Jaycee1

My Dad's girlfriend is on a 4 year non resident working visa and is struggling to find suitable heathcare that does not cost the earth. Anyone else in this situation??
Cheers,
J x

dave500

Someone on here said that there was a reciprocal agreement between Australia and the UK concerning Healthcare for UK citizens living and working in Oz (on a non PR visa), I don't know too much about it, but we're in the same situation so if anyone could clarify that it would be great!

Cheers all

Dave and Sash

Ozzidoc

How about appproaching your local MP? They may know something. Citizen's advice bureaux can also be helpful. hmmmm what about Salvation army or Brotherhood of st Laurence, both of whom operate old folks places...they may be able to point u in the right direction....or what about the British consulate?

Sorry I've no answers for you.

JAJ

Look at http://www.hic.gov.au

But the reciprocal agreement is for UK *residents* - not citizens, and although some people living in Australia do seem to use it, it doesn't seem to be the intent of the agreement that it be used by people no longer living in the UK.

If you become permanent residents you won't have this problem anymore. In fact, as soon as you *apply* for permanent residence, you can get full medicare.

Jaycee1

Thanks for your replies
J x

wendymaisie

Hi,

We are on a 4 year work visa too and use the recipricol heathcare system with Medicare. As soon as we arrived we just went to our local medicare office with our passports showing our visas and it was sorted out there and then. However, we have to renew it on a yearly basis which is fine.

Hope this helps,
Wendy

Mrs Jackaroo

Thanks for that JAJ. We're here on a 457 at the moment - I didnt realise that as soon as you 'apply' for PR you could get full Medicare. Our app should be going in as soon as our TRA comes back (apparently theres a back log at the moment though!) - I'll probably take out extra health cover until we're able to apply.

Cheers

Rach

harveyhare

You get reciprical healthcare while on temp visa, It covers immediate / emergenct treatment so adequate unless you plan on having treatment.

You do not get fullcover from when you "apply" for PR, we had this argument with medicare and although they had the approval letter from Dimia, you have to produce your passport with your PR visa stamp inside to get the cover.

Di

Mrs Jackaroo

Bugger now I dont know what to do again!! God this is doing my head in!

JAJ

Yes you do. It's clearly stated in the rules that if you have a visa with work rights and have applied for PR (other than a parent visa) you get full medicare.

If the person on the front desk at medicare doesn't understand this then speak to a manager, and look up the reference in the Health Insurance Act.