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Health insurance for family of 4 in Brisbane. How much

Health insurance for family of 4 in Brisbane. How much

Old Oct 18th 2011, 8:11 pm
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Default Health insurance for family of 4 in Brisbane. How much

Hey guys,

as usual I'm reading totally different things regarding health costs in Brisbane.

Family of 4: 2 adults 2 children (3 and 5) moving to Brisane We are UK citizens so qualify for recipricol health agreement. I'm on a 457 visa.

We have travel insurance for first 3 months and I will be registering for basic medicare once we arrive.

I understand we will also need to take out private health care to cover things medicare dosen't ie ambulance cover, prescriptions, dentist etc. etc.

I had budgeted about $200 dollars per month for healthcare plus setting aside $50 odd per month for random doctors visits. I've read somewhere that I would need $450 per month but I've also read that some people haven't bothered getting any healthcare.

We're pretty healthy family, eat well do a bit of exercise, non-smokers etc. so not in bad shape.

Anyone got any thoughts?

Cheers
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Old Oct 18th 2011, 8:56 pm
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Default Re: Health insurance for family of 4 in Brisbane. How much

Originally Posted by Alienfeet
Hey guys,

as usual I'm reading totally different things regarding health costs in Brisbane.

Family of 4: 2 adults 2 children (3 and 5) moving to Brisane We are UK citizens so qualify for recipricol health agreement. I'm on a 457 visa.

We have travel insurance for first 3 months and I will be registering for basic medicare once we arrive.

I understand we will also need to take out private health care to cover things medicare dosen't ie ambulance cover, prescriptions, dentist etc. etc.

I had budgeted about $200 dollars per month for healthcare plus setting aside $50 odd per month for random doctors visits. I've read somewhere that I would need $450 per month but I've also read that some people haven't bothered getting any healthcare.

We're pretty healthy family, eat well do a bit of exercise, non-smokers etc. so not in bad shape.

Anyone got any thoughts?

Cheers
No need to take out ambulance cover in Queensland.
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Old Oct 18th 2011, 9:12 pm
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Default Re: Health insurance for family of 4 in Brisbane. How much

Go to iselect.com.au and fill in your family details and requirements and it will give you a quote on health insurance.
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Old Oct 18th 2011, 9:20 pm
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Default Re: Health insurance for family of 4 in Brisbane. How much

Originally Posted by Alienfeet
Hey guys,

as usual I'm reading totally different things regarding health costs in Brisbane.

Family of 4: 2 adults 2 children (3 and 5) moving to Brisane We are UK citizens so qualify for recipricol health agreement. I'm on a 457 visa.

We have travel insurance for first 3 months and I will be registering for basic medicare once we arrive.

I understand we will also need to take out private health care to cover things medicare dosen't ie ambulance cover, prescriptions, dentist etc. etc.

I had budgeted about $200 dollars per month for healthcare plus setting aside $50 odd per month for random doctors visits. I've read somewhere that I
would need $450 per month but I've also read that some people haven't bothered getting any healthcare.

We're pretty healthy family, eat well do a bit of exercise, non-smokers etc. so
not in bad shape.

Anyone got any thoughts?

Cheers
When I was on a 457 my company paid for the health insurance. I think you would be breaking the terms of your visa if you don't take out a prescribed level of cover?
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Old Oct 18th 2011, 9:35 pm
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Default Re: Health insurance for family of 4 in Brisbane. How much

Originally Posted by Turban Explorer
When I was on a 457 my company paid for the health insurance. I think you would be breaking the terms of your visa if you don't take out a prescribed level of cover?
On a 457 now if you are eligible for reciprocal health care then you only need to pay for insurance until you are registered with Medicare. DIAC are happy with that
Changed a year or so back, so you need insurance to get the visa and to get over here and sign up with Medicare, after that you are free to cancel it.
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Old Oct 18th 2011, 9:47 pm
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Default Re: Health insurance for family of 4 in Brisbane. How much

I have travel insurance for the first 3 months which was enough to get my visa.

Soon as I'm over I will be registering for Medicare.
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Old Oct 18th 2011, 10:47 pm
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Default Re: Health insurance for family of 4 in Brisbane. How much

Originally Posted by Pollyana
On a 457 now if you are eligible for reciprocal health care then you only need to pay for insurance until you are registered with Medicare. DIAC are happy with that
Changed a year or so back, so you need insurance to get the visa and to get over here and sign up with Medicare, after that you are free to cancel it.
Ah... I stand corrected (said the man in the orthopedic shoes)
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Old Oct 19th 2011, 1:32 am
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Default Re: Health insurance for family of 4 in Brisbane. How much

Health Insurance won't cover prescriptions. Ambulance cover is included in your Leccy bill and Dentist cover (bugger all compared to premiums paid long term) can be got by extras cover.
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Old Oct 19th 2011, 1:45 am
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Default Re: Health insurance for family of 4 in Brisbane. How much

Ambulance is no longer covered in the electricity bill - is now just a free service to QLD residents. If you are on a 457 you are fine;

From: http://www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/subscribe/faq.asp

Question:

I am working in Queensland on a working Visa am I covered whilst in Queensland?

Answer:

Provided you have a work visa and can show evidence of your Queensland residency such as a:

a letter from your employer; or
a copy of a rent receipt; or
a statutory declaration
You will be fully covered. It is important to note that once you leave Queensland you will no longer be covered.

It is recommended that you contact your travel agent to ensure that you have adequate ambulance cover whilst travelling outside of Queensland

Private Health information can be found at www.privatehealth.gov.au of particular interest might be: http://privatehealth.gov.au/healthin...as/457visa.htm
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Old Oct 19th 2011, 1:53 am
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Default Re: Health insurance for family of 4 in Brisbane. How much

Originally Posted by tking
Ambulance is no longer covered in the electricity bill - is now just a free service to QLD residents. If you are on a 457 you are fine;

From: http://www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/subscribe/faq.asp
Well, blow me, so it is. Shows how well I check my bill! However they have still charged me 30c for my Ambulance Community Levy but I guess I can live with that.
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Old Oct 19th 2011, 2:24 am
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Default Re: Health insurance for family of 4 in Brisbane. How much

Originally Posted by moneypenny20
Well, blow me, so it is. Shows how well I check my bill! However they have still charged me 30c for my Ambulance Community Levy but I guess I can live with that.
That should have only been for the last part of the bill when it was still applicable. From now on you shouldn't be charged a cent!

Cheers.
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Old Oct 19th 2011, 2:53 am
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Default Re: Health insurance for family of 4 in Brisbane. How much

It really comes down to your family requirements personally.

We've been here 5 years and only just subscribed to health insurance. We've decided to go for it now because we've two sons with orthotics, one son with glasses, one husband with rubbish teeth etc

Ours costs around $200 per month but this is a quite high level of cover (we've just had a lot of friends diagnosed with cancer and it's made us very paranoid!)

Even with health insurance you will end up paying some gap payments as even with the highest level, there's gaps!
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Old Oct 19th 2011, 6:58 am
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Default Re: Health insurance for family of 4 in Brisbane. How much

We have private cover for a family of 5 because we would be hit with the medicare levy surchage. We have high level of cover and pay $273 a month with HCF. Good for us because it helps with things like acupuncture, chiropractor and speech therapy which we use. Cannot wait to be able to access the orthodontist cover next July.
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Old Oct 19th 2011, 8:22 am
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Default Re: Health insurance for family of 4 in Brisbane. How much

Originally Posted by Alienfeet
Hey guys,

as usual I'm reading totally different things regarding health costs in Brisbane.

Family of 4: 2 adults 2 children (3 and 5) moving to Brisane We are UK citizens so qualify for recipricol health agreement. I'm on a 457 visa.

We have travel insurance for first 3 months and I will be registering for basic medicare once we arrive.

I understand we will also need to take out private health care to cover things medicare dosen't ie ambulance cover, prescriptions, dentist etc. etc.

I had budgeted about $200 dollars per month for healthcare plus setting aside $50 odd per month for random doctors visits. I've read somewhere that I would need $450 per month but I've also read that some people haven't bothered getting any healthcare.

We're pretty healthy family, eat well do a bit of exercise, non-smokers etc. so not in bad shape.

Anyone got any thoughts?

Cheers
I think the confusion on price might be that people on a 457 can't access normal private insurance policies that residents can. I think you only have access to a special temporary resident private insurance that covers more and costs more. Maybe someone can confirm this?
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Old Oct 19th 2011, 10:14 am
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Default Re: Health insurance for family of 4 in Brisbane. How much

Originally Posted by fish.01
I think the confusion on price might be that people on a 457 can't access normal private insurance policies that residents can. I think you only have access to a special temporary resident private insurance that covers more and costs more. Maybe someone can confirm this?
Unless it has changed in the last 2 years, fish is right. The insurance you are offered as a temporary resident is considered to be travel insurance and is a lot more expensive than normal health insurance only available to PRs or citizens. It also does not exempt you from paying the Medicare levy surcharge so you're effectively paying twice for the same service. TBH if you don't need glasses and major dental, I wouldn't bother taking out private insurance on a 457... And even then, it might be better to put those $200 a month into a high interest account to pay for treatment when needed.
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