robfromdublin Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I am so confused about this so I hope someone can help me out. I am on a 457 and before coming out got an overseas visitor health insurance policy. Once I registered with Medicare I let this lapse. Now I want some sort of health cover to insure me against health problems not covered by Reciprocal Medicare. Obviously, the overseas visitor cover is a replacement for medicare, so that isn't suitable. And 'normal' policies for Australian citizens won't cover me for the gap between citizen's Medicare and Reciprocal Medicare. I see other people want it so they don't have to pay the Medicare Surcharge Levy, but I earn less than $77k so that doesn't apply. Is there a policy out there for people on Reciprocal Medicare? Is there anything that Medicare covers that Reciprocal Medicare doesn't? Any help would be appreciated, including links to previous threads if its been covered. Didn't see any that gave satisfactory answers when I searched. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newjez Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 When I was last in Oz on holiday I was taken ill. My medicare card had expired some years ago, so I took my passport to the medicare office. As I am non resident in Oz, she said I couldn't renew my medicare card, but I was covered under the reciprocal agreement with the NHS. What this meant was that she gave me a temporary medicare number for my stay. So I had exactly the same covereage as any other medicare card holder would have. If you want private health insurance - there are many levels you can go far - depending on what you want. I don't know if there are any restrictions on a 457 - you would need to ask. They usually do an ancilliary benefits - which is optical, dental, ambulance etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish.01 Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 ... And 'normal' policies for Australian citizens won't cover me for the gap between citizen's Medicare and Reciprocal Medicare...... what things fall between the gap you mention? seeing a specialist before non essential surgery? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robfromdublin Posted July 18, 2011 Author Share Posted July 18, 2011 I actually don't know the difference between the two, but I've found nothing to say they are the same and several references I've found say that the reciprocal agreement offers a 'limited' version of medicare. I think I'll just make some phone calls tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish.01 Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I actually don't know the difference between the two, but I've found nothing to say they are the same and several references I've found say that the reciprocal agreement offers a 'limited' version of medicare. I think I'll just make some phone calls tomorrow. Reciprocal Medicare says it covers medically necessary treatment before you return home. This leaves it open to interpretation. I have seen a nsw health document which advises that it depends on the length of stay....the longer the stay the more treatment becomes medically necessary before going home. On the forums many have reported that they have had no trouble getting anything on the reciprocal agreement but maybe they didn't try and get surgery on a mildly sore knee? Private hospital insurance will cover elective surgery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robfromdublin Posted July 18, 2011 Author Share Posted July 18, 2011 Well I know a guy who ruptured his cruciate recently and had to pay for the surgery out of his own pocket. He was a citizen though. So I'd like to get insurance to cover things like that but I'm not sure if I can take out policies that citizens would be able to. If I'm not then i want to take out visitors cover but that should be cheaper for those on a Reciprocal Agreement than it is for those who aren't. I've yet to see one that is. That's interesting re the length of stay. No wonder there's not much info out there if it's open to interpretation to that extent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish.01 Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 My brain has just kicked in that you were probably a resident of Ireland rather than the uk. Your access to Medicare under the reciprocal agreeent is more limited if this the case. You get no out of hospital cover which means: - no subsidised private specialists - no free or subsidised GP's - no free glasses, pathology, xrays etc PR private hospital insurance only covers treatment in a private hospital so won't help with these....only the overseas visitors cover would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robfromdublin Posted July 19, 2011 Author Share Posted July 19, 2011 Good pick up, but actually I was a resident in UK before Oz so I was able to sign up to Reciprocal Medicare. Irish residents aren't able to do that, they just present their passport at point of contact (I think a few manage to slip through the system though). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.