Swerv-o

Hi All,

I have a question from a friend who is the spouse of a Kiwi citizen, living in Australia on a 461 visa.

He is currently trying to purchase private health insurance before his 12 month loading window expires, but is being directed to the policies for 457 holders, as the insurance companies say that he is only a temporary resident.

Is this the correct insurance that he needs? Or is he eligible for the regular PHI policies from the usual suppliers? He has a letter from Medicare explaining the Lifetime Health Cover loading, and the fact that he has 12 months from the date of first entry to take out a policy or he will need to pay the additional loading. However the insurance companies are saying that this letter is invalid, as he is only a temporary resident.

I'm afraid that my experience of Kiwi visas and other stuff is pretty limited, so hopefully somebody else can shed some light for him.

Cheers!


S

carcajou

It is a temporary visa:

https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/461-

Swerv-o

Thanks - we're aware of that, but it doesn't solve the mystery of which health insurance to buy.

Though it seems that as he has reciprocal cover from the UK he can get away without any PHI - but he needs to find out if he will still be clobbered for the extra levy by the ATO if he doesn't take it out.


S

Buzzy--Bee

Hi mate, we had this situation. He doesn't need to take out PH until 1 year after he gets PR to qualify for the 12 month loading window (ie he can be 31 years old at 1 year after PR is granted). So right now the 12 month thing is irrelevant. However the NZ spouse on the TR444 will be 31 only until 1 year after they arrived in Australia.