suziegaz

hi all,

i really dont know if this is the correct place to post this but hopefully i will get an answer or a mod will move it to where it really should be posted.

my brother in law is currently in sydney on a year long holiday visa, he has discovered a lump under his arm and the silly sod does not have insurance, the last time he had a lump it needed an operation. (engorged glands, needed draining i think)

my brother in law is going to get a flight home cause he is in pain and needs to get the problem sorted

my question is... as my brother in law is from the UK do we have a reprocial agreement with oz for him to receive medical care?

any answer received would be fab
thanks in advance

suzie
xx

helsch

I think there is an agrement between UK and OZ

comet555

They might take care of it here, it really depends. There is an agreement though.
http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/...ling/index.jsp

The agreement says for Medically necessary treatment, so if he's in pain they might think it's necessary. I would see a doctor to find out how much it would all cost before booking a flight back.

ABCDiamond

Definition of Immediately Necessary Medical Attention
The following information is from: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policie...PD2005_398.pdf

The "Reciprocal Health" agreements are intended to cover treatment of any immediately necessary nature which arises during a stay in Australia and which requires treatment before returning home.

The agreements do not cover pre-arranged or elective treatment, or treatment for which there is no immediate medical necessity.

Those people entering the country for the specific purpose of receiving treatment are excluded under the agreements.

“Immediately necessary care” is more than just emergency treatment and may include:

• Routine primary care
• Subsequent investigation (eg: referrals to pathology, diagnostic or specialist services)
• Pre-existing conditions (any necessary monitoring or treatment)
• Psychiatric care where medically necessary (eg: to stabilize the patient’s condition to enable the journey home)

The longer a visitor stays in Australia, the greater the range of services that are likely to be immediately necessary and that should be made available (ie: they will be treated more like Australian residents).

Where there is doubt over individual services, patients should seek a note from the doctor indicating the medical necessity for the proposed service.

Where required individual cases should be judged on merit.

suziegaz

thanks everyone,

i have passed the info on, i just hope that he got an reciprocal agreement card !!!!

i presume this is like a E111 card ?

thanks again folks
xx

suziegaz

hi guys

just to update you all, my brother in law has been in hospital and had the lump removed whilst in oz

thanks for the help
suzie and gaz
xx

ABCDiamond

On Medicare or did he pay ?

suziegaz

hi

my brother in law has not mentioned paying any thing but seems to think by bein in hospital that it may have invalidated his visa and is off to the local immigration centre ( or wat ever is similar) to make sure that he is ok to stay!!!
not got any further info at this time and i really dont under stand what he is thinking/saying this, surely emergency care cant affect your visa, which leads me to think i hope to god he had a 12 month visa and not 3 months visa!!!!

will keep you updated
suzie
x

quoll

I dont think having emergency care would have invalidated his visa. My dad had a stroke while here on a visit and was in hospital for nearly a week. It didnt do anything to his visa which was a 6 month tourist visa and we had advice that the visa could be extended for a short period if he was unfit to fly at the end of his visa time here. As it happens he was OK to fly and all was well.

OTOH we had an acquaintance who was seriously injured in a car accident while on a working holiday visa here - he survived (sort of) against all odds and once he was out of intensive care and looking towards a lengthy if interminable rehabilitation phase he had to be repatriated courtesy of his travel insurance.

I would say that if the long term implications are going to be a cost to the Aus tax payer then he may have to go home but if this was a blip then it should be OK

suziegaz

hi all,
just a quick update and thanks to all that answered,

my brother in law only had 3 month visa, so whilst in hopsital it was highlighted, he has been to immi who have given him a bridging visa........now fate will decide his future !!
suzie