital accommodation for non-emergency procedures 3) Ancillaries eg. dental optical etc. Does anyone know of a provider which will provide these and these alone? As I don't want to pay for things twice... Also looking at the rates for just general private cover I'm pretty sure that the RHCA thing is a total swizz. I have to pay ~$1700 on the Medicare levy a year. I can't opt out of this because I am entitled to it, but would be able to if I were from a non RHCA country. But I can get (what looks to me like) equivalent cover plus other stuff (ambulance etc.) privately for ~$1000. In what world does offering reciprocal care mean the person is $700 worse off than the person who has no reciprocal health care agreement? Seems mad to me... Or am I missing something? Rich. Personally I think you are over thinking this. And you are looking for logic where there is none when it comes to Australian private medical insurance. Medicare levy is best just looked at as a tax, we don't all get value for money out of our taxes. Nor can we opt out of paying tax by making private arrangements for services such as health or education. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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