Guest Revs30 Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 We have been here for 2 weeks now and sooo confused! We are here on a 457 and don't know what to do regarding cover, we have asked someone in a Medicare office but to be honest the person was rude and treated us as if we were just here for the benefits............erm yeah right?! Anyway, what cover should we get and where from? Dentist cover? Health cover for any injuries (we have 2 toddlers so accidents could happen)? Ambulance cover or something I have heard you need otherwise an ambulance costs are dear? Someone help please as our kids love to climb EVERYTHING and the last thing we want is a broken bone and having to pay thousands (which we dont have). John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wakeboard1980 Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Try this website it may help you a bit iselect.com.au I think it depends on what state you live in for the ambulance cover you need, we are in nsw and have taken it out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Revs30 Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Try this website it may help you a bit iselect.com.au I think it depends on what state you live in for the ambulance cover you need, we are in nsw and have taken it out Many thanks, just had a look at cover for the family. $3800 for the year............is that a good price?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest36187 Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Sounds good for a family x Welcome to oz by the way x x x x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozmaniac Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 If you're eligible for Medicare because you're from the UK, your family will all be covered for 100% of treatment in a public hospital. Kid breaks leg - take to public hospital - all covered. If you're eligible for Medicare, you can't get private insurance to cover things that Medicare covers e.g. GP or specialist visits, pathology and the like. Medicare picks up some of the cost of private hospital care, but it doesn't cover dental, physio, optical or ambulance though in some states (e.g. QLD), ambulance is handled in a different way and most people are covered. You can therefore get private insurance for private hospital care and those other extras. $3800 seems a bit high. You should be able to get good cover for private hospital with a $250 excess per adult ($0 for kids) on private hospital treatment for a bit over $3200 and 70% extras or $3600 with no hospital excess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoll Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Under the reciprocal health agreement you are covered for "essential" treatment (so if you want something elective then you may not get it unless you pay for it). I believe temporary visa holders do pay more for health than permanent residents do - there are some special policies that other 457 visa holders will know more about I am sure. We currently pay around $3k pa for a family but are citizens which probably makes a difference Dentist - not covered by medicare so you either self insure or get extras on a private health policy. In the throes of big dentistry myself at the moment and the quote is around $6k - replacing old fillings, new restorative work etc so the dentist bills can come in as a shock. Ambulance - not covered (and can be extraordinarily expensive) so either take out just ambulance cover or private health insurance in which case it will be covered.http://www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/Families.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Joy Please Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Read this - http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/457-health-insurance-faq-visa-holder.htm I think you're covered under Medicare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petals Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 In Victoria anyone who does not have a pension card should take out ambulance insurance. If not taken out its very expensive if you or your family have to use an ambulance. Dental, well I used to have dental insurance but really the amount paid and the amount received back do not add up to a benefit in my view. Emergency then head for the nearest public hospital. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Revs30 Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 In Victoria anyone who does not have a pension card should take out ambulance insurance. If not taken out its very expensive if you or your family have to use an ambulance. Dental, well I used to have dental insurance but really the amount paid and the amount received back do not add up to a benefit in my view. Emergency then head for the nearest public hospital. Many thanks for that Petals but on a 457 Visa it stipulates that you must have health insurance of some sort to cover yourselves. Otherwise they can void your visa, send you home, and jeapordise any chance of coming back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paisleylass Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Many thanks for that Petals but on a 457 Visa it stipulates that you must have health insurance of some sort to cover yourselves. Otherwise they can void your visa, send you home, and jeapordise any chance of coming back As I understand it, for people from countries with a reciprocal healthcare agreement such as the UK, in the longer term medicare is sufficient to satisfy visa conditions BUT you need additional cover until you get registered for medicare, say the first week or so after arrival. Hubby's HR officer said travel insurance should cover it but I'm yet to find out whether our annual cover is sufficient! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sharpie76 Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Hi, I am on a 457 Visa with my family we arrived last year, We have a medicare card, but under the 457 visa contract you must get overseas healthcare cover our travel insurance was not accepted by immigration under 457 visa, it is not a cheap option, We went with the basic cover with HBA they seem to be the cheapest we are paying around $1700 a year which i can claim 30% back this year through our tax, i have looked at medibank and cant get anywhere near the price. I think it may be better just to pay for your dental treatment than an insurance plan, I work in the dental industry here and most of the dentists say its best just to pay for what you need. but thats up to you. I do hope you get sorted i know these things can be dawnting especially when you just arrive, it does get easier. p.s when you do go to the doctors you can claim half the cost back if you have a medicare card. If you need anything else answered feel free to ask Nicki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paisleylass Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Hmmm... this is from the 457 health insurance FAQs (my bold): I am from a country with a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia. Do I also need insurance? If you are from a country with a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia, you may be eligible to access Medicare. For further information you should refer to the Medicare Australia website. See: Medicare Australia – Visitors to Australia Being enrolled with Medicare under reciprocal health care arrangements is sufficient to meet the health insurance requirement at visa grant and to comply with visa condition 8501. You can only enrol with Medicare if you are in Australia. If you have enrolled with Medicare you should provide evidence that you have been issued with a Medicare card as part of your application. If you are overseas, you must arrange adequate insurance for your initial period in Australia and provide evidence of this insurance as part of your application. You may be eligible to then enrol with Medicare once you are in Australia. Being enrolled with Medicare is sufficient to comply with visa condition 8501. You should also be aware that once you have enrolled with Medicare, you need to contact the Australian Taxation Office to see if you will be subject to the Medicare Levy Surcharge. This might affect the type of health insurance policy you need to maintain while in Australia. See: PrivateHealth.gov.au Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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