Parents visa problem and medical costs
May 13th 2010, 9:43 am
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 53
Parents visa problem and medical costs
Sorry people I have just put this stuff out on the wrong thread but now I have found the correct way to do it. My parents came here ten years ago (they are in their 70's) they are not in the best of health and we are worried that because of the cost of health care here they are in danger of losing every thing that they have worked for. They have paid into the British system all their lives and now that that they are in possible need of good inexpensive care we feel they should return there. They are not entitled to any public health care here but are resisting all our efforts to persuade them to return to the UK. My entire family would be more than grateful to hear from anybody who can shed some light on the possible consequences of getting sick here without proper cover. There must be someone out there who has been in this situation and seen the devastating cost of this. Please let us know your story, if only to show them that everything in the garden is not 'rosy'. Thanks people. Tuvalu (from the Goa forum)XXXXXXXX
May 13th 2010, 10:24 am
#2
Has left the building
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,079
Re: Parents visa problem and medical costs
Sorry people I have just put this stuff out on the wrong thread but now I have found the correct way to do it. My parents came here ten years ago (they are in their 70's) they are not in the best of health and we are worried that because of the cost of health care here they are in danger of losing every thing that they have worked for. They have paid into the British system all their lives and now that that they are in possible need of good inexpensive care we feel they should return there. They are not entitled to any public health care here but are resisting all our efforts to persuade them to return to the UK. My entire family would be more than grateful to hear from anybody who can shed some light on the possible consequences of getting sick here without proper cover. There must be someone out there who has been in this situation and seen the devastating cost of this. Please let us know your story, if only to show them that everything in the garden is not 'rosy'. Thanks people. Tuvalu (from the Goa forum)XXXXXXXX
May 13th 2010, 11:25 am
#3
Retired
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,649
Re: Parents visa problem and medical costs
Sorry people I have just put this stuff out on the wrong thread but now I have found the correct way to do it. My parents came here ten years ago (they are in their 70's) they are not in the best of health and we are worried that because of the cost of health care here they are in danger of losing every thing that they have worked for.
On what visa did they come to Australia, and what visa do they have now?
May 13th 2010, 9:37 pm
#4
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 53
Re: Parents visa problem and medical costs
Hi Jaj. Thanks for your early response. They came here on a Retirement Visa which they still have. I understand that only 6000 of these were issued before they were stopped and under this they are not entitled to Medicare. Tuvalu
May 13th 2010, 10:19 pm
#6
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Asia Pacific
Posts: 4,922
Re: Parents visa problem and medical costs
But we have a public health care system also unlike the USA for example. And they might very well be able to get medicare because :
http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/...isitors/uk.jsp
"If you applied for or received Subclass Visa 410 (Retiree Visa) prior to 1 December 1998 you may apply to participate in the Medicare program under the RHCA of your home country. If you applied for Subclass Visa 410 on or after 1 December 1998 you are not eligible for enrolment in the Medicare program and are not eligible under the RHCA. "
RHCA = Reciprocal Health Care Agreement
Basically if they came on a 410 before 1998 then they might get medicare here funded in effect via the contributions made in the UK ! You say that they have been here for 10 years so maybe a real option for you.
http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/...isitors/uk.jsp
"If you applied for or received Subclass Visa 410 (Retiree Visa) prior to 1 December 1998 you may apply to participate in the Medicare program under the RHCA of your home country. If you applied for Subclass Visa 410 on or after 1 December 1998 you are not eligible for enrolment in the Medicare program and are not eligible under the RHCA. "
RHCA = Reciprocal Health Care Agreement
Basically if they came on a 410 before 1998 then they might get medicare here funded in effect via the contributions made in the UK ! You say that they have been here for 10 years so maybe a real option for you.
May 14th 2010, 12:54 am
#7
Back to WA! Yay!
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: Madeley, WA
Posts: 975
Re: Parents visa problem and medical costs
Why not sponsor them for an Aged Parent Visa?
May 14th 2010, 1:02 am
#8
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,905
Re: Parents visa problem and medical costs
If they can get a medicare agreement card it would be good, I have used this for 2years and my kids have existing medical issues. (Now have PR)
The hospitals in WA treated the agreement card the same as the Aussie version. A big city and small regional hospital both told me this.
We had operations, hospital consultant appointments, rare tests, overnight sleep study, etc. You name it we got it for free using the agreement card.
The only thing is it must be necessary treatment.
Id seriously chase up if they are eligable for the medicare agreement card.
Ive now got the PR card and only thing that has changed is the colour!
Gems
The hospitals in WA treated the agreement card the same as the Aussie version. A big city and small regional hospital both told me this.
We had operations, hospital consultant appointments, rare tests, overnight sleep study, etc. You name it we got it for free using the agreement card.
The only thing is it must be necessary treatment.
Id seriously chase up if they are eligable for the medicare agreement card.
Ive now got the PR card and only thing that has changed is the colour!
Gems
May 14th 2010, 1:06 am
#9
Back to WA! Yay!
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: Madeley, WA
Posts: 975
Re: Parents visa problem and medical costs
If they can get a medicare agreement card it would be good, I have used this for 2years and my kids have existing medical issues. (Now have PR)
The hospitals in WA treated the agreement card the same as the Aussie version. A big city and small regional hospital both told me this.
We had operations, hospital consultant appointments, rare tests, overnight sleep study, etc. You name it we got it for free using the agreement card.
The only thing is it must be necessary treatment.
Id seriously chase up if they are eligable for the medicare agreement card.
Ive now got the PR card and only thing that has changed is the colour!
Gems
The hospitals in WA treated the agreement card the same as the Aussie version. A big city and small regional hospital both told me this.
We had operations, hospital consultant appointments, rare tests, overnight sleep study, etc. You name it we got it for free using the agreement card.
The only thing is it must be necessary treatment.
Id seriously chase up if they are eligable for the medicare agreement card.
Ive now got the PR card and only thing that has changed is the colour!
Gems
May 14th 2010, 5:05 am
#10
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 53
Re: Parents visa problem and medical costs
Thank you people, please keep the info and advice coming. Tuvalu
May 14th 2010, 5:09 am
#11
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 53
Re: Parents visa problem and medical costs
But we have a public health care system also unlike the USA for example. And they might very well be able to get medicare because :
http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/...isitors/uk.jsp
"If you applied for or received Subclass Visa 410 (Retiree Visa) prior to 1 December 1998 you may apply to participate in the Medicare program under the RHCA of your home country. If you applied for Subclass Visa 410 on or after 1 December 1998 you are not eligible for enrolment in the Medicare program and are not eligible under the RHCA. "
RHCA = Reciprocal Health Care Agreement
Basically if they came on a 410 before 1998 then they might get medicare here funded in effect via the contributions made in the UK ! You say that they have been here for 10 years so maybe a real option for you.
http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/...isitors/uk.jsp
"If you applied for or received Subclass Visa 410 (Retiree Visa) prior to 1 December 1998 you may apply to participate in the Medicare program under the RHCA of your home country. If you applied for Subclass Visa 410 on or after 1 December 1998 you are not eligible for enrolment in the Medicare program and are not eligible under the RHCA. "
RHCA = Reciprocal Health Care Agreement
Basically if they came on a 410 before 1998 then they might get medicare here funded in effect via the contributions made in the UK ! You say that they have been here for 10 years so maybe a real option for you.
