Anyone been knocked back on their Medicare card in Australia?

[giddyup]

I believe if you have been living out of the country for 5 years your Medicare card becomes invalid as you are considered a non-resident of Australia. So what happens if you present yourself at a hospital in Australia with either an expired or cancelled medicare card? Are you refused treatment? Even though I haven't been back in 8 years I have still managed to renew my Medicare card, but I'm not sure if it will still be useable if I ever need to return.

[NanLaew]

A fellow elbow-bender was commenting on exactly this issue a few weeks back. He does go back to Australia roughly once a year and went to renew his Medicare card. The first staffer that served him told him he no longer qualified as he was overseas all the time. He had a right barney with her, him having served in Vietnam, paid his taxes, earned his pension etc., whereas she was some ethnic minority so all a bit of a red rag to a bull scenario. Anyway, he went away and cooled off and when he returned a few days later, a different lady started processing his renewal, no questions asked. Then the 'other' lady saw him and came over and started telling the girl she cannot process this as he doesn't live here anymore. More high blood-pressure and heated invective but by all accounts he did get his renewal.

 

If they are making a meal about renewals for expatriates and other's on late-life walkabout, I would suspect that fronting up at the hospital with a long-expired card may not get you to the front of the queue. On the other hand, you say you have managed to keep the card current so I wonder how the hospital knows from a current, valid membership card that you don't actually live there?

[giddyup]

4 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

A fellow elbow-bender was commenting on exactly this issue a few weeks back. He does go back to Australia roughly once a year and went to renew his Medicare card. The first staffer that served him told him he no longer qualified as he was overseas all the time. He had a right barney with her, him having served in Vietnam, paid his taxes, earned his pension etc., whereas she was some ethnic minority so all a bit of a red rag to a bull scenario. Anyway, he went away and cooled off and when he returned a few days later, a different lady started processing his renewal, no questions asked. Then the 'other' lady saw him and came over and started telling the girl she cannot process this as he doesn't live here anymore. More high blood-pressure and heated invective but by all accounts he did get his renewal.

 

If they are making a meal about renewals for expatriates and other's on late-life walkabout, I would suspect that fronting up at the hospital with a long-expired card may not get you to the front of the queue. On the other hand, you say you have managed to keep the card current so I wonder how the hospital knows from a current, valid membership card that you don't actually live there?

Even though the card is current, I believe Medicare can still show it cancelled on their system. I'm just wondering if you showed up seriously ill if the hospital could refuse to treat you. I was born there goddammit, I am entitled!

[simple1]

19 hours ago, giddyup said:

Even though the card is current, I believe Medicare can still show it cancelled on their system. I'm just wondering if you showed up seriously ill if the hospital could refuse to treat you. I was born there goddammit, I am entitled!

For an emergency you would be treated as would anyone. The question would be if you're permitted to board a flight if seriously ill. Medicare can hook into Immi systems, straightforward to re-establish Oz residency credentials once back in Oz. Use Google to find requirements for Medicare, but just for a grumpy old man...

 

https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/enablers/enrol-or-re-enrol-medicare

 

 

[4MyEgo]

On 25/09/2017 at 3:35 PM, giddyup said:

Even though the card is current, I believe Medicare can still show it cancelled on their system. I'm just wondering if you showed up seriously ill if the hospital could refuse to treat you. I was born there goddammit, I am entitled!

As suggested in a previous post, go to the link and find out if your card still has an expiry date on the system, if it does, you might be all and good, if its not shown, I would say your out in the cold, the expiry date on their system would be linked to your card on the system you would be looking at, suffice to say, if they renewed your card without you using it in a 5 year period, I would say, your cooked as the system would have an inbuilt monitor saying if you haven't used it in 5 years, it gets cancelled automatically, so if you have actually seen the expiry date on the system and the expiry date is still up there, its more than likely cancelled, and there is a glitch with the system, although I hope I am wrong. 

[giddyup]

2 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

As suggested in a previous post, go to the link and find out if your card still has an expiry date on the system, if it does, you might be all and good, if its not shown, I would say your out in the cold, the expiry date on their system would be linked to your card on the system you would be looking at, suffice to say, if they renewed your card without you using it in a 5 year period, I would say, your cooked as the system would have an inbuilt monitor saying if you haven't used it in 5 years, it gets cancelled automatically, so if you have actually seen the expiry date on the system and the expiry date is still up there, its more than likely cancelled, and there is a glitch with the system, although I hope I am wrong. 

I still don't know what the policy might be if you just turned up at a hospital with a serious illness. Would they  refuse an Australian born citizen? PS, I think you have to register and give all kinds of details to find out if your card is valid.

[4MyEgo]

37 minutes ago, giddyup said:

I still don't know what the policy might be if you just turned up at a hospital with a serious illness. Would they  refuse an Australian born citizen? PS, I think you have to register and give all kinds of details to find out if your card is valid.

Have a read of this section, e.g. scroll down to the one below in the link attached, it pretty much sums it up, i.e. the 5 year period 

 

Medicare Implications For Australian Expats – Entitlement to Use Medicare

 

http://www.austexpatinvestor.com/medicare-implications-for-australian-expats/

[giddyup]

7 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Have a read of this section, e.g. scroll down to the one below in the link attached, it pretty much sums it up, i.e. the 5 year period 

 

Medicare Implications For Australian Expats – Entitlement to Use Medicare

 

http://www.austexpatinvestor.com/medicare-implications-for-australian-expats/

I can't find any details of my Medicare card online, so it may have been cancelled. This is what they say what happens after 5 years...

After the five year period, you will need to rely on your International Health Insurance to cover your medical care if required on subsequent visits to Australia.

Still doesn't actually say that they will refuse to treat you, but that's what it implies.

[4MyEgo]

10 minutes ago, giddyup said:

I can't find any details of my Medicare card online, so it may have been cancelled. This is what they say what happens after 5 years...

After the five year period, you will need to rely on your International Health Insurance to cover your medical care if required on subsequent visits to Australia.

Still doesn't actually say that they will refuse to treat you, but that's what it implies.

Yes, I would say if your not on the system, your toast, however, when and if you return, you could go in and talk to them, saying you have been away, but have returned and would like to know how to go about renewing your Medicare card, naturally, you need to provide them with details, yeh, ah, only just got back, staying at mums, a mates till I can get back on my feet with a job, etc, etc, pretty sure they will give you a Medicare number with the card to follow in the post after 6 weeks, but your story is going to have be well executed.

 

I am pretty sure if you rocked up at a hospital without being a valid Medicare holder you would be treated under an emergency, but may have to foot the bill.

Edited September 27, 2017 by 4MyEgo

[giddyup]

1 minute ago, 4MyEgo said:

Yes, I would say if your not on the system, your toast, however, when and if you return, you could go in and talk to them, saying you have been away, but have returned and would like to know how to go about renewing your Medicare card, naturally, you need to provide them with details, yeh, ah, only just got back, staying at mums, a mates till I can get back on my feet with a job, etc, etc, pretty sure they will give you a Medicare number with the card to follow in the post after 6 weeks, but your story is going to have be well executed.

 

I am pretty sure if you rocked up at a hospital without being a valid Medicare holder you would treated under an emergency, but may have to foot the bill.

Not sure why they issued me a new card in March this year when I had already been out of the country 7 years. Card says it's valid until 2022.

[4MyEgo]

1 minute ago, giddyup said:

Not sure why they issued me a new card in March this year when I had already been out of the country 7 years. Card says it's valid until 2022.

Yes that is a weird one, might be that the contractor who renews the cards, didn't have an up to date manifest, or wasn't advised that your Medicare card was not to be renewed. Like I said, if your not on the system, its 99% more than likely your toast.

 

Depending on your age, you might want to bite the bullet and pay 60k baht-80k baht per year for peace of mind, I self insure, hadn't had any major issues health wise, but am going into that phase at the moment, whether to insure or not too, and as they don't cover pre-existing conditions, you would think you would be ok, unless one of the pre-existing conditions flares up, then its another added expense, because the insurer won't touch you, damned if you do and damned if you don't 

[giddyup]

Just now, 4MyEgo said:

Yes that is a weird one, might be that the contractor who renews the cards, didn't have an up to date manifest, or wasn't advised that your Medicare card was not to be renewed. Like I said, if your not on the system, its 99% more than likely your toast.

 

Depending on your age, you might want to bite the bullet and pay 60k baht-80k baht per year for peace of mind, I self insure, hadn't had any major issues health wise, but am going into that phase at the moment, whether to insure or not too, and as they don't cover pre-existing conditions, you would think you would be ok, unless one of the pre-existing conditions flares up, then its another added expense, because the insurer won't touch you, damned if you do and damned if you don't 

At 75 an insurer won't look at me, either that or the premiums are prohibitive. I have enough money for emergency treatment and short term hospitalisation, and using a public hospital would be cheaper, but if I needed an expensive operation, I'd go to India, as long as I was well enough to fly. Alternatively, just curl up and die.

[4MyEgo]

1 minute ago, giddyup said:

At 75 an insurer won't look at me, either that or the premiums are prohibitive. I have enough money for emergency treatment and short term hospitalisation, and using a public hospital would be cheaper, but if I needed an expensive operation, I'd go to India, as long as I was well enough to fly. Alternatively, just curl up and die.

Well that confirms it then.

 

I was just reading that article and it said in Australia, even if you have a pre-existing condition, the insurer must insure you, with no additional charge, however once you step outside of Australia and take international cover your toast, or in your case, (respectfully), burned toast 555 

[giddyup]

Just now, 4MyEgo said:

Well that confirms it then.

 

I was just reading that article and it said in Australia, even if you have a pre-existing condition, the insurer must insure you, with no additional charge, however once you step outside of Australia and take international cover your toast, or in your case, (respectfully), burned toast 555 

 There's always the helium or nembutal. Hopefully I can hold off on that for a while.

[4MyEgo]

6 minutes ago, giddyup said:

 There's always the helium or nembutal. Hopefully I can hold off on that for a while.

I would suggest a bottle of Johny Blue with two young petite females to send me over the edge, death by mischief 555

[giddyup]

9 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

I would suggest a bottle of Johny Blue with two young petite females to send me over the edge, death by mischief 555

Sounds good in theory, but most of us get too old to drink or throw a leg over.

Edited September 27, 2017 by giddyup

[4MyEgo]

On 25/09/2017 at 3:35 PM, giddyup said:

Even though the card is current, I believe Medicare can still show it cancelled on their system. I'm just wondering if you showed up seriously ill if the hospital could refuse to treat you. I was born there goddammit, I am entitled!

 

I just found this on another post, might answer both of our questions, i.e. after 5 years we are up the creek apparently:

 

Ministerial Order No 781 allows Australian citizens who have been absent from Australia to continue Medicare eligibility for up to 5 years from their original departure from Australia.  The 5 years does not recommence on return visits where they do not reside in Australia.

[simple1]

13 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

I just found this on another post, might answer both of our questions, i.e. after 5 years we are up the creek apparently:

 

Ministerial Order No 781 allows Australian citizens who have been absent from Australia to continue Medicare eligibility for up to 5 years from their original departure from Australia.  The 5 years does not recommence on return visits where they do not reside in Australia.

 

True, but easy to get re-instated. Medicare have published online the criteria

[4MyEgo]

Just now, simple1 said:

 

True, but easy to get re-instated. Medicare have published online the criteria

 

Yes, but you have to return back to Australia and re-establish you residency from my understanding, whereas I return every 18 months for a week or so, visit family, friends, get my usual check ups etc etc, so after 5 years I am toast, unless I go through the procedure of reapplying i.e. re-establishing my residency which would be a nightmare, unless you know of some plan ?  

[simple1]

Just now, 4MyEgo said:

 

Yes, but you have to return back to Australia and re-establish you residency from my understanding, whereas I return every 18 months for a week or so, visit family, friends, get my usual check ups etc etc, so after 5 years I am toast, unless I go through the procedure of reapplying i.e. re-establishing my residency which would be a nightmare, unless you know of some plan ?  

 

Assuming you can obtain one more Oz based doco e.g. bank statement, get a signed rental agreement from a friend - easy to download a standard format form for the State you visit.

 

https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/enablers/enrol-or-re-enrol-medicare#a5

[4MyEgo]

34 minutes ago, simple1 said:

 

Assuming you can obtain one more Oz based doco e.g. bank statement, get a signed rental agreement from a friend - easy to download a standard format form for the State you visit.

 

https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/enablers/enrol-or-re-enrol-medicare#a5

 

Yeh, I think I would be toast, i.e. could provide them with a lease copy and agent confirmation, closed bank account here, as for the rest a little difficult, i.e. have wife, kids going to school, etc, etc, that is unless I bring part of my long term plan forward and get our divorce done earlier than originally planned for the OAP, food for thought.

 

Thanks Simple1