dalejaneaustralia Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 Hi, I am sure this has been explained before but I cannot find a link to it. Can someone enlighten me about how Medicare works? My take is that you sign up on arrival and you are covered to a certain level as we are on a PR visa. You have to pay for certain treatments and you can then also pay for private health cover for things that are not covered. I've read somewhere about employer contributions? How does this work? Are they contributing to private healthcare or towards the cost of Medicare treatments that are not included? Sorry its a bit vague but this is baffling me, have been on the Medicare website, but it's still confusing me! Thanks Dale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish.01 Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 Private cover has two components: - cover for admission to hospital (doctors and accommodation) - cover for ancillary medical expenses like dental, physio, podiatry, optical etc (usually called "extra's") It has nothing to do with GP or private specialist services. There is a 20c in the dollar tax rebate if you are out of pocket a certain amount per year. The public Medicare system covers: - Private Doctors (GP's) - some charge nothing (bulk billing), some $10 up to approx $50 gap - you can choose to go to any one you like - even across the other side of town if you want. Some places have no free GP's though most big cities have lots of them. - Prescriptions - If the medication is on the PBS list (80% dispensed are) then you pay a max of $32.90 ($5.30 if you have a concession card). There is also an annual safety net if you spend above a certain amount per year. You should ask for the "generic" brand of any medicine being dispensed as they are cheaper (and the same). - Public Hospitals - emergency department and hospital admission fully covered by Medicare. - Public Specialists - Fully covered by Medicare (just tell your GP you wish to go to a public specialist at a public hospital - long waits sometimes apply like the NHS) - Private Specialists - If you choose to go to a private specialist then Medicare covers some of that bill as well. The public system is funded by a 1.5% levy paid with your income tax. If your income over 80,000 for a single or 160,000 for a couple you pay an extra 1% levy if you have no private hospital insurance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalejaneaustralia Posted November 8, 2011 Author Share Posted November 8, 2011 Thanks for the info. I see there is no mention of employer contribution......so your employer doesn't contribute at all for your Medicare then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish.01 Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 Thanks for the info. I see there is no mention of employer contribution......so your employer doesn't contribute at all for your Medicare then? No, the Medicare 1.5% is deducted from each pay as part of the tax component so you don't really notice it. Private insurance cover may be part of a salary package i guess but that is quite rare. Not really sure what you might be referring to. Employers used to cover private insurance for 457 temporary visa holders....was it that? You're not getting it mixed up with employer superannuation contributions by any chance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalejaneaustralia Posted November 8, 2011 Author Share Posted November 8, 2011 Thanks Fish. We had it in our head we'd read that employer contributed to Medicare! All clear, thanks again! Dale & Jane --- I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=52.255044,-0.835056 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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