457 Visa and hospital cover

messymess

I know there's a reciprocal arrangement between Ireland an Oz regarding hospital treatment.

I've read that it's just a matter providing your passport at a hospital and they will look after you.

Has anyone ever had to do this?

I didn't get health insurance in Oz purely on that basis and it's looking likely that I'll need to have some minor surgical procedure done in the next six months. Just wondering what other peoples experiences of it is.

kdevitt

Have made use of it a few times - wife had a baby in RNSH under the recip agreement too. It only covers emergency treatment - so if your surgery is elective it may not be covered.

Mellor

As mentioned above, its covers emergency treatment, not elective procedures so sounds like you aren't covered.

Batgurl

AFAIK reciprocal only covers emergency care so unless its life threatening, all they have to do is patch you up and send you on your way.

So for example if you hurt ur knee playing football and went in and it wasn't broken or ripped or whatever, they'd check it out, give you anti-inflamatories, painkillers etc but they wouldn't refer you to a specialist for further surgery or anything as that wouldn't be covered.

Siobhan_d13

Hi everyone, met with our agent last night, started the ball rolling on 457, and when I told her about the reciprocal agreement she said that it doesn't meet DIAC's requirements (or something.) I think I'd rather have private health cover anyway, just to be safe. Does anyone have any recommendations that won't cost me an arm and a leg? IMAN have budget at $80 a month, but it doesn't seem to cover a lot. I'd like GP and pharmacy to be covered (if that exists)... contraception and all that.

Mellor

Siobhan_d13 wrote: »

Hi everyone, met with our agent last night, started the ball rolling on 457, and when I told her about the reciprocal agreement she said that it doesn't meet DIAC's requirements (or something.)

What ever about wanting more comprehensive cover. I'd also be looking for a new agent. What they told you us wrong, and I would have no confidence in somebody who didn't know such basic info. You are paying them a lot of money for the service, personally I think it's not worth it as its so simple, but IF I was to pay if expect quality service for $3000 or so.

Cooperspale

Agree with Mellor the agent should know the basics
On the Australian govt website
http://www.privatehealth.gov.au/healthinsurance/overseas/
Basically any emergency thing is covered.
Things like visiting a doctor, getting blood tests or pathology on GP's request and getting most medicines are called benefits and that's what Medicare covers for the most part.
Dentists are outside of Medicare for everyone unless it's related to a chronic illness or at a public dental hospital which have huge waiting lists. I just saw my dentist yesterday $135 for check up, private health covered $105 of that.
A lot of contraceptive pills are not on the PBS anyway eg Valette, Yasmin, Yaz ($78 for 3mths) that IMAN insurance is for PBS medicines only and that was the mid for $205 odd. If you are taking the standard microgynon 30, you can get a generic here for anthing between $16-23 for 4mths!
If you are in relatively good health and are insistent on insurance, get the basics with dental. I wouldn't bother with medicines cover for the price. For the most part if you needed something expensive like a cholesterol tab, you'd be covered by the reciprocal agreement and pay the standard PBS price $36.10.
And price and compare the other insurance providers before committing to anything

Kiith

Has anyone had to do any elective surgery in Australia? I think i've torn the cartilage in my knee again, and may have to go for a consultation, followed by an MRI, followed by surgery (did the same in Ireland last year). I'm guessing it'd cost me a bloody fortune over here though, without healthcare.

Would i be better off going back home to get it done? I've no healthcare there either, but maybe it would set me back around €2500 back home.

Cooperspale

Kiith wrote: »

Has anyone had to do any elective surgery in Australia? I think i've torn the cartilage in my knee again, and may have to go for a consultation, followed by an MRI, followed by surgery (did the same in Ireland last year). I'm guessing it'd cost me a bloody fortune over here though, without healthcare.

Would i be better off going back home to get it done? I've no healthcare there either, but maybe it would set me back around €2500 back home.

I think that you might be better off going home, I've had day surgeries here privately and the bed for the day ranged between $2500-3700 (which was outrageous!) I was never so glad to have private health. You've got the surgeons, anaesthethist fees etc on top but the bed price here is the killer going privately.
Get a quote here just to see but I'm guessing around the $6-7000 upwards

karl bracken

Siobhan they are wrong as mentioned already about needing healthcare,the reciprocal covers you fine and this is my 3rd 457 and iv had this arguement twice already with migration agents.
Not by choice as i done the first one myself without any cover and it was fine but the other 2 times were agents from where i worked. Just had a new visa passed 3 weeks ago with no healthcare its just incompetent/lazy agents who try to push this. I have a good friend who is an agent let me know if you what his details.

karl bracken

I had IMAN one time before i knew all this and when i cancelled they sent a letter saying they were informaing DIAC that i was on a 457 and cancelling my health insurance....

markymark21

messymess wrote: »

I know there's a reciprocal arrangement between Ireland an Oz regarding hospital treatment.

I've read that it's just a matter providing your passport at a hospital and they will look after you.

Has anyone ever had to do this?

I didn't get health insurance in Oz purely on that basis and it's looking likely that I'll need to have some minor surgical procedure done in the next six months. Just wondering what other peoples experiences of it is.

messymess wrote: »

I know there's a reciprocal arrangement between Ireland an Oz regarding hospital treatment.

I've read that it's just a matter providing your passport at a hospital and they will look after you.

Has anyone ever had to do this?

I didn't get health insurance in Oz purely on that basis and it's looking likely that I'll need to have some minor surgical procedure done in the next six months. Just wondering what other peoples experiences of it is.

I got free hospital care from the reciprocal agreement. I was doing my farm work in WA and stabbed myself in the hand with a butcher knife while trying to separate two frozen beef burgers - had to get five stitches. It's Kinda funny, I used angle grinders, chainsaws, welders and a hunting rifle during my farm work but I ended up hurting myself making lunch!

Anyway, I think the reciprocal agreement is only for emergencies. If you are actually planning on having surgery I reckon you'll have to fork out and pay the bill

Stubs

Kiith wrote: »

Has anyone had to do any elective surgery in Australia? I think i've torn the cartilage in my knee again, and may have to go for a consultation, followed by an MRI, followed by surgery (did the same in Ireland last year). I'm guessing it'd cost me a bloody fortune over here though, without healthcare.

Would i be better off going back home to get it done? I've no healthcare there either, but maybe it would set me back around €2500 back home.

I got a quote last year for reconstructive surgery on my knee for around $12,000. Ended up going home for the op and it worked out well. Unfortunately i didn't have any private health insurance at the time.

I have friend getting his cartilage done in a few months. Think it's costing in region of $8,000 - $9,000. Quite expensive out here. He has private health insurance though.

Another friend also tore his cruciate a few months back (no insurance). Went through casualty. Had consultation with orthopaedic surgeon, MRI, had operation and is getting continuous physio with zero cost. In hindsight this is the route I should have taken and would recommend it to anyone else in the position of having no private health insurance.

irishmover

I was randomly assaulted by an Aussie (he's in court tuesday for the second time) and suffered moderate head injuries including a damaged artery back in January. All my hospital visits were free (they never even checked my visa status I don't think). I went through casualty. I had an MRI free aswell. Have an appointment tomorrow to get the results.

All my GP visits cost me money though. Applying to Victims of Crime Assistance this week after consulting with a lawyer. Been out of work due to the assault for 2 months now. Money starting to get tight. Really hoping to get back to work this week.

By random I mean, I barely spoke to the scumbag while playing doubles with my mate against him and his mate in pool. Had beat them twice already, weren't playing for money was just a few games of pool in a pub! Day before Australia Day so guessing he didn't like my accent...

Had to spend the next 5 weeks listening to the police and doctors all saying 'how lucky I was' particularly after the police watched the CCTV footage..

Anyway, hospital visits all free. GP visits cost me the full whack on a 457.