Medicare Levy

[Daffyduck]

I'd heard that you're exempt from the Medicare additional surcharge if you're still on the first 12 months of your PR visa. Not been able to find anything online about this, can anyone confirm?

[paulhand]

From BUPA: “

If you're over 31 when you become eligible for Medicare, you then have 12 months to take up private hospital cover before Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading applies. After this time, an extra 2% is added to your premium for each year you're over the age of 30 to a maximum of 70%. LHC stays on your policy for 10 years. We'll need a copy of your Medicare Eligibility Letter to confirm your Medicare eligibility date.

If you're under 31 when you become a permanent resident, you'll have until the 30th June following your 31stbirthday to take out private hospital cover to avoid incurring LHC loading. There's also the age-based discount (ABD) available on private hospital cover if you're between 18 and 29 when you take it out. This can save you up to 10% on your premiums until you turn 41!”

https://www.bupa.com.au/help/membership/membership-details/permanent-resident-health-insurance

Also at ATO: https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Medicare-and-private-health-insurance/Private-health-insurance-rebate/Lifetime-health-cover/  “you are a new migrant to Australia, and are aged 31 or over, and you had hospital cover within 12 months of being registered for full Medicare benefits”

 

[Jon the Hat]

Your tax return assesses the number of days in which you had an appropriate level of hospital cover (your insurer sends this to you, and most I believe also to the ATO for you) and adjusts your medicare levy surcharge accordingly.  As Paul points out the 12 months is the period of time you have to start hospital cover from arrival if you want to avoid the LHC which is a separate and additional levy which you definitely do want to avoid.

[Ken]

8 hours ago, Daffyduck said:

I'd heard that you're exempt from the Medicare additional surcharge if you're still on the first 12 months of your PR visa. Not been able to find anything online about this, can anyone confirm?

As @paulhand has said, there is an exemption from the LHC loading, but you are still subject to the Medicare Levy Surcharge if you don't have hospital cover and your income is over the threshold.

[Daffyduck]

Magic, thanks folks, cleared that up nicely.