[Cliff]

Info on a recent change in health insurance regulations:

From Monday 14 September 2009, regulatory changes became effective with respect to health insurance for subclass 457 visa applicants. As a result of the changes the following now applies:

* Holders of subclass visa 457, rather than employers, will be responsible for their own health care costs
* Private health insurance will be a mandatory condition for subclass 457 visa holders and their dependants for the duration of their visa.
* Proof of “adequate” health insurance needs to be arranged, in the form of a letter from the insurer and will be required prior to the visa being issued
* The health insurance arranged must meet certain minimum standards.

Note: The above changes will not apply in respect of subclass visa 457 holders who were granted their visas prior to 14 September 2009.

Medibank Private currently has a range of covers that satisfy the new requirements for a subclass 457 visa applicants. Plus, we’ll endeavor to ensure you’ll receive the “proof of appropriate insurance” letter within 48 hours of your client joining.

The table below provides the applicable premiums for Medibank Private covers, which meet the requirements for a subclass 457 visa applicant. Please note that there were some changes made to our Working Visa Health Insurance covers to meet the new requirements. We are currently updating our brochures and if you have any queries or would like to become a Medibank Private limited agent please call Jeremy Norton on (03)8622 5247. If you have questions regarding the regulatory changes, please contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

Working Visa Health Insurance

(Fortnightly,Monthly,Yearly)

Single Membership

$95.70, $208.05, $2496.60

Couple Membership

$191.40, $416.10, $4993.20

Family Membership

$201.00,$437.00, $5244.00

Working Visa Health Insurance with excess

Single Membership

$83.80, $182.20, $2186.40

Couple Membership

$167.60, $364.40, $4372.80

Family Membership

$176.00, $382.60, $4591.20

Working Visa Health Insurance Hospital & Medical

Single Membership

$68.60, $149.60, $1795.20

Couple Membership

$137.60, $299.20, $3590.40

Family Membership

$144.50, $314.20, $3770.40

Premiums effective 1 April 2009. All premiums are Goods and Services Tax inclusive and in Australian dollars. Premiums may be subject to change and may vary by a few cents due to rounding.

To find out more contact:

Web: www.medibank.com.au

[flighty]

It's great to see some actual figures. Do any other health insurance companies have tables like this?

[PamInPerth]

http://www.austhealth.com/ has tables of rates as well. Plans start from $1620 annually for a family.

[jimjams]

One thing that worries me about being forced to buy private health insurance is what happens if you get some sort of cancer that requires long term, expensive care and treatment. Don't private insurers say in the small print that they stop paying for your treatment after a certain amount of time or cost. I'd hate to find myself in that position.

[Cliff]

If you are from a country with a reciprocal health care agreement then you may not have to take out health insurance at all:

Do subclass 457 visa holders need to have health insurance and if so, who pays for it?
It is a requirement for visa grant that applicants have made adequate arrangements for health insurance for themselves and accompanying family members, which is administered by placing visa condition 8501 on each visa holder. Condition 8501 requires all visa holders, including accompanying family members, maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance for the duration of their stay in Australia. Failure to comply with a visa condition may result in your visa being cancelled.

Visa holders who are enrolled with Medicare under reciprocal health care arrangements will be considered as having met this requirement. There is more information below on reciprocal health care arrangements.

While you are required to demonstrate that you have made adequate arrangements for health insurance, and to maintain that health insurance once you become a visa holder, there is no requirement that you have to be the person who actually pays for the insurance policy. It is acceptable if, for example, your sponsor pays for the health insurance as a part of your employment contract, should they choose to do so.

What are reciprocal health care agreements?
Reciprocal health care agreements (RHCA) are agreements between the Australian Government and other governments to cover some medically necessary treatments for ill-health or injury which occurs while you are in Australia and requires treatment before you return home.

The Australian Government has RHCA with the governments of the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Malta, Italy, Belgium, the Republic of Ireland and New Zealand. New RHCA may be negotiated at any time.

For the latest list of countries and further information on RHCA, including what Medicare services are available under RHCA, you should refer to the Medicare Australia website.

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/457-health-insurance-faq-visa-holder.htm