plaver Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 We are just about start pulling everything together to leave UK and start living and working in Melbourne later this month, I've lbeen ooking around and I can't find what entitlement if any we have to Medicare. We have Return Residence Visa Class BB Sub Class 155. It would be really helpful if someone could advise what we are entitle to and what need to buy to make sure we have medical cover. Many thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hinds81 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 [h=2]Who is eligible for Medicare?[/h] People who reside in Australia and: hold Australian citizenship have been issued with a permanent visa hold New Zealand citizenship, or have applied for a permanent visa (other requirements apply). The Australian Government has signed Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with some countries. Under these arrangements, residents of these countries are entitled to restricted access to health cover while visiting Australia. Medicare is Australia's universal health insurance scheme. Introduced in 1984, its objectives are: to make health care affordable for all Australians to give all Australians access to health care services with priority according to clinical need, and to provide a high quality of care. Medicare provides access to: free treatment as a public (Medicare) patient in a public hospital free or subsidised treatment by practitioners such as doctors, including specialists, participating optometrists or dentists (specified services only). Australia's public hospital system is funded jointly by the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments and is administered by State or Territory health departments. Medicare Australia administers the Medicare program, including enrolments and benefit payments. Contribution to the health care system is made through taxes and the Medicare levy, which is based on taxable income. hope this helps :0) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hinds81 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 seeing a doctor is free when u bulk bill, i.e place your family with the same practice, that then comes out of the tax they are taking already from your wages.. although everyone is entitled to a tax rebate in july every year, ours was $6500 for 6 months of being here, amazing!! but one thing i will say is, the trip to the doctor is basically free, but the prescription he gives u may cost u an arm and a leg, for example, my trip on friday to docs+$0, took my prescription to the chemist, $38 for a tube of cream to treat psorisis, $22 for a box of 10 sleeping tablets... I could have bought cream over the counter for less, and a btl of wine a night to cure the insomnia... outrageous.. my lesson always query drugs/creams to see if you can purchase something similar before showing the prescription, because it could be costly!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoll Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 seeing a doctor is free when u bulk bill, i.e place your family with the same practice, that then comes out of the tax they are taking already from your wages.. although everyone is entitled to a tax rebate in july every year, ours was $6500 for 6 months of being here, amazing!! but one thing i will say is, the trip to the doctor is basically free, but the prescription he gives u may cost u an arm and a leg, for example, my trip on friday to docs+$0, took my prescription to the chemist, $38 for a tube of cream to treat psorisis, $22 for a box of 10 sleeping tablets... I could have bought cream over the counter for less, and a btl of wine a night to cure the insomnia... outrageous.. my lesson always query drugs/creams to see if you can purchase something similar before showing the prescription, because it could be costly!! Remember that not all doctors bulk bill and the system was not designed so that everyone would be bulk billed - it was designed to be a co-pay system where you pay a proportion of your GP visit. You will find that most bulk billing places are medical centres where the doctors couldnt give a toss about you and you dont get continuity of care. If you want continuity of care then you have to go to a practice which is more than likely going to charge you a copayment fee unless you are low income. It's only going to be around $30 a time. In some places, bulk billing doctors are scarcer than hens teeth - probably because there isnt the competition and doctors are a scarce commodity at the best of times. I dont know why the migrant Poms get this bee in their bonnet about bulk billing - most Aussies just accept it as a matter of course. Australia doesnt have the national health system, it's basically a user pays system. Medications on the PBS should cost you a max of around $32 per fill which is usually a month's worth or a defined course. You can get cheaper generic versions if you want to ask for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plaver Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 seeing a doctor is free when u bulk bill, i.e place your family with the same practice, that then comes out of the tax they are taking already from your wages.. although everyone is entitled to a tax rebate in july every year, ours was $6500 for 6 months of being here, amazing!! but one thing i will say is, the trip to the doctor is basically free, but the prescription he gives u may cost u an arm and a leg, for example, my trip on friday to docs+$0, took my prescription to the chemist, $38 for a tube of cream to treat psorisis, $22 for a box of 10 sleeping tablets... I could have bought cream over the counter for less, and a btl of wine a night to cure the insomnia... outrageous.. my lesson always query drugs/creams to see if you can purchase something similar before showing the prescription, because it could be costly!! Thank you for the prompt reply and information, from what your saying is I don't have to have any additional cover??? what if we need hospital treatment will medicare cover this or is there a price structure for what treatment you need?? I was very interested to read about your tax rebate, can provide more information as I'm very keen on saving money on tax bill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hinds81 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 NO WORRIES.. My Husband and I are on a 457 working visa, granted for 4 years, we are not entitled to bugger all, which with 3 kids is crap, but hey we have sun to keep us smiling :0), My hubby arrived in January last year, works as a steel erector back home, they call them boiler makers here!! he did very little work when he arrived, but was still paid his minimum weekly salary as he was taken on as a supervisor, so in the six months we were there, he was told that June/July is the end of the tax year and he should see a tax accountant to re-arrange a tax rebate, we both thought sod it hardly earn t anything with time over and basic pay, but his boss insisted we did. As everyone in Australia who pays tax should get a rebate, however big or small it may be, We then assigned a tax man, who came to our house, and asked for any work related receipts i.e fuel costs, sat nav, work clothing, also anything bought for the children, uniforms, stationary.. (all receipts must be kept) he took them away and told us we should be entitled to $3,500, i was amazed, even more Amazed to see a tax rebate of $6,500 in the bank 2 weeks later, the tax man had claimed tax back on educational items for the kids, work related stationary for the hubby, even the cost of soap powder to wash his uniform, it was unreal, but anything you buy for work, for education, petrol to commute to work you must keep receipts!! I was hospitalized over night for a sever headache, hospital ran tests, was placed on a drip, and given tablets, had to provide my medicare card, and my bill for this visit was $0, as long as you have got the medicare card you are covered, dental bills are a different kettle of fish, under 16's get free dental service within the school, other than that you may want to take out cover, not something iv got around to doing yet, a check up cost me $47 thankfully things were ok lol Ali Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plaver Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 Remember that not all doctors bulk bill and the system was not designed so that everyone would be bulk billed - it was designed to be a co-pay system where you pay a proportion of your GP visit. You will find that most bulk billing places are medical centres where the doctors couldnt give a toss about you and you dont get continuity of care. If you want continuity of care then you have to go to a practice which is more than likely going to charge you a copayment fee unless you are low income. It's only going to be around $30 a time. In some places, bulk billing doctors are scarcer than hens teeth - probably because there isnt the competition and doctors are a scarce commodity at the best of times. I dont know why the migrant Poms get this bee in their bonnet about bulk billing - most Aussies just accept it as a matter of course. Australia doesnt have the national health system, it's basically a user pays system. Medications on the PBS should cost you a max of around $32 per fill which is usually a month's worth or a defined course. You can get cheaper generic versions if you want to ask for them. Thanks for the info, I don't mind paying providing I know what I'm paying for and I get value for money and most important thing, I don't want to miss anything or take anything for granted as this could spoil the dream move. I guess the first thing I need to do is apply for Medicare when we arrive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plaver Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 NO WORRIES.. My Husband and I are on a 457 working visa, granted for 4 years, we are not entitled to bugger all, which with 3 kids is crap, but hey we have sun to keep us smiling :0), My hubby arrived in January last year, works as a steel erector back home, they call them boiler makers here!! he did very little work when he arrived, but was still paid his minimum weekly salary as he was taken on as a supervisor, so in the six months we were there, he was told that June/July is the end of the tax year and he should see a tax accountant to re-arrange a tax rebate, we both thought sod it hardly earn t anything with time over and basic pay, but his boss insisted we did. As everyone in Australia who pays tax should get a rebate, however big or small it may be,We then assigned a tax man, who came to our house, and asked for any work related receipts i.e fuel costs, sat nav, work clothing, also anything bought for the children, uniforms, stationary.. (all receipts must be kept) he took them away and told us we should be entitled to $3,500, i was amazed, even more Amazed to see a tax rebate of $6,500 in the bank 2 weeks later, the tax man had claimed tax back on educational items for the kids, work related stationary for the hubby, even the cost of soap powder to wash his uniform, it was unreal, but anything you buy for work, for education, petrol to commute to work you must keep receipts!! I was hospitalized over night for a sever headache, hospital ran tests, was placed on a drip, and given tablets, had to provide my medicare card, and my bill for this visit was $0, as long as you have got the medicare card you are covered, dental bills are a different kettle of fish, under 16's get free dental service within the school, other than that you may want to take out cover, not something iv got around to doing yet, a check up cost me $47 thankfully things were ok lol Ali The dentist is on the list, I assumed it would the same as here 'expensive lol'. I am assuming that Medicare status doesn't change from state to state??. Looks like I have to learn to keep all receipts etc, Your tax rebate sounds very simular to being self-emplyed in UK. The UK system for PAYE doesn't allow for expenes you have quoted. Have you taken out any other medical insurance?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hinds81 Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 No, we did have to take out insurance to get our visa, which was valid for the first two months of arrival here, but once that has expired we only have medicare, there is deals on insurance over here, from ambulance cover to dentist cover, for example here in WA a trip to the hospital in an Ambulance is $300, now the odds you will require an ambulance more than once a year are next to none (hopefully you wont) this to me is a waste of money. I never had dental insurance at home and had to pay for treatment so here is no different :0) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoll Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Thank you for the prompt reply and information, from what your saying is I don't have to have any additional cover??? what if we need hospital treatment will medicare cover this or is there a price structure for what treatment you need?? I was very interested to read about your tax rebate, can provide more information as I'm very keen on saving money on tax bill. Hospital treatment is free if conducted in a general hospital. As soon as you decide on private hospitals for whatever reason - choice of doctor, reducing waiting times etc then it becomes NOT free (ie very expensive) and your private health insurance will cover some (but usually not all) of it. If you are a high-ish earning family then be aware that you may be liable for a surcharge if you dont have private health cover - 1% of taxable income over and above the 1.5% you pay as the medicare levy (sorry cant remember the threshold figure at the mo) Dentists are generally user pays and the range is enormous but if you keep your receipts and they take you over the threshold of spending on medical items at tax time then you can claim the rebate. If you belong to a private health insurance company and submit all your claims for dental, optical, allied therapies etc then they print you off a statement at the end of the year with all your expenditure listed - add that to any statements from Medicare and a print out from the pharmacy (tip - always use the same pharmacy, makes life much easier) and you have how much you have spent on medical stuff for the tax man. Some states do have free cover/services for kids but others dont. One of the biggest claims is if you need to use your car for work - you can claim back the work related mileage (not going to and from work but anything from work outwards) Ambulance insurance is a must IMHO - they can be hundreds if not thousands of dollars, depending on where you need them and insurance is a pittance - it's covered in your electric bill if you live in Qld though. You should get a tax advisor to do your first tax return and you will then get the hang of it. Just keep all your receipts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Emilyjones Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 So it's important to make sure you have health insurance coverage. After all everybody has has advised you in above post well on this issue hope your issue is resolved. Still ant query you can ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Emilyjones Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Make sure you have a plan to secure medical care and cover the associated costs. So it's important to make sure you have health insurance coverage. I can understand that you expect the best when it comes to expat health insurance ... so make sure to do your research to find the expat health insurance policy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plaver Posted January 16, 2012 Author Share Posted January 16, 2012 Hospital treatment is free if conducted in a general hospital. As soon as you decide on private hospitals for whatever reason - choice of doctor, reducing waiting times etc then it becomes NOT free (ie very expensive) and your private health insurance will cover some (but usually not all) of it. If you are a high-ish earning family then be aware that you may be liable for a surcharge if you dont have private health cover - 1% of taxable income over and above the 1.5% you pay as the medicare levy (sorry cant remember the threshold figure at the mo) Dentists are generally user pays and the range is enormous but if you keep your receipts and they take you over the threshold of spending on medical items at tax time then you can claim the rebate. If you belong to a private health insurance company and submit all your claims for dental, optical, allied therapies etc then they print you off a statement at the end of the year with all your expenditure listed - add that to any statements from Medicare and a print out from the pharmacy (tip - always use the same pharmacy, makes life much easier) and you have how much you have spent on medical stuff for the tax man. Some states do have free cover/services for kids but others dont. One of the biggest claims is if you need to use your car for work - you can claim back the work related mileage (not going to and from work but anything from work outwards) Ambulance insurance is a must IMHO - they can be hundreds if not thousands of dollars, depending on where you need them and insurance is a pittance - it's covered in your electric bill if you live in Qld though. You should get a tax advisor to do your first tax return and you will then get the hang of it. Just keep all your receipts Thanks for the info, would know where I can locate the thresholds you've mentioned. I've found the tax bands, having the other theshold would be really helpful. I plan to live Melborune where you have to pay for an ambulance, I need to look into these costs etc. Something else to add to the list lol After reading other threads I have deceided a 'Tax Advisor' This is a must Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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