bridgesmj

Hi.

My 457 visa was granted prior to 14 September 2009, so my employer is liable to pay health care costs in a public hospital.

I was diagnosed with cancer in August 2009, and went to UK for treatment (thanks NHS!). However, I'm back in Australia now.

I will be requiring follow up scans and would like to get these done in Australia to save multiple awful 24 hour trips and a few thousand dollars. Obviously as non emergency 'treatment' this will not be covered by the reciprocal health care agreement.

Has anyone ever got their employer to cough up for treatment in a public hospital? I've checked my contract, and there is no clause exempting them from that obligation.

I just wanted to know how difficult it was, and if anyone has ever succeeded. I will be seeing my GP to get a referral and get on the waiting list, as the scans are not actually due until June 2011.

Thanks in advance.

Dorothy

Since private cover is required for those on 457s why would you not just go private?

bridgesmj

Because when I came to Australia in 2008, it wasn't compulsory to have medical insurance - the employer is liable for the cost of health care received in a public hospital (that was the condition pre-14 September 2009). So I didn't get insurance, and even if I had there would have been a one-year waiting period before you could claim.

Why don't I get covered now? Because no insurer would touch me with a barge pole, and even if they did they wouldn't cover me for follow up treatment of a pre-existing condition.

fish.01

I am no expert but reading the agreement it always seem like the treatment does not have to be emergency, just medically necessary before you return home? If you have already checked all this out ignore me.

"Reciprocal health care agreements cover treatment that is medically necessary. Medically necessary treatment means any ill-health or injury which occurs while you are in Australia and requires treatment before you return home."

elice_in_oz

I would agree with Fish. I have had things like speech pathology and routine X-rays covered by medicare on a 457 with no private health insurance. Why don't you get your GP or specialist to write a referral and then go to medicare with that to double check you'll be covered before starting treatment.

iamthecreaturefromuranus

If your costs are likely to be high then I would expect that your employer would just cancel your 457, solving their problem at a stroke.
457 visa's are scary, and I speak from personal experience of being on one myself in the past.

bridgesmj

Hi Fish and Elice.

You are right, I had just assumed that the reciprocal health care agreement was just for emergencies, but it does say that it is for medically necessary treatment. Their definition of medically necessary is ambiguous, so I'll be phoning medicare today to get greater definition.

Creature, this had of course crossed my mind too. Although if my employer chose to cancel my visa it would be a lawsuit waiting to happen - they have no reason to make me redundant, and I have recently been given positive feedback on my work, so they'd have to find a reason to sack me.

Thanks for your replies.

bridgesmj

Hi.

I just wanted to let you know that I have just phoned Medicare Australia. They said that follow up scans are available on Medicare - so that is great news!

So I guess off I trot to my GP to get a referral.

Thanks for your help.

fish.01

That's great news!!!! Hope it all goes well.

elice_in_oz

+1