Does anyone know whats involved in getting your name down for Medicare and can you do this prior to getting there?

Also does anyone have any recommendations for private medical cover?

Then this could go in the newly organised FAQ section.

Thanks
Kevin

I believe you have to wait till you get here.
You go into the Medicare office and show them your permanent visa and they sort it all out for you.

Curiously, the complications arise if you are an Oz citizen, as I discovered.... :doh:
I had to prove my intention to stay in Oz permanently by producing loads of bits of paper such as shipping docs for our household goods, letter of resignation from my job, papers to show we'd bought a car and rented a house, etc!

Elaine

It is so annoying me Kev as I found a brilliant website but do you think I can find the address now! :angry:

Anyway I have found my saved copy of the word document that gives you some advice so I wilm email you a copy now for you to read.....if anyone else wants to see it then let me know!

Sasha :)

is this the one sasha

http://www.hic.gov.au/

debs xxxx

Welldone Debs that's the one :thumbs up: I must have just copied the bits I wanted to know about and didn't bother saving the address :doh:

Sasha :)

i have a favourites box on aol and all web sites i have been on or that get recommended i add to the list i have about 150 links now :sign68: i am going to have a look at the links section and see if i can add some on there now as im sure some that i have are not there :bouncing smiles:

debsxxxxxx

I lost all my favourites once so with any good links I get for oz I'm putting them in Word as a list - plus then I can print of the list for when we finally get to move out to oz and for when we have no computer for a while.

Get posting though Debs as I love looking at new sites.

Sasha :)

Great links Debs I've just been having a nose. :thumbs up:

Sasha :)

We went into Medicare at West Lakes the day after we arrived and got told off by the woman as you are supposed to wait 10 days for immigration to sort something out. They still took the form (You have to fill in a simple form) and processed it pretty quickly (I think we got it back the next week....

Got the pleasure of using them a couple of weeks ago when Joe was ill, not that we paid anything though???!!!!

Garf ;)

snappy , could you possibly send us a copy cos we're due to arrive on a 2 year working visa on 01/07/04 & my hubby's a diabetic & is a bit worried about things cheers Libby hurstfamily2002@yahoo.com

Hi Libby

It is off the same webpage as the link Debs has put up so click on that, but I will send it to you anyway. Speak to PP about diabetes as she is also a diabetic so may be able to offer some tips for your hubby.

Sasha :)

before leaving for australia, i sent my hotmail account an email containing all the links i thought i was likely to need, it was really handy to be able to click to go were i needed without having to type it all out.

Hi Libby

When you have your medicare sorted out, if your going to live in the South go to the medical centre in the domain at Marion, they bulk bill, this means you don`t have to pay. When you arrive (that is if your in the south ) shout out and some one on the site will tell you where it is. Good luck

Sheila

If you have children or you need vaccinations of any sort try and get them done in the Uk it could save you money, if you need any densitry done definately get that done that can be really costly here. We are here to help


Sheila

That's a good tip Sean, I'll do that as well just as another back up in case my paper copy goes missing in transit! :thumbs up:

Sasha :)

Thanks everyone for the replies.

Will have to do some more reading.

Kevin

to black country girl thanks very much for the info . PP can you tell me the best way to get medication for my diabetes ? thanks everyone

We are coming over on a SIR visa in September for 2 years to begin with - but we hope to stay if we like it! Just a quick question - roughly how much is health cover? Would we be eligible for Medicare cover (obviously to pay for it) on temporary visas?

Amanda

Amanda, under the reciprocal health agreement between the UK and Australia you will be covered for any neccessary medical attention.

The cost of private health insurance depends on what you want to be covered for and how many people you need to be covered on the policy etc. A good tool to use for comparisons is this one http://www.health-link.com.au/.

Jet :)

Hi

I'm on a temp visa & went to the doctors the other week. Would this be classed as neccessary medical or would that be a trip to the hospital? I did pay all of the bill instead of going to the medicare centre, the lady at the doctors reception said they will send me the rest back ( not the gap) .I still havent had any money back yet & that was 3 weeks ago. Has anyone got any information about how this works?

Jenny

Hi Jenny,

Medicare are very slow in processing payments, if you are still concerned pop into your local Medicare Office and ask them to check, take a copy of your paid account with you.

Jet :)