Another regretful expat returning home
Dec 3rd 2015, 1:24 pm
#46
Concierge
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 21,139
Re: Another regretful expat returning home
Sorry what I meant was that in the UK those out of work get free prescriptions and dental treatment where in Aus those on a low income will get a ‘concession’ and will therefore get their medicines at a lower cost, I am not sure how much it is since we left but it was $5.80 per script and of course pensioners do not pay for their scripts here in the UK, under 19, full time students and a few others I cannot remember do receive free prescriptions. Free dental treatment is VERY rare to find in WA/AUS but we still do have NHS dentists here (well we do were we live) which people on benefits etc do not pay and others pay a nominal fee for a check, polish and clean more for fillings etc. Baring in mind there is no such thing as "Free" as the vast majority of peoples pay with their taxes (unless of course you are out of work and do not contribute any taxes)
In each calendar year, there's a 'cap' on what people pay. Once a family (or individual or couple) who pay $6.10 per prescription have spent $366 on prescriptions in that year, all prescriptions are free for the rest of the year.
For a family, individual or couple who pay $37.70 per item, their prescriptions are charged at $6.10 per item for the rest of the calendar year once they've spent $1,453.
For all out of hospital expenses that attract a Medicare rebate (eg GP and specialist visits, MRI, CT scans, ultrasound, speech and hearing services etc), people get all the scheduled fee back once they've spent $638 in these medical expenses in any calendar year (concession patients, as above), or $2,000 for non-concessional patients - in other words, as long as their medical provider charges the scheduled fee, they get 100% of their out of pocket expenses back as a Medicare rebate.
Hospital treatment and everything that goes with it (surgery, prescription drugs, radiology etc) is totally free in a public hospital for anyone with a Medicare card (which is all permanent residents, citizens and a few other immigration categories).
Dental work in Australia is horrendously expensive with practically no help for people who can't afford clinically necessary treatment - in my opinion successive Oz governments ought to be ashamed of themselves for letting people down in this way - it's a wonder half the nation isn't toothless.
If people in the UK are able to find an NHS dentist willing to do 'Band 3' work (fee 222 pounds), such as braces, crowns, bridges and veneers, then they need to hang onto him/her! This sort of more expensive work will only be paid for under the NHS if the dentist judges there to be a clinical reason for it, you can't get work purely for cosmetic reasons.
Dec 9th 2015, 5:08 pm
#47
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2007
Location: England
Posts: 4,213
Re: Another regretful expat returning home
For prescription medicines, the current cost is $6.10 for concessional patients - those who are on low incomes/eligible for family tax benefit, those who have a health care card, or those who are on income support payments including pensions and unemployment benefit. People who aren't eligible for concession charges pay (on average) $37.70. In each calendar year, there's a 'cap' on what people pay. Once a family (or individual or couple) who pay $6.10 per prescription have spent $366 on prescriptions in that year, all prescriptions are free for the rest of the year. For a family, individual or couple who pay $37.70 per item, their prescriptions are charged at $6.10 per item for the rest of the calendar year once they've spent $1,453.
For all out of hospital expenses that attract a Medicare rebate (eg GP and specialist visits, MRI, CT scans, ultrasound, speech and hearing services etc), people get all the scheduled fee back once they've spent $638 in these medical expenses in any calendar year (concession patients, as above), or $2,000 for non-concessional patients - in other words, as long as their medical provider charges the scheduled fee, they get 100% of their out of pocket expenses back as a Medicare rebate. Hospital treatment and everything that goes with it (surgery, prescription drugs, radiology etc) is totally free in a public hospital for anyone with a Medicare card (which is all permanent residents, citizens and a few other immigration categories). Dental work in Australia is horrendously expensive with practically no help for people who can't afford clinically necessary treatment - in my opinion successive Oz governments ought to be ashamed of themselves for letting people down in this way - it's a wonder half the nation isn't toothless. If people in the UK are able to find an NHS dentist willing to do 'Band 3' work (fee 222 pounds), such as braces, crowns, bridges and veneers, then they need to hang onto him/her! This sort of more expensive work will only be paid for under the NHS if the dentist judges there to be a clinical reason for it, you can't get work purely for cosmetic reasons.
For all out of hospital expenses that attract a Medicare rebate (eg GP and specialist visits, MRI, CT scans, ultrasound, speech and hearing services etc), people get all the scheduled fee back once they've spent $638 in these medical expenses in any calendar year (concession patients, as above), or $2,000 for non-concessional patients - in other words, as long as their medical provider charges the scheduled fee, they get 100% of their out of pocket expenses back as a Medicare rebate. Hospital treatment and everything that goes with it (surgery, prescription drugs, radiology etc) is totally free in a public hospital for anyone with a Medicare card (which is all permanent residents, citizens and a few other immigration categories). Dental work in Australia is horrendously expensive with practically no help for people who can't afford clinically necessary treatment - in my opinion successive Oz governments ought to be ashamed of themselves for letting people down in this way - it's a wonder half the nation isn't toothless. If people in the UK are able to find an NHS dentist willing to do 'Band 3' work (fee 222 pounds), such as braces, crowns, bridges and veneers, then they need to hang onto him/her! This sort of more expensive work will only be paid for under the NHS if the dentist judges there to be a clinical reason for it, you can't get work purely for cosmetic reasons.
Dec 30th 2015, 2:53 am
#48
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Perth
Posts: 6,775
Re: Another regretful expat returning home
WOW i agree with every word of that.also add in that in the UK you will wait 2 weeks to see a doctor and Blood tests are a Bloody joke.Failing NHS or the lack of will for it to survive among the forces that be? You answer that one.
Dec 30th 2015, 3:09 am
#49
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Perth
Posts: 6,775
Re: Another regretful expat returning home
For prescription medicines, the current cost is $6.10 for concessional patients - those who are on low incomes/eligible for family tax benefit, those who have a health care card, or those who are on income support payments including pensions and unemployment benefit. People who aren't eligible for concession charges pay (on average) $37.70. In each calendar year, there's a 'cap' on what people pay. Once a family (or individual or couple) who pay $6.10 per prescription have spent $366 on prescriptions in that year, all prescriptions are free for the rest of the year. For a family, individual or couple who pay $37.70 per item, their prescriptions are charged at $6.10 per item for the rest of the calendar year once they've spent $1,453. For all out of hospital expenses that attract a Medicare rebate (eg GP and specialist visits, MRI, CT scans, ultrasound, speech and hearing services etc), people get all the scheduled fee back once they've spent $638 in these medical expenses in any calendar year (concession patients, as above), or $2,000 for non-concessional patients - in other words, as long as their medical provider charges the scheduled fee, they get 100% of their out of pocket expenses back as a Medicare rebate. Hospital treatment and everything that goes with it (surgery, prescription drugs, radiology etc) is totally free in a public hospital for anyone with a Medicare card (which is all permanent residents, citizens and a few other immigration categories). Dental work in Australia is horrendously expensive with practically no help for people who can't afford clinically necessary treatment - in my opinion successive Oz governments ought to be ashamed of themselves for letting people down in this way - it's a wonder half the nation isn't toothless. If people in the UK are able to find an NHS dentist willing to do 'Band 3' work (fee 222 pounds), such as braces, crowns, bridges and veneers, then they need to hang onto him/her! This sort of more expensive work will only be paid for under the NHS if the dentist judges there to be a clinical reason for it, you can't get work purely for cosmetic reasons.
Clear direction as to the way they would like to take the health system in general.
Jan 1st 2016, 12:42 am
#50
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2014
Location: Buderim
Posts: 23
Re: Another regretful expat returning home
Hi I can sympathise with you, i was very home sick for England, Essex for 9 years...we emigrated to New Zealand and i grew to hate it, but there were excellent parts as well, best and safest place to bring up a young family in Hawkes Bay, but although I was not a home sick type of people I missed England. I decided that the lifestyle, the ocean, the bush and the weather was want i did want in my life so emigrated to Queensland instead. I think the 9 years of living in NZ have erased homesickness as Australia has many similarities to England, and for me is so much better. But my point is, I think home is where the heart is...someone told me in NZ to go home for a holiday and you will realise how bad it was and when you touch back down in NZ it will feel like home....well the long 6 hour drive home through some lifeless towns after spending the best Christmas ever with snow in London and the Christmas atmosphere made it worse, I got quite down and just wanted out. I went for a road trip around Aus in 3 separate visits, each time i came here I was energised and happy....I then intuitively found the Sunshine Coast and our home in Buderim, 5 mins behind Mooloolaba. Home truly is where the heart is and this is where my heart is. I am glad I didn't go home, everyone always said to me you have to remember why you wanted to leave in the first place...point is I had forgotten! But i am sure i would have remembered when i got back! I don't worry about NHS v Medicare, or house prices or the economy (reckless!) i just have to be where I feel content and work all that boring stuff out afterwards. Important for me is the community and the schooling....I wasn't happy with either in NZ. The only thing i do remember about wanting out from the UK was the freedom...and the ocean on our doorstep...and the bush on our doorstep, we have that here and we are happy. I do hope you do find where you want to be. Just treat it like moving towns....find another location and check it out, I know hard from the otherside of the world now...but good luck
Jan 1st 2016, 1:07 pm
#51
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 339
Re: Another regretful expat returning home
If I left Brisbane now I wouldn't miss very much yet would still feel like I've wasted 10yrs of my life here. However, I'm very happy to be moving to Melbourne this year and can finally enjoy a city I like.
So in short it rather depends on the pro's and cons of each place you live.
I know that homesickness can be a big pull for some people but when back home things aren't always as romantic as we've painted them in our memories
So in short it rather depends on the pro's and cons of each place you live.
I know that homesickness can be a big pull for some people but when back home things aren't always as romantic as we've painted them in our memories
Jan 1st 2016, 8:46 pm
#52
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 20,821
Re: Another regretful expat returning home
Hi I can sympathise with you, i was very home sick for England, Essex for 9 years...we emigrated to New Zealand and i grew to hate it, but there were excellent parts as well, best and safest place to bring up a young family in Hawkes Bay, but although I was not a home sick type of people I missed England. I decided that the lifestyle, the ocean, the bush and the weather was want i did want in my life so emigrated to Queensland instead. I think the 9 years of living in NZ have erased homesickness as Australia has many similarities to England, and for me is so much better. But my point is, I think home is where the heart is...someone told me in NZ to go home for a holiday and you will realise how bad it was and when you touch back down in NZ it will feel like home....well the long 6 hour drive home through some lifeless towns after spending the best Christmas ever with snow in London and the Christmas atmosphere made it worse, I got quite down and just wanted out. I went for a road trip around Aus in 3 separate visits, each time i came here I was energised and happy....I then intuitively found the Sunshine Coast and our home in Buderim, 5 mins behind Mooloolaba. Home truly is where the heart is and this is where my heart is. I am glad I didn't go home, everyone always said to me you have to remember why you wanted to leave in the first place...point is I had forgotten! But i am sure i would have remembered when i got back! I don't worry about NHS v Medicare, or house prices or the economy (reckless!) i just have to be where I feel content and work all that boring stuff out afterwards. Important for me is the community and the schooling....I wasn't happy with either in NZ. The only thing i do remember about wanting out from the UK was the freedom...and the ocean on our doorstep...and the bush on our doorstep, we have that here and we are happy. I do hope you do find where you want to be. Just treat it like moving towns....find another location and check it out, I know hard from the otherside of the world now...but good luck
Jan 4th 2016, 12:50 pm
#53
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 255
Re: Another regretful expat returning home
hi all. Well our journey, (me, wife n two kids), moved to wa in 2012. Our reason for going was to experience something different not for a better life as such because life in the uk was settled and ticking along nicely. That sounds contradictory I know. Anyway during our time in aus, We had the usual ups and downs that you here about and then one day we decided we were coming home. We spent the next year saving for a successful return. We've now been back since June 2015. At first it was a novelty however the last two months have been very unsettled for me as I have such a strong urge to return just like I had prior to returning to the uk. The urges are getting more frequent to a point of constant over the past two weeks.
It's unlikely we will return, which saddens me although our visas are still valid. So I hope these feelings go!
Now I'm left with this horrible thought of which was the biggest mistake? Going to aus in the first place or returning to the uk!
Would love to hear from anyone else in a similar situation.
It's unlikely we will return, which saddens me although our visas are still valid. So I hope these feelings go!
Now I'm left with this horrible thought of which was the biggest mistake? Going to aus in the first place or returning to the uk!
Would love to hear from anyone else in a similar situation.
But in 2000 I came back to Aus (UK wasn't what I remembered, and Australia had some good points after all)
I have travelled again since, but now back in Australia again.
Getting citizenship, to allow options in the future is a great idea.
Regarding Doctor costs... get ill out of hours and get the doctor to come to you and pay nothing
After Hours Doctors - Bulk Billed House Calls - GP2Home
