Dorothy

Holy cow! I was just thinking about you this morning and wondering how you are.

Pollyana

Its a spouse visa. There is no requirement to have private health insurance on a spouse visa, you're covered by Medicare.

Amazulu

So true. My wife has just had a minor op done privately - one of those in hospital for half a day jobs. HBF cover most of it but not all and Medicare cover some of it. We are up for a small amount - less than $75. It's very confusing and probably takes an army to administer - which just adds to the cost. You get sorted out really quickly when going private though

In my next life I want to be an anesthetist - those pricks charge like a raging bull! I want to see what car the dude is driving

renth

LOL, still lurking around!

renth

I've seen it and it's better than yours.

red7

Why would you want to not have private cover if you go to A&E?

Yes, I'm on a Spouse visa (temporary resident), which will change to 801 (permanent resident) in a couple of years.

renth

Because you will get the exact same treatment as an uninsured patient the only difference being you will get invoices for weeks afterwards for all the "gaps". It's ridiculous.

spouse of scouse

Exactly. Mind you, I nearly came unstuck when I did just that after a MVA. No no, I insisted at A&E, I don't have private health insurance. Then a few days later I asked to be transferred to a private hospital, nothing to do with the quality of care, which was excellent, but because there was a bug going round (staph?) and since I had open wounds I didn't want to catch it.

When the ward clerk raised her eyebrows, I just told the truth and nothing more was said. Phew!

red7

Well, I'm still learning something new every day in this country!

Thanks for that, it wouldn't have even crossed my mind.

Amazulu

Last time I went to hospital about 2 years ago, the triage nurse asked me the question and I said yes. She told me that even though I had insurance, it was up to me how I was treated - Medicare or private - and that they could not force me to use my insurance cover. Getting private care at a public hospital is silly anyway as you are not going to get better treatment

Swerv-o

Yup, never mention PHA if you are in A&E for this very reason.

I've never actually used my insurance in actual fact.


S

steven9818

So if you are here on a 457 is medicare alone sufficient for the visa health insurance requirements?

Dorothy

No. You are required to have private cover on a 457

steven9818

Thank you, that is what I thought although reading this I am now wondering if I need insurance given that I am from the UK




https://www.457visacompared.com.au/4...ples/medicare/

Dorothy

Yes you do. Private insurance is a condition of the visa. And the reciprocal agreement is for emergency services only, not day to day health care.