Colette Little Posted December 13, 2019 Share Posted December 13, 2019 Hi there! I'm 28 and moving to Melbourne from London UK, on a 457 sponsor visa with my partner in March 2020 after 2 months of travel. I have rheumatoid arthritis and currently take the Adilamumab jab which I have now been on for over a decade. After difficulties with methotrexate and other medicines, switching to Adilamumab finally got my condition under control, so it is of great importance that I am able to continue it. Right now I'm trying to figure out how I can continue my medicine and feeling a little overwhelmed as to how to go about it. I've read that with a medicare card you are subsidised for the treatment, however that on the 457 visa, that you are not eligible for this. I've then read that it can cost thousands of dollars to pay for out of pocket, which I simply do not have. The option that my consultant from home here in London has suggested is to take a years worth of jabs with me (whilst travelling for 2 months) or post the jabs from the UK. Then repeat each year that I stay. I just feel like there must be a better option than the above and would appreciate any suggestions from those that have been in a similar situation. Thanks in advance! Colette x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amber Snowball Posted December 13, 2019 Share Posted December 13, 2019 Hi, sorry I don’t know about the rules around access to medicare on the 457 but I would say you are likely to have problems getting your medications posted to you. Can’t see customs being ok with that. Some others on here will have more knowledge I’m sure. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliQ Posted December 13, 2019 Share Posted December 13, 2019 45 minutes ago, Colette Little said: Hi there! I'm 28 and moving to Melbourne from London UK, on a 457 sponsor visa with my partner in March 2020 after 2 months of travel. I have rheumatoid arthritis and currently take the Adilamumab jab which I have now been on for over a decade. After difficulties with methotrexate and other medicines, switching to Adilamumab finally got my condition under control, so it is of great importance that I am able to continue it. Right now I'm trying to figure out how I can continue my medicine and feeling a little overwhelmed as to how to go about it. I've read that with a medicare card you are subsidised for the treatment, however that on the 457 visa, that you are not eligible for this. I've then read that it can cost thousands of dollars to pay for out of pocket, which I simply do not have. The option that my consultant from home here in London has suggested is to take a years worth of jabs with me (whilst travelling for 2 months) or post the jabs from the UK. Then repeat each year that I stay. I just feel like there must be a better option than the above and would appreciate any suggestions from those that have been in a similar situation. Thanks in advance! Colette x Hi Colette, I think the first thing you must do is to find out your visa conditions in regards to Medicare access. Because, if you can NOT access Medicare, then you will need to take out private health insurance for your period of time in Australia anyway. Not just because of your drug, but something else may crop up that needs medical attention during your time there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemesis Posted December 13, 2019 Share Posted December 13, 2019 3 hours ago, Colette Little said: Hi there! I'm 28 and moving to Melbourne from London UK, on a 457 sponsor visa with my partner in March 2020 after 2 months of travel. I have rheumatoid arthritis and currently take the Adilamumab jab which I have now been on for over a decade. After difficulties with methotrexate and other medicines, switching to Adilamumab finally got my condition under control, so it is of great importance that I am able to continue it. Right now I'm trying to figure out how I can continue my medicine and feeling a little overwhelmed as to how to go about it. I've read that with a medicare card you are subsidised for the treatment, however that on the 457 visa, that you are not eligible for this. I've then read that it can cost thousands of dollars to pay for out of pocket, which I simply do not have. The option that my consultant from home here in London has suggested is to take a years worth of jabs with me (whilst travelling for 2 months) or post the jabs from the UK. Then repeat each year that I stay. I just feel like there must be a better option than the above and would appreciate any suggestions from those that have been in a similar situation. Thanks in advance! Colette x Medicare would only cover you for emergency treatment on a 457 (must admit I didn't think 457s still existed) As for getting it posted - once you are no longer a UK resident you cease to be eligible for the NHS, so not sure how that one would work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colette Little Posted December 13, 2019 Author Share Posted December 13, 2019 NHS cover isn’t an issue, I will still see my consultant once a year in London and they are aware of my move and being very helpful. Would be be great to hear from anyone who has moved over with a sponsorship with a similar type of medicine - that being an temperature controlled injection. thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted December 13, 2019 Share Posted December 13, 2019 The medication is available in Aus and costs $40.30 for x2 0.8ml injections (PBS). it does have an authority code which means you will probably have to see a specialist here (at least initially) to give you the prescription. Your consultant in the UK won't be able to write valid scripts here. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliQ Posted December 13, 2019 Share Posted December 13, 2019 1 hour ago, ali said: The medication is available in Aus and costs $40.30 for x2 0.8ml injections (PBS). it does have an authority code which means you will probably have to see a specialist here (at least initially) to give you the prescription. Your consultant in the UK won't be able to write valid scripts here. To access medication at PBS rates, the person would have to have access to Medicare, otherwise they will have to pay a private prescription rate which is vastly different. Colette - did you find out if your visa allows access to Medicare ? because that is your crunch point here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colette Little Posted December 13, 2019 Author Share Posted December 13, 2019 Through the visa we will have access to Medicare and have to have insurance which we have already organised to receive the visa(however does not provide pharmaceuticals such as my adilumimad) However I read online that with the sponsorship visa, you receive a limited version on Medicare. X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemesis Posted December 13, 2019 Share Posted December 13, 2019 (edited) 4 hours ago, Colette Little said: Through the visa we will have access to Medicare and have to have insurance which we have already organised to receive the visa(however does not provide pharmaceuticals such as my adilumimad) However I read online that with the sponsorship visa, you receive a limited version on Medicare. X If it is a 457 you would have access to Medicare for emergency treatment under the reciprocal agreement with the UK. You would not be covered for non-urgent treatment. I assume your UK consultant is private as you say the NHS isn't an issue? Edited December 13, 2019 by Nemesis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted December 13, 2019 Share Posted December 13, 2019 12 hours ago, Colette Little said: NHS cover isn’t an issue, I will still see my consultant once a year in London and they are aware of my move and being very helpful. Regardless of what your specialist would like to do, as soon as you cease to reside in the UK, you can no longer get treatment or medication on the NHS. You’ll have to pay your specialist privately and pay the full price for your medication too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rammygirl Posted December 14, 2019 Share Posted December 14, 2019 To clarify. Reciprocal Medicare isn’t just emergency treatment. It covers medically necessary treatment, there is a difference. It is more restrictive but should cover medication prescribed here so you pay PBS rates. Do nite that you can and should shop around both for consultation and drugs, there are no fixed prices here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted December 14, 2019 Share Posted December 14, 2019 2 minutes ago, rammygirl said: To clarify. Reciprocal Medicare isn’t just emergency treatment. It covers medically necessary treatment, there is a difference. It is more restrictive but should cover medication prescribed here so you pay PBS rates. Do nite that you can and should shop around both for consultation and drugs, there are no fixed prices here! Correct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemesis Posted December 14, 2019 Share Posted December 14, 2019 9 hours ago, rammygirl said: To clarify. Reciprocal Medicare isn’t just emergency treatment. It covers medically necessary treatment, there is a difference. It is more restrictive but should cover medication prescribed here so you pay PBS rates. Do nite that you can and should shop around both for consultation and drugs, there are no fixed prices here! Ok I stand corrected. I spent a small fortune when I used to visit Australia and could only get reciprocal medicare. My own arthritis medication (tablets) was essential but I had to pay full price both for it and for any doctor that I saw. Clearly things have now changed, Very pleased that the OP will get subsidised treatment even though I couldn't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted December 14, 2019 Share Posted December 14, 2019 1 hour ago, Nemesis said: Ok I stand corrected. I spent a small fortune when I used to visit Australia and could only get reciprocal medicare. My own arthritis medication (tablets) was essential but I had to pay full price both for it and for any doctor that I saw. Clearly things have now changed, Very pleased that the OP will get subsidised treatment even though I couldn't That’s interesting but I wonder if you were treated incorrectly at the time. What the regulations say and what actually happens aren’t always the same - staff at a local level are often confused Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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