Here’s a tip for anyone considering moving to Australia:<\/p>\n
\ndon’t get sick<\/em>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nBeen there, done that<\/a>. But I’ve got an extra incentive not to be sick in the time I’ve got left here (fifty days. No, I’m not counting). <\/p>\n
\nHere’s the deal. I came to Australia on a temporary short term business visa (‘class 457’). After a bit of farting around I figured out that I was covered under the ‘Reciprocal Health Care Arrangement’. Which essentially means I get a card I can wave at the paramedics to prove they can treat me before stealing my wallet. I also took out private medical insurance, because if you don’t, you pay for just about everything<\/em> (which at $90 per chest X-ray gets bloody expensive when you have pneumonia). Kate and the Pawns, being NZ citizens, automatically got covered.<\/p>\n
\nAnd time passed, and the 457 expired, and because things were a little unsettled I went onto a NZ spouse visa, a class 4611<\/a><\/sup> (and dear God I’m glad I never have to go through that again). And my Medicare<\/a> card expired with it. So just before Christmas I trooped into the Burwood Medicare office and said ho! I need a new card, good yeoman. Herewith my passport and my visa grant notice.<\/p>\n
\n‘No,’ they saith, ‘for thou must bringeth in the actual email wot you got from Immigration.’<\/p>\n
\nBut look, I replied. It says ‘Visa granted’.<\/p>\n
\n‘We need to see the email.’<\/p>\n
\nYou fornicating muppets<\/em> I thought to myself, and went away again.<\/p>\n
\nI went back this afternoon with a print-out of the email, and spoke to someone who promptly disappeared to see her supervisor. When she got back we talked a little more, and she disappeared again.<\/p>\n
\nTime passed.<\/p>\n
\nMore time passed.<\/p>\n
\nEventually she came back and said I couldn’t have a card, unless I was applying for permanent residence.<\/p>\n
\nEh? But I’m a UK national. I’m covered by the RHCA. <\/p>\n
\nYes, because you have an electronic travel authority. But then you have to leave after three months. <\/p>\n
\nNoo… because look, it’s a five year visa.<\/p>\n
\nYes, but that’s not eligible for cover unless you’re applying for permanent residence.<\/p>\n
\nBut I was covered while I was on the 457?<\/p>\n
\nThat’s expired. Look.<\/p>\n
\nYes, I know it’s expired. That’s why I’m on a 461.<\/p>\n
\nBut that’s not eligible for Medicare coverage.<\/p>\n
\ngnnngngngngnngggg<\/em><\/p>\n
\nOK, I said, let’s attack this logically. (Hah). My wife and children are NZ citizens and they have a Medicare card.<\/p>\n
\nThey were applying for permanent residence, then.<\/p>\n
\nNo! We’d just got in the country.<\/p>\n
\nYou’ve been here a couple of weeks?<\/p>\n
\nNo! Nearly three years! On the 457 that’s expired!<\/p>\n
\nThey’re applying for permanent residence.<\/p>\n
\ncries<\/em> no. <\/p>\n
\nOh, they shouldn’t have got that then.<\/p>\n
\nListen, we got into the country, three years ago, and within the week came in here to get the Medicare card.<\/p>\n
\nThey shouldn’t have been given one. Unless they were applying for\u2014<\/p>\n
\nPermanent residence. Yes, I know. But it was this very office!<\/p>\n
\nThey were wrong.<\/p>\n
\nLook, can I speak to your supervisor?<\/p>\n
\nSure. She’s just left.
\n—<\/p>\n\nBrilliant. The manager knows there’s a difficult case so she leaves the office for ten minutes. Very professional. I stalked out, muttering very dark words, and seriously considering getting a taxi direct to the airport.<\/p>\n
\nWhen I’d calmed down enough to talk, Kate did some digging and ended up calling Medicare, or DIMIA<\/a>, or some related bunch of utter twonks. Apparently, I’m officially a ‘grey area’. I don’t get a RHCA card, or even a NZ spouse card, but allegedly I am<\/em> covered\u2014as long as I have my passport on me (which has in it an expired 457 and no 461 because it’s purely electronic).<\/p>\n
\nProbably.<\/p>\n
\nI am not brimming with confidence at this point. Furthermore, someone is lying to me, and I am not best pleased.<\/p>\n
\nAnd Burwood Medicare offices? You suck<\/em>.<\/p>\n
\nfn1. Because Australia isn’t a real country they try to garner respectability by treating NZ citizens as their own. Something like that, anyway.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Here’s a tip for anyone considering moving to Australia: don’t get sick Been there, done that. But I’ve got an extra incentive not to be sick in the time I’ve got left here (fifty days. No, I’m not counting). Here’s … Continue reading