Juanita

Hi there - can anyone tell me just how important having medical insurance is. I'm going to Oz on 457 temp business visa and I think that this class of visa exempts you from getting access to full medical care. However, my new employer offers a discount on medical cover only if you are coming from a country that doesn't have a reciprocal arrangement with Australia. But the UK does have a reciprocal arrangement with Oz. So I'm rather confused. If I don't have medical insurance do I still have some access to medical care? How necessary is the insurance?
My employer has sent me BUPA forms - but are there other health insurers that offer good deals out there?

Juanita

Bix

Hi Juanita,

Read this thread and the links within it and all will be revealed

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...ght=457+health

If you are a British citizen you should be able to sign up with Medicare under the UK / Aus reciprocal agreement.

Note a sponsor is responsible for the health needs of the temp visa holder and any dependants.

It may be that the Uni is prepared to cover anything not covered by Medicare which would be fine but you do need to clarify that with them.

Juanita

Cheers Bix ,
I noticed you said the following in your previous post "However on a 457 temp visa your employer is responsible for tending to the health needs of the visa holder and his dependants. In practice some employers have been shirking this and craftily putting into the contract that it is the subjects responsibility"
This worries me as I think I may have fallen foul of this particular trap - I'll get onto HR at the Uni and see what they have to say bout it.
laters,
Juanita