Dimond

Does any one have experience of avoiding paying this loading to the medical insurance premium which applies to people over 30 who have not previously had medical insurance? As immigrants or returning residents over 30 years I think we can get exemption from paying this premium loading but in practice what do you have to do to show you are exempt?

Bosshogg

You have 1 year from arriving (being resident) in the country to take out private health insurance to avoid paying the loading. You need to get a statement of eligibility for medicare (from a medicare office) to give to the private health provider.

DownUnderPaddy

"As a new migrant to Australia, if you are aged 31 or over, you will not have to pay a Lifetime Health Cover loading if you take out private health insurance within 12 months of being registered for Medicare. After this time you will have to pay 2% more for each year you are aged over 30 when you take out private health insurance."

charlie5

Hi

So it doesn't seem a good idea to register for Medicare if you have to make a trip just to validate visas.

Best left until you actually move out permanaently?

Charlie

spartacus

Registering for Medicare is really simple; so simple in fact I can't even remember doing it. I wouldn't bother in all honesty registering if you're unsure as to the date of taking up full residency.

Red_V_Roger

Anyone know if this is full Medicare i.e. when PR or only reciprical agreement when on 457.

swmbo63

This is from Full Medicare when you get PR.We were on a 457 and were covered by our employers for private medical till got Pr.

Received Pr got a letter from Medicare and the date of elligibility was the date Pr was granted.

Hope this helps

Bonnie65

Beware! You don't actually have to register for Medicare to start the clock ticking. We validated in July 05 and arrived permanently in Feb 06 which was when we registered for Medicare. When I enquired, it turned out that the 12 month period started running from when we validated in July 05. We managed to take out cover with about a week to spare in June 06.

Swerv-o

There is very little point in doing so, as you can't take advantage of the benefits, and it does trigger off the clock for taking out private insurance.



This shouldn't be the case, but does seem to have happened to some people. I validated in 2003 and moved permanently and registered with Medicare in 2006. I expected to have to pay the extra loading for the reasons that you outlined above. In the end, I was exempted because the Department of Health and Ageing were resolute that it is from the date that you register with Medicare, not the validation date. they supplied me with a letter which I passed on to my insurance company. There does appear to be some misscommunication between the Department and Medicare over the guidelines.

If you find that this has happened to you, then speak directly to the Private health Insurance Branch of the Department of Health and Ageing. You can call them for free on 1800 307 446.


S

busterboy

Agree with Swerv-o it is from the date that you register with medicare. You can contact medicare and they will send you a letter for your health insurance confirming date of registration.

Unfortunately when you call a call-centre there is no guarantee that you will not receive the 'floor muppet' to deliver your advice.....he always seems to be on stand-by awaiting my call.

Swerv-o

Generally I found the people on the phone at medicare to be pretty helpful, but you are right - there is bound to be one work experience person there when you call!


S

busterboy

I find most government lines to be helpful but I am always initially fielding the muppet.

Bonnie65

From what I remember I just rang them and asked for a letter to give to Medibank with regard to our eligibility not to have lifetime health loading applied. I was fairly horrified when the letter arrived and showed we had about a week left to get cover in place!

Seems typical of Aus that you get told one thing by one person and the complete opposite by somebody else in the same department!

busterboy

Typically though, I find that most people will listen to a reasoned appeal.

Wol

Like many things in this place no-one seems to know. We made enquiries on just this point, eventually getting a call from a federal minister to "clear things up" - and it transpired after fifteen minutes she hadn't a clue either! Ended up saying "it depends how you read it' - which was what the query was in the first place................