ozuk Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 I'm currently on a bridging visa and the processing time for the visa I've applied for is 50+ years. The chief medical officer has requested further information regarding health to determine whether or not I will be a drain on the healthcare system. Being on a bridging visa means I can't register for Medicare. I wont be able to apply for 50 years, so it will be ME who will be paying all medical costs, not Australia. So why do they need further info to see if I will be a drain when they will never be paying a cent? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickyNook Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 Are you from the UK? If so, then surely you qualify for Medicare under the reciprocal arrangement? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newjez Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 55 minutes ago, NickyNook said: Are you from the UK? If so, then surely you qualify for Medicare under the reciprocal arrangement? The reciprocal agreement is really only intended for emergency care. If you had a long term condition, or a condition which wasn't urgent, I'm not sure you could rely on it. It may depend on your doctor. Saying that I do know someone who had extensive heart and cancer treatment on a bridging visa. Although that did seem to be a mistake on behalf of the hospital, as they did eventually stop treating her and she had to return to the UK. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickyNook Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 48 minutes ago, newjez said: The reciprocal agreement is really only intended for emergency care. If you had a long term condition, or a condition which wasn't urgent, I'm not sure you could rely on it. It may depend on your doctor. Saying that I do know someone who had extensive heart and cancer treatment on a bridging visa. Although that did seem to be a mistake on behalf of the hospital, as they did eventually stop treating her and she had to return to the UK. The UK reciprocal agreement covers: medically necessary care out of hospital medically necessary care as a public patient in a public hospital some PBS prescription medicines at the general rate. Open to interpretation what 'medically necessary' means. Guess it's up to the provider to interpret as they see fit. Sounds like more than just emergency care, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemesis Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 2 hours ago, ozuk said: I'm currently on a bridging visa and the processing time for the visa I've applied for is 50+ years. The chief medical officer has requested further information regarding health to determine whether or not I will be a drain on the healthcare system. Being on a bridging visa means I can't register for Medicare. I wont be able to apply for 50 years, so it will be ME who will be paying all medical costs, not Australia. So why do they need further info to see if I will be a drain when they will never be paying a cent? Presumably if they identify an issue now which would result in an eventual visa refusal, they may just refuse you now and save you waiting on a bridging visa for X number of years 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozuk Posted August 9, 2020 Author Share Posted August 9, 2020 On the Medicare site it says: You can enrol in Medicare if you have a valid temporary visa covered by 1 of these Ministerial Orders: Fulbright scholars Witness Protection (Trafficking) Temporary visa (subclass 787) De facto partners of Australian citizens or permanent residents Support for Victims of People Trafficking Program Temporary Humanitarian Concern visa (subclass 786) Contributory Parent visas (subclasses 173, 143, 884, 864) Temporary Protection visa (subclass 785) Removal Pending Bridging visa (subclass 070) Illegal maritime arrivals holding a Bridging E (Class WE) visa Illegal maritime arrivals holding a Humanitarian Stay visa (subclass 449) Secondary Movement Offshore Entry visa XB (subclass 447) Safe Haven Enterprise visa (subclass 790) Skilled Work Regional Provisional visa (subclass 491) Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Provisional visa (subclass 494) I'm none of those so I don't qualify, meaning I pay for all medical costs. I've explained to them I don't qualify yet they still insist they send medical information to determine if I'll be a drain on the healthcare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickyNook Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 Quite right that you don't qualify for Medicare because you don't have the correct temp visa. However you do qualify for Medicare under the reciprocal agreement with the UK. https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/medicare/reciprocal-health-care-agreements/when-you-visit-australia/visiting-from-united-kingdom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 As Nickynook says, what visa you’re on is irrelevant. If you were a UK resident before arriving in Australia, then you are entitled to all essential medical treatment under the reciprocal agreement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newjez Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 (edited) 4 hours ago, NickyNook said: The UK reciprocal agreement covers: medically necessary care out of hospital medically necessary care as a public patient in a public hospital some PBS prescription medicines at the general rate. Open to interpretation what 'medically necessary' means. Guess it's up to the provider to interpret as they see fit. Sounds like more than just emergency care, though. It is. If you needed a major operation then and there, you would get it. If you needed something that can wait, even if it is uncomfortable, then you would probably wait. But could you get private cover anyway? Edited August 9, 2020 by newjez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tulip1 Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 6 hours ago, ozuk said: On the Medicare site it says: You can enrol in Medicare if you have a valid temporary visa covered by 1 of these Ministerial Orders: Fulbright scholars Witness Protection (Trafficking) Temporary visa (subclass 787) De facto partners of Australian citizens or permanent residents Support for Victims of People Trafficking Program Temporary Humanitarian Concern visa (subclass 786) Contributory Parent visas (subclasses 173, 143, 884, 864) Temporary Protection visa (subclass 785) Removal Pending Bridging visa (subclass 070) Illegal maritime arrivals holding a Bridging E (Class WE) visa Illegal maritime arrivals holding a Humanitarian Stay visa (subclass 449) Secondary Movement Offshore Entry visa XB (subclass 447) Safe Haven Enterprise visa (subclass 790) Skilled Work Regional Provisional visa (subclass 491) Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Provisional visa (subclass 494) I'm none of those so I don't qualify, meaning I pay for all medical costs. I've explained to them I don't qualify yet they still insist they send medical information to determine if I'll be a drain on the healthcare. I don’t see what the problem is. They can ask for whatever they want to. A medical is part of the process so it really doesn’t matter what you explain to them. If you want to stay there you will provide all that they ask you for. It’s really no big deal. If it comes to light you have a condition that may cost Australia a lot of money (regardless to your claims that you will pay for it) then your visa will be unsuccessful. That’s just the process, we take it or leave it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raul Senise Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 13 hours ago, ozuk said: I'm currently on a bridging visa and the processing time for the visa I've applied for is 50+ years. The chief medical officer has requested further information regarding health to determine whether or not I will be a drain on the healthcare system. Being on a bridging visa means I can't register for Medicare. I wont be able to apply for 50 years, so it will be ME who will be paying all medical costs, not Australia. So why do they need further info to see if I will be a drain when they will never be paying a cent? They are undertaking preliminary checks before your application is queued. If you fail the health requirements now they are likely to refuse the visa now, rather than queue it for processing at a much later date. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jellybean T Posted August 11, 2020 Share Posted August 11, 2020 On 09/08/2020 at 20:05, ozuk said: On the Medicare site it says: You can enrol in Medicare if you have a valid temporary visa covered by 1 of these Ministerial Orders: Fulbright scholars Witness Protection (Trafficking) Temporary visa (subclass 787) De facto partners of Australian citizens or permanent residents Support for Victims of People Trafficking Program Temporary Humanitarian Concern visa (subclass 786) Contributory Parent visas (subclasses 173, 143, 884, 864) Temporary Protection visa (subclass 785) Removal Pending Bridging visa (subclass 070) Illegal maritime arrivals holding a Bridging E (Class WE) visa Illegal maritime arrivals holding a Humanitarian Stay visa (subclass 449) Secondary Movement Offshore Entry visa XB (subclass 447) Safe Haven Enterprise visa (subclass 790) Skilled Work Regional Provisional visa (subclass 491) Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Provisional visa (subclass 494) I'm none of those so I don't qualify, meaning I pay for all medical costs. I've explained to them I don't qualify yet they still insist they send medical information to determine if I'll be a drain on the healthcare. Although you can afford your own medical care at the moment, there could come a time that you might not be able to. They have to cover every eventuality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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