Paul from Poole

We have 457 visa's my wife has the job does the rest of the family get medicare? Or do we have to buy insurance.

Dorothy

You will need to get private medical insurance to cover your family. See the 457 information thread in the immigration section for details of the visa.

Katherined0

If you are entitled to NHS treatment you will be able to get some degree of medicare cover as well. You will be entitled to cover under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement. This is limited to Emergency and medically necessary cover but covers you for GP visits, emergency care and treatment in a hospital etc. You have to pay for all your drugs (as do all Aussies) but get some of them at the reduced rate if they are on the list of drugs approved by medicare. (I forget the official term) For more info on the reciprocal agreement: http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/...alta-italy.pdf


Different people have had different experiences but we had to produce our NHS medical cards before we could register for Medicare so could be worth adding them to that never-ending-list of stuff-to-bring-with-you- !!! :-)

h2oskineil

We (Me, wife & child) all received Medicare on a 457 visa.
The Medicare card is clearly marked 'Immediate necessary medical treatment only' (or something like that).

We used the Medicare system a few times on the 457 (now Permanent residents).. I had a mole cut out, son had a spider bite.
Some you have to pay for and claim back and some is what is called 'Bulk billed' and there is nothing to pay.

You generally get about 75% of the cost back after the treatment. I feel medical insurance would be the best option to be completely covered, we don't have any (yet).

Good luck.

LM109

Hi Paul,
I am here with my family on a 457 visa and we have a medicare card, as the UK has a reciprocal agreement with Australia. It covers you and your family for 'immediate necessary treatment', which most standard stuff like ear infections etc. Just go to the medicare office with your NHS number and passport and they will sort out your card.
Hope this helps
Lisa

asher

We have a medicare card it says reciprocal health care and is valid for 1 year when you can then renew it I use a bulk billing GP and x ray facility so I pay nothing for these. see what the others above have posted for other information

I have private cover for ambulance and dentist and non emergency stuff like physio, dentists and outpatients I live in NSW.

windog

depending where you're going ....ambulance cover in Qld is a charge included in your elec bill so you dont require insurance for this here

Rosscarbery

Some employers insist that you get private health insurance as technically, under the terms of the 457 visa, they are ultimately liable for any costs. I don't think everyone does though so it's worth checking. I would say that you really need at least ambulance cover, and dental can be very expensive without insurance - if you'll be back in the UK regularly though you can probably just make sure you book check ups when you're there.

tomy2tums

With a 457 I'm sure the company sponsoring you have to provide private medical cover for you and your family.

Rosscarbery

Unfortunately not, it's ultimately their responsibility if you incur medical costs here so they often urge you to get it, but they don't actually have to pay for it. It's one of those things that you need to negotiate as part of your contract (and well worth doing as it can be expensive and on a 457 you have a limited choice of providers). We know families who have it provided and those who have to have it, but who pay for it themselves.

hitchcock71

as part of the 457 visa requirements you must have private health insurance

Gems

Mmmm, I know several families from the UK who dont and are on a 457 visa.
They just use medicare agreement card.
One has spent 2years and is about to do PR visa.

Gems

northernbird

Not strictly true. The sponsor is responsible for any medical costs the employee incurs. A lot of employers write it into the contract that the employee must take out private health so that they are not stuck with a massive medical bill.

Paul from Poole

Thanks everyone some very good advice. I'll go down the medicare card route.
Had a quote from one company £5600 for the 4 of us per year.

carmele

We're on a 457...........wasted money on monthly private medical insurance to cover almost everything $190.00, for a year .........wouldn't have gone private in the UK ....... so no point here...now we pay $18.00 per month for a family of 4 ambulance cover.....it's all you need .......''in my opinion''! you pay as you go anyway with the doc's!

C