brian.w

Can someone tell me i am over here on a working holiday visa and i sure i read something about medicare? i have travel insurance but im sure i read that i should have or get medicare.

Do i apply for this if so how and when do i apply and what is it they do for you if anything happens, i was told i did not have to apply for this and someone else said i should i need a card or something.

Please give advise please

bondipom

Back in 97 WHVers had to make a claim first before they could get the card. Basically I went to the docs, paid full price and got back about 2/3rds the cost from the medicare office. I was then issued a card. When you have the card you can go to bulk billing doctors and they will not charge you a cent.

Don't worry about it unless you have to make a claim.

jayr

Pop in to a Medicare shop (most major shopping centres have one) with your passport, wait 40 minutes and ask someone.

rob&lucy

Hi
I just went into a medicare office in a mall and showed them my passport, NI card and proof of address. A week later i got my card in the post. If you need a GP that does not bulk-bill then you go to medicare (send receipt by post, go to office, by phone) and claim back the money paid though not the full value. Personally i got confused with this at first and so went every time i had to go to the GP. Each time i explained that i was not sure if i could claim for anything and they were helpful. But yes you do need a card.

kath29

How do people find the medicare system in comparison to NHS?

Trevglas

Pretty bizzare! What is the point of having to pay a doc, then trot off down to an office whose major function is just to give you some of that cash back!

If the doc isnt bulk billing, why dont they just charge you the 1/3 that Medicare dont refund you?

traceyandian

We were in Oz from Oct 2001 to Jun 2002 and went into a medicare centre with our passport and then they issued us with cards. Have to say, went to the doctor a few times and never actually paid out any money. Not sure if this was because we aere on Working Holiday Visas or not. They just printed out the paperwork after we had an appointment and we signed on the dotted line. Like I say we never parted with any money.

In all I have to say the Medicare system is great. None of this phone for an appointment and have to wait a week, (by which time your feeling better!) in my experience, I rang in the morning and had an appointment an hour later! I thought it was excellent in comparison to the way we do it.

Tracey

kath29

do most people take out some kind of private healthcare too or just stick with medicare?

MikeStanton

Oz and UK have reciprocal health agreements - which covers you for the normal trips to the GP (standard fees) and emergencies.

One thing to note, if you have taken out medical insurance for your trip Down Under, your insurance company will probably assume that you have obtained the Medicare refund (as far as it goes) - and will only pay for the difference. Check the small print!

My experience with the Oz health system has been pretty good. Waiting lists seem much shorter than what is heard about the UK. Quality of GPs seems about the same. I am less convinced that the Oz specialists are as good - but that may be academic, if the queue is so long you don't get to see the UK equivalents!

Up until a few years ago, private health cover wasn't attractive to many - because the standard cover was good and the extra benefits (eg being able to choose your doctor for an op.) were few. However, tax incentives (or rather tax disincentives) and more benefits - eg cost effective dental cover - have made it more popular.