Lifetime Helth Care Loading - Update
Jun 14th 2004, 12:30 am
#1
(It's not my real name)
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Ilukapool. WA
Posts: 12,467
Lifetime Helth Care Loading - Update
I had to go to the Medibank Private retail centre on Saturday for them to "sight" my passport in order to waive the lifetime health cover loading for private medical insurance.
For those who don't know, your premium increases by 2% for every year you are over the age of 30.
Recently the health department has waived this for new immigrants giving them a 12 month grace period from "when they became eligible for Medicare".
Now, the announcement form the health department happened in late May and the woman in the shop wasn't sure exactly what to do. The first thing she did was look at the date the visa was granted, which put us well outside the 12 month grace period.
I explained to her that because it was granted when we were in in the UK we were not technically eligible for Medicare.
I suggested the date on our first entry stamp was the one to use, this was our validation trip in August 2002. This put us inside the 12 month grace period, just.
She didn't look at any other pages in the passport, just the one I held open for her. I don't even recall her looking at the page with the photograph in it in my wife's passport.
In summary, the phrase that keeps coming up is "when you became eligible for Medicare". If you make a validation trip, come back to Aus10 months later, leave it 3 months before getting medical insurance, you won't get the loading waived.
I would imagine Medibank Private will have a better documented process as more of us go in to get the loading waived but this was my experience.
Renth
For those who don't know, your premium increases by 2% for every year you are over the age of 30.
Recently the health department has waived this for new immigrants giving them a 12 month grace period from "when they became eligible for Medicare".
Now, the announcement form the health department happened in late May and the woman in the shop wasn't sure exactly what to do. The first thing she did was look at the date the visa was granted, which put us well outside the 12 month grace period.
I explained to her that because it was granted when we were in in the UK we were not technically eligible for Medicare.
I suggested the date on our first entry stamp was the one to use, this was our validation trip in August 2002. This put us inside the 12 month grace period, just.
She didn't look at any other pages in the passport, just the one I held open for her. I don't even recall her looking at the page with the photograph in it in my wife's passport.
In summary, the phrase that keeps coming up is "when you became eligible for Medicare". If you make a validation trip, come back to Aus10 months later, leave it 3 months before getting medical insurance, you won't get the loading waived.
I would imagine Medibank Private will have a better documented process as more of us go in to get the loading waived but this was my experience.
Renth
Last edited by renth; Jun 14th 2004 at 12:32 am.
Jun 14th 2004, 3:12 am
#2
Retired
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,649
Re: Lifetime Helth Care Loading - Update
Is one eligible for Medicare when just making a validation trip? I'm not sure that's been clearly established.
It would be also interesting to know how Australian citizens and PRs returning from a number of years overseas fit into this.
Jeremy
It would be also interesting to know how Australian citizens and PRs returning from a number of years overseas fit into this.
Jeremy
Originally posted by renth
I had to go to the Medibank Private retail centre on Saturday for them to "sight" my passport in order to waive the lifetime health cover loading for private medical insurance.
For those who don't know, your premium increases by 2% for every year you are over the age of 30.
Recently the health department has waived this for new immigrants giving them a 12 month grace period from "when they became eligible for Medicare".
Now, the announcement form the health department happened in late May and the woman in the shop wasn't sure exactly what to do. The first thing she did was look at the date the visa was granted, which put us well outside the 12 month grace period.
I explained to her that because it was granted when we were in in the UK we were not technically eligible for Medicare.
I suggested the date on our first entry stamp was the one to use, this was our validation trip in August 2002. This put us inside the 12 month grace period, just.
She didn't look at any other pages in the passport, just the one I held open for her. I don't even recall her looking at the page with the photograph in it in my wife's passport.
In summary, the phrase that keeps coming up is "when you became eligible for Medicare". If you make a validation trip, come back to Aus10 months later, leave it 3 months before getting medical insurance, you won't get the loading waived.
I would imagine Medibank Private will have a better documented process as more of us go in to get the loading waived but this was my experience.
Renth
I had to go to the Medibank Private retail centre on Saturday for them to "sight" my passport in order to waive the lifetime health cover loading for private medical insurance.
For those who don't know, your premium increases by 2% for every year you are over the age of 30.
Recently the health department has waived this for new immigrants giving them a 12 month grace period from "when they became eligible for Medicare".
Now, the announcement form the health department happened in late May and the woman in the shop wasn't sure exactly what to do. The first thing she did was look at the date the visa was granted, which put us well outside the 12 month grace period.
I explained to her that because it was granted when we were in in the UK we were not technically eligible for Medicare.
I suggested the date on our first entry stamp was the one to use, this was our validation trip in August 2002. This put us inside the 12 month grace period, just.
She didn't look at any other pages in the passport, just the one I held open for her. I don't even recall her looking at the page with the photograph in it in my wife's passport.
In summary, the phrase that keeps coming up is "when you became eligible for Medicare". If you make a validation trip, come back to Aus10 months later, leave it 3 months before getting medical insurance, you won't get the loading waived.
I would imagine Medibank Private will have a better documented process as more of us go in to get the loading waived but this was my experience.
Renth
Jun 14th 2004, 8:39 am
#3
Waitin for my RPL result.
Joined: Feb 2004
Location: stoke on trent, england
Posts: 154
Renth
Whats the background to this. Can you just briefly explain it again? I remember seeing your post previously about this but can't recall the detail
Ta
Marko
Whats the background to this. Can you just briefly explain it again? I remember seeing your post previously about this but can't recall the detail
Ta
Marko
Jun 14th 2004, 10:04 am
#4
(It's not my real name)
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Ilukapool. WA
Posts: 12,467
Originally posted by phyonics
Renth
Whats the background to this. Can you just briefly explain it again? I remember seeing your post previously about this but can't recall the detail
Ta
Marko
Renth
Whats the background to this. Can you just briefly explain it again? I remember seeing your post previously about this but can't recall the detail
Ta
Marko
This has been waived for new migrants provided they take out their policy within 12 months of becoming eligible for Medicare.
Jun 14th 2004, 10:20 am
#5
Waitin for my RPL result.
Joined: Feb 2004
Location: stoke on trent, england
Posts: 154
This is specifically private cover that you pay a premium for, and is separate to the qualification for Medicare?
Thanks
Marko
Thanks
Marko
Jun 15th 2004, 10:15 am
#6
Bitter and twisted
Joined: Dec 2003
Location: Upmarket
Posts: 17,503
Hi all
Any more thoughts on this?
I am going out in a couple of days to validate but then do not know when I will move permanently?
G
Any more thoughts on this?
I am going out in a couple of days to validate but then do not know when I will move permanently?
G
Jun 15th 2004, 1:15 pm
#7
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: Gold Coast- the best place in the world
Posts: 3,196
I telephoned my health company a few weeks ago when this was raised on the site and they are still looking into it! They can't seem to decide whether we apply or not. I might have to send them the link - if I can find it.
