Ruby88

I have an existing chronic kidney disease and would like to know if it would prevent us from moving to Australia before we get too set on the idea!

My condition is stable, but requires me to take 7 tablets a day (a couple of these I take twice) 1 monthly tablet and have blood/urine tests done approximately every 6/8 weeks.

I have read that coming from the UK means I would be covered by the Reciprocal Health Agreement but I am not entirely sure what this entitles me to.

Am I right in thinking my 7 perscriptions would be a cost of up to $38.80 each a month? How much would blood/urine tests cost? Can I buy into a health card at all like we would on the NHS? I currently have medical exemption and do not pay for my perscriptions as I take thyroxine.

I have also read that once my annual spending on perscriptions reaches a threshold I will be entilted to cheaper perscriptions for the rest of the year, is this correct?

Thanks in advance to anyone that takes the time to reply or point me in the direction of anywhere that can help!

Ruby

Pollyana

If you get a permanent residency visa then you are covered by full Medicare, not by the reciprocal scheme (basically that covers tourists and some temporary visa holders for emergency treatment only).
However your first issue would be whether you could pass th medical to get the visa - assuming you have looked into all other factors and qualify n other ways, such as passing the skills assessment.

No-one can guarantee a pass, but there are some agents who are very knowledgable in this area and your best bet would be to talk to one of them - Peter Bollard and George Lombard are those most often recommended.

Ruby88

Thanks for your speedy reply. I was hoping to be lucky enough to get a temporary skilled working visa as I have seen a number of job adverts offering sponsorship for the right candidate. Where might I be able to get in touch with Peter Bollard or George Lombard please?

Thanks again

Dorothy

Google?

A temporary work visa with sponsorship requires you to have private insurance. The reciprocal agreement only covers emergency treatment and not your day to day ongoing treatment.

Pollyana

George Lombard posts on here, details in his signature.
Peter Bollard can be contacted through his website, I guess, never used him myself.

As Dorothy says, for a temp skills visa - a 457 - you would need to prove that you have private health care arranged. Although you can then just use the reciprocal medicare scheme when you get here that does only cover emergency treatment. Any elective surgery, GP visits, and general health care is not covered and you would need to pay - or continue to use the health insurance. Naturally you would need to declare your condition when getting insurance. If you google terms lke 'health insurance 457 visa' you will find specialist companies that cater for that visa.

If you want to stay permanently though you will need to go through the full visa medical at some stage, a 457 is for a max of 4 years.

xizzles

Hi Ruby88, sorry to hear about your CKD. However, it's not only the number of tablets you have to take per day or week that decides whether or not you'd pass the health check. To a large extent, the possible aetiology of the CKD would play a part as well - for example, if it were due to hypertension or diabetes, that might carry a different connotation or "weightage" as compared to for instance, IgA glomerular nephritis or say, Alport's disease, where the risk of complete failure and dialysis and/or a renal transplant may be required in the distant future.

Without knowing further details (which I wouldn't advise posting on a public forum), it would be hard for us laypersons to offer any meaningful assistance, other than point you in the direction of the said migration agents.

Good luck and all the best!

Ecinmilo0

I am not quite sure about it. But one of my friends is an immigration consultant, I will ask him this question.

Dorothy

The OP was advised to check with a MARA registered agent who deals with medical issues.

Tr1boy

Ask him if he likes tinned meat at the same time.

spouse of scouse