Australia Healthcare

[Liverpool FC]

Australian Healthcare

Does anyone know how Australia operate in terms of healthcare for people who go over for a year or two etc to work?

Do you pay for treatment? Do you buy insurance etc?

I'm interested in finding out more about working out there for a while in the construction industry but have to consider how it fits in with crohns!

Any advice appreciated!

 

[vickyoddsocks]

I went on holiday to Oz not long ago (great country), from what i assume they have 'medicare' which works much the same as the NHS. And im under the impression that brits are covered on some mutual arrangement that aussies are covered over here. However dont hold me to any of that, its just what i seem to remember! lol!
Let us know what you find out, after i get rid off all this s**t (having a permanat ileostomy) i intend to live there some point in the future!

 

[Liverpool FC]

That would be great if that is true! I thought i'd read something months back somewhere on the internet that because of the high quantity of drugs we are generally on, that there is some sort of issue about covering the costs? Haven't been able to find it since so perhaps I got it wrong!

Like your opinion of the country, i have yet to meet anyone who has been who hasn't loved it! Hope you get sorted soon and are able to return!

 

[DustyKat]

Hi,

There is a reciprocal agreement for British tourists who visit Australia. This link will give you a basic overview and what is and isn't covered....

http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/public/migrants/visitors/uk.jsp

I would imagine be on a working visa makes no difference except, depending on how much you earn, you may hit the tax bracket that requires you to pay the Medicare levy.

HTH,
Dusty

 

[DustyKat]

If your medication is covered under our PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) then you will only pay for the cost of the script, as we do. All of the meds my kids are on are covered.

http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/pbs/index.jsp

Here is an A-Z list of meds available under the scheme...

http://www.pbs.gov.au/browse/medicine-listing

Dusty.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Going a bit off-topic here, but just wanted to say that I am so jealous of both the UK and Australia (and Canada too and pretty much the rest of Europe) because of your free healthcare. Sometimes I'm seriously tempted to move to a country that actually cares about the health of its citizens and doesn't allow them to rack up thousands of dollars in medical debt... *sigh!*

 

[moogie]

Going a bit off-topic here, but just wanted to say that I am so jealous of both the UK and Australia (and Canada too and pretty much the rest of Europe) because of your free healthcare. Sometimes I'm seriously tempted to move to a country that actually cares about the health of its citizens and doesn't allow them to rack up thousands of dollars in medical debt... *sigh!*

Free my a@@ IN canada I pay for my heatlcare every two weeks when they take 33% of my salary in taxes and then when I pay 1,33 a liter of gas and then when I pay 15% taxes on everything else I buy,...

So please don't say it,s free... better saying is accessible that I can agree on.

IN all seriouseness it's good to know however that I can always go to the hospital and get treated and not have to worry about getting a big no because inssurance does not cover it. That I agree on too. I did have to wait 6 months to get my bag off because I was no longer a priority. Sometimes you have to wait 1 yeasr to get a scan. But you don't get a bill for it just taxes and mor taxes... did I mention we pay taxes... :voodoo:

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Moogie, I hear you. I feel like I pay a lot of taxes here too, plus I pay out the nose for my health insurance premiums, and whatever my health insurance company decides not to pay for then I have to pick up the tab! I had over $6,000 in medical bills last year alone. This year I've already been to several doctor appointments, and my hubby had to go to the ER earlier this week with a kidney stone and they did a ton of tests on him, so I'm dreading getting that bill. Insurance companies always have an excuse for not paying. I'm not saying the Canadian system is much better, but it's got to be better than this!

 

[rygon]

Ive got to say the NHS is second to none. Yeh we all pay for it but no matter how much money you earn you are still entitled to the same care as everyone else, and its not as much a lottery depending on where you go (unlike insurance companies). And you still have the option of going private if you want to be seen quicker or at a "better" hospital

 

[Liverpool FC]

Thanks for all that Dusty! I found out a bit myself from a working abroad show the day after posting and I'm encouraged by what i have found out (if i have understood it correctly!) as it is the same as what you have said.

My medicines (pentasa & azathioprine) are on the list you gave the link too. The visas are a bit complicated but i'm going to look into it all a bit further and now i know of the companies that help sort it out.

PS - Your link : http://www.pbs.gov.au/medicine/item/2687K - as i am on 150mg of aza i assume that 100 tablets (33 days supply) will cost $34.20 each time?

Is there anything like the UK where you buy a prescription card for a set amount and then any tablets you need during the duration of that card (3 months i think it is) are covered?

Thanks :thumleft:

 

[DustyKat]

PS - Your link : http://www.pbs.gov.au/medicine/item/2687K - as i am on 150mg of aza i assume that 100 tablets (33 days supply) will cost $34.20 each time?

Yes that is the maximum price each time per medication.

Is there anything like the UK where you buy a prescription card for a set amount and then any tablets you need during the duration of that card (3 months i think it is) are covered?

We don't have anything like that here. We have a health care card here for eligible people that aren't pensioners. If you hold something similar to that in the UK it is reciprocal as well and you will then pay about $5.00 per script up to a cumulative $ amount, I think it is about $330.00. Once you reach that $ amount your scripts are free for the remainder of the year, this also applies to people that pay the full amount for scripts but the cumulative $ amounts are different.

HTH,
Dusty

 

[Trev]

then when I pay 1,33 a liter of gas and then when I pay 15% taxes on everything else I buy,...

wow we pay $2.25 a litre for petrol plus 15% GST on all items.

 

[Liverpool FC]

Regarding fuel - as the UK has probably the most taxed fuel about - we are paying £1.40 a litre which equates to $3.10 NZ dollars and $2.24 canadian dollars - plus it is due to go up £0.05 in a few weeks time. Perhaps this explains why the NHS is free! lol.

Dusty - thanks for all that, really helpful!