Kookypie

Hi all,

Apologies if this is a repeat question.

Im heading to Melbourne on a 457 sponsored visa (waiting waiting waiting!) My employer (Melbourne Health) insist on me signing a waiver to state that I will take out private health insurance. I thought that as Britons we are covered under the reciprocal agreement for basic medicare and dont need insurance....help!

Deutschmaster

Medicare is only a basic form of government cover. Insurance covers everything - such as ambulance to hospital, medicine etc.

As far as I'm aware Aussie law says that the employer must meet all extra costs not covered by medicare should you fall ill - but they can mitigate by passing the cost on to you. Thats why your employer wants you to pay for your own insurance so they can get out of any health costs.

quoll

The reciprocal arrangement is only for necessary medical care. Your private insurance will cover any hospital stays although, of course you would be covered by medicare in case of emergency. However the government would like to send you back if you become too costly because of some accident and you need to either be able to pay for your hospital service (private medical cover) or have some other sort of insurance which would cover your repatriation to UK. We had a friend who was here on a working holiday visa and had a major car accident and as soon as he was out of intensive care they had to repatriate him because he would have otherwise been a very high cost to the Aus tax payer - as temporary residents, the issue is the same.

JAJ

Your employer should really be providing full medical insurance. It's a grey area as to whether they legally must do so or not, but it should not even be a subject for discussion if employer expects you to be on a 457.

Why is the employer not sponsoring for permanent residence, anyway?

looky

I have been sponsored on 457 by two different government agencies in different states and not one of them has offered to pay for private insurance. They all have conditions that i have to take up my own private health insurance.

mrt

Same thing for me. I guess they have found a loophole on how to pass the cost onto us.

Smallpurplecat

Having read these posts, I'm wondering how much health insurance would be...?