tehori

Ran into a bloke the other day who is in his early sixties been living in the USA for thirty years.
Was boasting to me how low the taxes were in the USA.

It seems he gor fired from his job because of ill health and bang went his health care with it.
Now this bloke is an American citizen who has come to Aus for our Medicare.
Now here is the thing, while he has been living the good live we Aus residents have been paying for medicare.

Now can some Aus or Brit expat tell me why we should give him free health care which he has not paid for ?

Or is time to change the rules to make it free care for Aus residents and taxpayers only ?

Pulaski

Sounds to me like he has become a resident of Australia.

Giantaxe

I think you've posted this in the wrong country's forum.

Jerseygirl

I've moved your thread over to one of the Australia forums.

Dorothy

1) Why do you care? Your location says New Zealand
2) How do you know he's not a resident in Australia and eligible for Medicare?
3) Maybe we should stop giving "free" health care to all immigrants. Including the Brit expats who arrive having not paid into the system.

ozzieeagle

He would have had a difficult job getting into Australia in the first place if he had a previous chronic health issue. So nothing to see here. One of the major benefits of living in a civilised country is universal health care to all it's permanent residents.

If he isn't a permanent resident, then he is probably feeding you bullsheet.

Mike at Taree

Sounds like the dust of el toro as well, Canada has a free health system so far less distance to travel. I'd guess that like us they have strict rules on overseas visitors.

Pollyana

So he lived in the USA for 30 years .... where was he before that? Maybe he is actually an Aussie citizen as well......

Amazulu

That's how I read it - which means he is entitled to Medicare

scottishcelts

My thoughts too!

paulry

Is there room for a lil' un' on this bandwagon?

eddie007

May I refer you to post number 3

ozzieeagle

Which is how it should be, So no issue at all.

All Australian citizens should be able to access Medicare, wherever they've lived and paid taxes in the past.

Question: If I were to turn up as a citizen of the UK after my 33 years in Aus, would I be afforded the same... I think there was a law change on this recently.... Or what about my Australian wife, if she were a bona fide 'spouse' migrant, would she get free healthcare on the NHS from day 1 of arrival in the UK ?

Amazulu

If you returned to the UK to live then you would be eligible. If you were on holiday you would not. Defining this is probably a big grey area

Your wife would be eligible if you were returning to live. If she was on holiday, I'm not sure but would be covered by reciprocal arrangements

All Australian citizens are eligible for Medicare - even if they have never paid tax

verystormy

Actually they would be entitled by reciprocal agreement. The same as tourists from the UK get it in Oz.

The issue would be taking is wife to the UK permanently now as there are rules on income and savings in order to get a visa.