seang

Just need to know - Once receiving your medicare card can you use it straight away OR do you have to have made contributions/certain time period etc?
Also if you take private health insurance do you need to have made contributions for a set period before it coming into affect

I will be looking into this fully but for a start was hoping someone here could get me started.

Thanks

PS- I think this is my first real question

Phoenixuk2oz

Hi seang

I can only help with this question [don't know answer to the second I'm afraid...sorry]

You can use your Medicare card straight away. They normally provide you with a temp [paper] card and send you a plastic version once it's been processed, hence the paper medicare card enables you to use immediatly.

Hope this makes sense

Bella3

Yep you can use your medicare card immediately. Private health insurance usually has a waiting period of 3 to 6 months depending on which insurer you go with. I was lucky as my employer provides health insurance and the waiting periods were waived.

seang

Thanks All . Appriciate that.

Now off to suss out medicare site

mlbonner

Like the others have said, straight away. Also you don't need to make contributions of any sort, I don't even think you need to be working to have one

seang

Great stuff thanks.

Bix

My Medibank private does not-kick in for 3 months and even then there is a scale of kick-in times for various types of treatments.
Up to a year before some things are covered.

JayDeee

Anyone know of a private company that is good and starts off straight away??? Has anyone managed to carry over UK insurance?

Kala

Bix

I think Medibank may have a "super" plan type think which waves a lot of the delay...but costs more of course.

JayDeee

Cheers bix, I'll have a llok at that

Ta Kala

andrew63

Kala
I use MBF "overseas vistor cover" and that has no waiting period (provided you dont arrive with something!!)

Andrew

kirsty&al

With mine (HCF) the waiting periods were only for pre-existing conditions. The waiting periods were from 3 to 12 months but we got a special offer and they were all reduced to 2 months except pregnancy. Any new conditions were covered straight away.

Regards
Alistair