Medicare TSS 482 condition and PR query

[UKFamilymovingtoAus 0]

Hi,

We recently arrived in Australia on TSS 482 (my partner is main applicant for TSS 482 visa, I am in Australia as a dependent) and took the private insurance as required by the condition in the TSS 482 visa. However, my understanding is that if we get medicare then the cost of private insurance will decrease. So, we are exploring to apply for medicare.

We are both from the United Kingdom which has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia. We got British passports and were living in the UK before moving to Australia. The TSS 482 visa has  "Visa conditions 8501 - Maintain health insurance".

I submitted the PR 190 application in March 2020 (I am the main applicant, partner as dependent). As we are now in Australia, we are eligible for Medicare under "Have applied for permanent residency" category.

My queries are below:

1. Can someone confirm that we are eligible for medicare because we got British passport and were living there before coming to Australia? I think we are, the reason I am doubting is because of the condition on our TSS 482 visa "Visa conditions 8501 - Maintain health insurance". Could it be that the medicare card on Reciprocal Health Care ground is not valid if someone is on TSS 482 visa?

2. Assuming we are eligible for medicare from two routes (reciprocal arrangement and via Applied for PR), which route should we choose to apply for medicare. My PR application is in the pipeline and I do not want to have any negative effect on our PR application because of medicare. If there is even 0.0001 % chance, then we are quite happy not to take medicare and continue the private healthcare insurance.

3. I rang the medicare helpline number and the agent did not really seem to understand my concern of any negative effect on my PR application. She simply said to tick both the boxes in the PR application and submit. I can definitely tick the box "Have applied for permanent residency" on page 2 of medicare pdf form but not sure about ticking the box for "Visitor from a country that has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia". We are not on visitor visa or tourist visa but on TSS 482 visa.

Thx for reading my post.

[MARYROSE02 2,311]

So far as I can tell (from rudimentary Googling), you are entitled to a Medicare card under the reciprocal agreement between Australia and the UK. 

Your 482 visa has no bearing on this qualification for a Medicare card although you need private insurance as well under the terms of your visa.

You are also entitled to apply for a Medicare card if you are applying for Permanent Residence in Australia.

So, just go ahead and start your on line application at :

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/online-help/create-mygov-account

I don't think you HAVE to have a My Gov Account but most people do and then you link all your Commonwealth Government services - TFN (Tax File Number) with the ATO (Australian Tax Office, Medicare, Centrelink, Superannuation accounts. I have one of these.

State government services e.g. Driver's Licence are separate as they are controlled by the State or Territory government where you live. (Google whichever State or Territory you live in. I just did it for Queensland although I'm still a NSW resident. (https://www.my.qld.gov.au/intro/index.html)

This is the help page for migrants:

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/migrants-refugees-and-visitors/subjects

I don't know what happens when you need to see a doctor if you don't have a Medicare card - show your proof of medical insurance? Pay cash? Go to A and E? I remember reading somewhere that some working holiday visa holders go to A and E automatically.

I do not have private medical insurance so if the services are offered free on Medicare ie "Bulk Billed" I do that. Some services are part funded by Medicare so I have to pay the difference. I assume that if you have medical insurance that covers you for all or part of that fee. For dentists I just pay their fees.  Services like podiatry you can sometimes get referral from a GP for a certain number of concessionary visits - $55 off the cost of five visits in a calendar year. If you need to see a psychologist you can get a Mental Health Plan from your GP and get discounts in a calendar year too. 

This site is from SBS the TV channel which caters for many migrants. I did see that it says you need to make an appointment to see a GP but this depends upon the individual practice. I just "walk in " for my doctor in Surfers Paradise. Some are open 7 days  a week too.

https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/settlement-guide-how-to-see-a-doctor-in-australia#:~:text=“You can see a doctor,services are covered by Medicare.

This site is an A to Z of services from the Commonwealth Government and I'm going to have a look at it myself! (Unlike Britain, Australia has a federal government system with powers split between the Commonwealth government and the States and Territories, plus the Councils for rates and the like, just like in the UK? You probably already know that!)

Someone more knowledgeable will now come long and tell me this is all BS!

 

Edited December 5, 2020 by MARYROSE02

[Marisawright 10,909]

On 12/11/2020 at 01:17, UKFamilymovingtoAus said:

3. I rang the medicare helpline number and the agent did not really seem to understand my concern of any negative effect on my PR application. She simply said to tick both the boxes in the PR application and submit. I can definitely tick the box "Have applied for permanent residency" on page 2 of medicare pdf form but not sure about ticking the box for "Visitor from a country that has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia". We are not on visitor visa or tourist visa but on TSS 482 visa.

 

The Medicare helpline agent couldn't understand your concern because it makes no sense whatsoever.   It has no effect on your PR application.  

[MARYROSE02 2,311]

30 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

The Medicare helpline agent couldn't understand your concern because it makes no sense whatsoever.   It has no effect on your PR application.  

I knew you would have the facts Marisa!. I was pretty sure that anybody from the UK just gets a Medicare card as part of the rep. agreement. (I CANNOT spell that word beginning with REP!

[James Foreman 0]

hi, we are flying in on a TSS 482 on 15th Feb 22, we currently are not seeking PR

from my understanding we need to get medical insurance as part of the visa terms , bit can still apply for medicare

We both take regular prescription medicines as well, what is the best way of sorting these out once in Perth?

many thanks in advance !