daunted

hi can any of you wised up bodies explain a little about the qualifying period for medicare and, is it called family assistance (?) - i am presuming the second one is like our child benefit??? I was of the impression that new migrants had to wait 2 years to qualify (rightly in my opinion) but someone at work says i dont know what i am talkin about (wont be the first time)
Thanks
Mandy

GinaUK

It depends on the type of visa you have. If you have a visa with PR status, for example the Skilled independent visa (136), then you're eligible for medicare from the day you arrive in Oz. You will also be eligible for family assistance from the day you arrive in Oz (provided you don't earn too much), and in some state(s) for rent assistance (again, provided you don't earn too much). The two year waiting period applies to the Oz equivalent of unemployment benefit.

If you are going to Oz with a temporary visa, then things are different (generally no benefits at all).

Gina

daunted

Hi Gina
thanks for replying. i will be going on a 136 visa. i am pleasantly surprised that i will be entitled to any of that - i didnt expect to be. I am a single parent who has always worked to support my family and i will continue to do so in Oz, scrubbing toilets if i have to, but it is nice knowing that particularly medicare is available.
mandy

ps - where abouts are you going in perth? my brother is in Beckenham now

hedgehog-girl

If on a temp visa such as a 457 you will often get a bit of medicare assistance. They will cover reciprocal health care.

obiwan

Heres a couple of stupid questions.

1. as a PR, am i covered even if i dont have medicare card yet? or do i have to get travel insurance for a couple of weeks just in case I need to pay a visit to the ER?

2. assuming i earn minimum wage and my kids travel back to the home country and will be away from oz for 2 months during the year, are you still paid child assistance?

thanks for any advice.....

cheers!

DunRoaminTheUK

Isn't there a minor transition period between the actual date of arrival in the country and instigation of Medicare cover, during which they allow for the time it takes to get you into the system?

Paul and Chloe

Also as a single parent you automatically qualify for the Part B Family Allowance in addition to the Part A (Part A is income tested)...have attached the Centrelink URL for you to take a look at:

http://www.centrelink.gov.au/interne...g_payments.htm

Cheers

Paul

GinaUK

Yes, you are covered even if you don't have a medicare card yet. The way it works that without a medicare card you pay for the treatment, but then when you get your medicare number you claim that back).

One important thing to remember: medicare DOES NOT include ambulance cover. In Queensland you're covered for ambulance transport if you have electricity (there is a levy included in the bill). But, for example in WA you need insurance for ambulance transport. This has absolutely nothing to do with visa status - it's just the way things are.

So, on arrival, you would want to get yourself "ambulance insurance" pretty quickly - just in case ...

Gina

P.S. (Don't know the answer to your second question.)

obiwan

Hi Gina!

thanks for the info! that is good since i was worried that i might need to get myself some travel insurance temporarily when I arrive because i thought it would take a few weeks to get into the system...nice to know that all that is required for basic coverage is that you hold an actual PR visa....

thanks for the info as well on the ambulance, i am glad Queensland covers you... i hear ambulance bills are ridiculously high assuming you had to pay for it....

cheers!