h2oskineil

Hi all.... help needed!

We are waiting for an operation for my son to have grommets fitted to his ears. The operation should have happened in October, but was cancelled and has been re-scheduled for 23rd December.
I have a job to go to in Perth and they want me out there asap! If the operation goes ahead on 23/12 he can't fly for 6 weeks, so I'll go just after Christmas and wife & son will follow. But what if the operation is cancelled again? I really have to go and don't want them here for months, which it literally could be.

So my question... could he have the operation in Australia on Medicare? We are going on a 457 visa, does that have implications? Is there waiting lists in Oz the same as the UK?
How does medicare work? Is it just like the NHS or are there fee's to pay?

If anyone can see a way forward, I'd welcome some advice.
Thanks

Neil

jad n rich

No idea about visas.

If your kids needs grommets see a GP, likely he will then refer you to ENT specialist, if you want this done quickly you will need a private one charge about $300, might get around $80 back on medicare.

Then you decide either pay for a private op or wait it out on the public system. Cant say what waiting lists are currently, that would totally depend on hospital/state etc.

Do know kids already enrolled with the childrens hospital in bris ENT are looking at 4-6 months ahead for a ENT appointment. Cant imagine it would cost that much to have it done privately we had one child have dental surgery privately it cost under $10,000 most of which our private health covered.

GinaUK

Going to Oz on a 457 visa has a lot of implications! One of them is that you can't have treatment on medicare. Your sponsor (i.e. employer) has had to sign an undertaking that they will pay all medical and hospital costs that you may incur.

From what I've read here on the forum, some employers pay this so you are never aware of it (they take out private health insurance for you). Others expect their employees to pay for this themselves. Presumably you signed a contract with your new employer that spelled all that out?

There are other implications with a 457 visa. You may want to read DIMIA's booklet no 11, which you can download here:
http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/books11.htm

Gina

Ceri

If you are on a temp visa such as a business visa and it's elective surgery, ie not immediately necessary, no you can't claim on Medicare.
If it is an emergency, i.e. you need to be treated - you're covered by the reciprocal health Care agreement act between Britain and Aus and your British passport is enough

When I was on a business visa years ago, I had two operations, spent basically a month in hospital and a year as an out patient . Also when I went into a Medicare office with my receipts from private doctors Medicare refunded a certain amount. But mine was an emergency - I had necrotic wound from a fishing accident and it had to be treated - i.e. if left it would have meant amputation, blood poisoning etc . I'm not sure if your situation is considered an emergency, immediately necessay?

"Medicare will not cover:
medical or hospital treatment that is not immediately necessary "

I didn't have a Medicare card , I just used my passport at the time but you can get a visitors Medicare if you wish instead of doing what I did.

"Medicare card (green in colour) with the words " VISITOR RHCA", issued to visitors from six of the eight countries with which Australia has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements - the UK, Malta, Italy, Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands"


An overview of the reciprocal health care from the medicare web site:
http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/...alta_italy.htm

You could try contacting them and asking them directly via the above web site about your situation. I don't know if your situation is considered " immediately necessary"


Hope that helps

Vanessa

We are on a 457 and as others have said you will not get medicare cover only in the case of an emergency, also you will probably find that you won't be covered under private insurance as it will be a pre-existing condition and they are not covered for about the 1st year after taking out the policy.

andrew63

Neil
Was on a 457 myself. Your employer is obliged to pick up your medical costs but not a legal right for you. It should have been discussed already with him.
Your employer my think that as you are covered by the Medicare reciprical agreement, that is enough. Or, they may get private insurance for you (such as MBF Overseas Visitor insurnace).
I would chat with your employer and be upfront and open about the whole situation. Sure they would appreciate that if you came and left your family behind your mind would not be focussed so it is in their best interest to help you resolve the situation.
If you have private medical insurance in the UK, maybe they will contribute or pick up the tab for the op in Oz.
Or, discuss the situation with the Consultant in charge of your kids op to try and guarantee the op goes ahead.

Andrew

Mandyisere

I was on a 457 visa and all treatment from stomach upsets, ingrown toenails, eye tests and depression was treated on medicare, we paid the initial costs and got 75% back off medicare.

Thanks
Mandy

JAJ

A British passport - in itself - is not enough for reciprocal medicare eligibility.

The bottom line for the original posters is that the employer should be paying for full medical cover (if that's not the case then some serious questions need asking) but that might not cover pre-existing conditions.


Also - is this likely to be an ongoing condition for the child? If there's further expensive treatment in the pipeline it may throw a spanner into the works of any permanent visa application.



Jeremy