Living in Thailand Medicare (Aus) status

[Kenny202]

What is the situation if you have been living overseas for x amount of years and you are taken ill. Supposing u are in a condition to travel back to Australia are u still entitled to free medical? Only thinking out loud, don't have a problem now but interesting question. I asked Medicare wen I left Australia and the answer was something like (sort of)

[Shasta55]

More than 5 years you have to re-apply. Also you need to sign a stat dec that you are returning to live permanently. Where some long term ex pats are running into trouble is with the residency requirements for the pension.

[SaintLouisBlues]

You have to have an intention to return to keep Australian Medicare; staying away for 5 years is deemed to have no intention to return. A friend of mine periodically returns to Australia for a fortnight or so and makes absolutely sure he gets at least a doctor's appointment paid through Medicare and a prescription dispensed - even if it's just Viagra. He's been away 10 years now without any problems with retaining his Medicare card. He does have an Australian address (ie. a mate who keeps any letters for him)

The other issue ex-pats have now is that the moment they depart/arrive Australia through passport control, Immigration tells Centrelink because your Australian passport is linked to your Centrelink card. After 6 weeks outside Australia your additional benefits start dropping off; if you haven't worked in Oz for (I think now) 30 years you get a reduced pension after 6 months

Edited September 5, 2015 by SaintLouisBlues

[tigermoth]

The residency requirement for non Australian citizens to be able to receive a full pension is 35 years except for New Zealand and Greek citizens which is 25 years. You will get a proportion of your pension if you have not lived there for 35 years, i.e. if you have lived in Australia for 28 years you will get 28/35 of the full pension. You also have to have permanent residency status which means you must not be out of Australia for more than 5 years or you will lose all including medicare.

[Aussieroaming]

I pay for any medical when I visit auss, even though I paid ridiculous tax..more than $80k/ year.i hate the officials there but have to comply. The easiest way for me was to say f..u..

[Laza 45]

I have been living in Thailand for 8 years now.. but I keep a postal address in OZ.. I get a new pension card in the post a few days after returning.. still have my Medicare card.. I had a small operation last time I was back.. no problems..

[jacksam]

I pay for any medical when I visit auss, even though I paid ridiculous tax..more than $80k/ year.i hate the officials there but have to comply. The easiest way for me was to say f..u..

You need a new accountant

[Straight8]

Some of these answers are possibly correct, however, for tax paying purposes if you have been away for more than 5 years [ie. living less than 181 days per calendar / financial year.. can't recall which one exactly] and are classified as a "Non-Resident" then your Medicare benefits stop after 5 years completely, even if you only return periodically. So when you become an expat in the above scenario, after 5 year you no longer are covered. I know this for a fact, if it's accurate, I read this in an article in a Smart Investor magazine a year or so ago.

Having said that, if you still have your medicare card it would still be valid and can be used, but [and I'm only assuming here based on the above being correct] if you're ever found to have used it after the designated period you "may" [emphasis on the word "may"] be liable to pay back the benefits claimed in full. Otherwise, people will likely abuse this loop hole of living overseas and running back only when they need help!!!!

If anyone has a link to this information that says otherwise, kindly let us know.

Edited September 5, 2015 by Straight8

[Ooladolla]

What is the situation then when an expat decides after say 6 years of living in Thailand to return permanently to Australia ? A self funded retiree with a home in Oz. Australian by birth

[Sheryl]

Since this discussion has branched out beyond just health care I am moving it to the "home country" forum for better response. A search in that forum might also turn up relevant info,

[sawaz455]

Hi.

My experience with the Medcare Card.

Last year my Medicare card needed to be renewed. On my annual trip back to Australia I dropped into a City office handed over my Card and requested a new one.

The staff member asked if I was living at the card address, no, I was living in Thailand, had been since 2011.

I was asked if I had a permanent residence in Australia - no, but I had a mailing address (one of my relatives).

The staff member told me that I would be issued with another card after the current one expired and would go to the mailing address. I have since received this card.

I seem to recall that I was also asked if I had any intention of returning to Australia to live - I believe that I said something like, not at this stage.

I was also told by the staff member that I would have to live in Australia for six months continuously before I would be receiving another one.

Hope this helps others.

[SaintLouisBlues]

I pay for any medical when I visit auss, even though I paid ridiculous tax..more than $80k/ year.i hate the officials there but have to comply. The easiest way for me was to say f..u..

I looked up the Aussie tax rates. In order for you to be paying tax of "more than $80K/year" you have a gross income of $200K/year. I'm sure I speak for all Forum members when I say my heart bleeds for you

https://www.ato.gov.au/Rates/Individual-income-tax-rates/

Edited September 8, 2015 by SaintLouisBlues

[SaintLouisBlues]

Hi.

My experience with the Medcare Card.

Last year my Medicare card needed to be renewed. On my annual trip back to Australia I dropped into a City office handed over my Card and requested a new one.

The staff member asked if I was living at the card address, no, I was living in Thailand, had been since 2011.

I was asked if I had a permanent residence in Australia - no, but I had a mailing address (one of my relatives).

The staff member told me that I would be issued with another card after the current one expired and would go to the mailing address. I have since received this card.

I seem to recall that I was also asked if I had any intention of returning to Australia to live - I believe that I said something like, not at this stage.

I was also told by the staff member that I would have to live in Australia for six months continuously before I would be receiving another one.

Hope this helps others.

You told the TRUTH? To a government official??? Oh dear me

[SaintLouisBlues]

Some of these answers are possibly correct, however, for tax paying purposes if you have been away for more than 5 years [ie. living less than 181 days per calendar / financial year.. can't recall which one exactly] and are classified as a "Non-Resident" then your Medicare benefits stop after 5 years completely, even if you only return periodically. So when you become an expat in the above scenario, after 5 year you no longer are covered. I know this for a fact, if it's accurate, I read this in an article in a Smart Investor magazine a year or so ago.

Having said that, if you still have your medicare card it would still be valid and can be used, but [and I'm only assuming here based on the above being correct] if you're ever found to have used it after the designated period you "may" [emphasis on the word "may"] be liable to pay back the benefits claimed in full. Otherwise, people will likely abuse this loop hole of living overseas and running back only when they need help!!!!

If anyone has a link to this information that says otherwise, kindly let us know.

If your only income is the Australian pension then you're not paying tax anyway, are you? The 181 days a year is irrelevant

[Will27]

Some of these answers are possibly correct, however, for tax paying purposes if you have been away for more than 5 years [ie. living less than 181 days per calendar / financial year.. can't recall which one exactly] and are classified as a "Non-Resident" then your Medicare benefits stop after 5 years completely, even if you only return periodically. So when you become an expat in the above scenario, after 5 year you no longer are covered. I know this for a fact, if it's accurate, I read this in an article in a Smart Investor magazine a year or so ago.

Having said that, if you still have your medicare card it would still be valid and can be used, but [and I'm only assuming here based on the above being correct] if you're ever found to have used it after the designated period you "may" [emphasis on the word "may"] be liable to pay back the benefits claimed in full. Otherwise, people will likely abuse this loop hole of living overseas and running back only when they need help!!!!

If anyone has a link to this information that says otherwise, kindly let us know.

If your only income is the Australian pension then you're not paying tax anyway, are you? The 181 days a year is irrelevant

It is relevant if he's deemed to be a non-resident though.

[opalred]

if the mad monk gets his way we will get nothing

i was born there started work at 16 retired 65

went back to visit familyafter 5yrs here

iwent tp see dr told medecare cancelled

i rang and wrote letters same answer

no medical treatment as not a resident can get but have to stay 2yrs

after all those yrs paying taxes

[simple1]

if the mad monk gets his way we will get nothing i was born there started work at 16 retired 65 went back to visit family after 5yrs here iwent tp see dr told medecare cancelled i rang and wrote letters same answer no medical treatment as not a resident can get but have to stay 2yrs after all those yrs paying taxes

The correct information for re-establishing Medicare cover for returning residents is at:

http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/medicare/medicare-card/medicare-enrolment-for-returning-residents

[opalred]

i went through this with many letters even to head person in medecare

answer sorry you are not a resident of oz

till you come back and become a resident in oz

what is bad the people that worked and built the country

health problems devoleped in there working life there

[oxymoron]

I pay for any medical when I visit auss, even though I paid ridiculous tax..more than $80k/ year.i hate the officials there but have to comply. The easiest way for me was to say f..u..

I looked up the Aussie tax rates. In order for you to be paying tax of "more than $80K/year" you have a gross income of $200K/year. I'm sure I speak for all Forum members when I say my heart bleeds for you

https://www.ato.gov.au/Rates/Individual-income-tax-rates/

I am a TV member of many years and mine does not. In 1999 I paid a lot more than that.

You have no idea of where the guy was how many hours he worked the risks he took, yet you feel qualified to make snide remarks.

I guess you are one of those union followers working 8 hours for a 9 day fortnight getting 40 or 50K with a working wife bringing in the beer money.

Yep you did hit a nerve!!!

[SaintLouisBlues]

I pay for any medical when I visit auss, even though I paid ridiculous tax..more than $80k/ year.i hate the officials there but have to comply. The easiest way for me was to say f..u..

I looked up the Aussie tax rates. In order for you to be paying tax of "more than $80K/year" you have a gross income of $200K/year. I'm sure I speak for all Forum members when I say my heart bleeds for you

https://www.ato.gov.au/Rates/Individual-income-tax-rates/

I guess you are one of those union followers working 8 hours for a 9 day fortnight getting 40 or 50K with a working wife bringing in the beer money.

As you ask, my annual salary for a number of years was north of $250K and since I believe that taxes are the price you pay for living in a civilised society I am not forever whingeing about how much I paid in income tax

As for a wife, working or otherwise, I'm not completely brain-dead, thanks all the same. And my heart still bleeds for Aussieroaming

Edited September 11, 2015 by SaintLouisBlues

[louse1953]

More than 5 years you have to re-apply. Also you need to sign a stat dec that you are returning to live permanently. Where some long term ex pats are running into trouble is with the residency requirements for the pension.

No problem,just gotta hang in Oz for 2 years before portability,then they will never see me again.They will certainly know about me in those 2 years.I heard 4 years and there may be some waiting period.This was on my list next trip back.

[louse1953]

The residency requirement for non Australian citizens to be able to receive a full pension is 35 years except for New Zealand and Greek citizens which is 25 years. You will get a proportion of your pension if you have not lived there for 35 years, i.e. if you have lived in Australia for 28 years you will get 28/35 of the full pension. You also have to have permanent residency status which means you must not be out of Australia for more than 5 years or you will lose all including medicare.

Another one is non resident for taxable income,out more than 6 months 1 day and they tax you 32 and half percent from $0.

[louse1953]

I pay for any medical when I visit auss, even though I paid ridiculous tax..more than $80k/ year.i hate the officials there but have to comply. The easiest way for me was to say f..u..

I looked up the Aussie tax rates. In order for you to be paying tax of "more than $80K/year" you have a gross income of $200K/year. I'm sure I speak for all Forum members when I say my heart bleeds for you

https://www.ato.gov.au/Rates/Individual-income-tax-rates/

I am a TV member of many years and mine does not. In 1999 I paid a lot more than that.

You have no idea of where the guy was how many hours he worked the risks he took, yet you feel qualified to make snide remarks.

I guess you are one of those union followers working 8 hours for a 9 day fortnight getting 40 or 50K with a working wife bringing in the beer money.

Yep you did hit a nerve!!!

Don't forget the double time on Saturday and get away by 12 to go the footy,with boss's blessing of course.It's not the hours you work,it.s the quality while your there.

[louse1953]

i went through this with many letters even to head person in medecare

answer sorry you are not a resident of oz

till you come back and become a resident in oz

what is bad the people that worked and built the country

health problems devoleped in there working life there

You could still have private health cover which would cost the same as here.

[machans88]

i went through this with many letters even to head person in medecare

answer sorry you are not a resident of oz

till you come back and become a resident in oz

what is bad the people that worked and built the country

health problems devoleped in there working life there

You could still have private health cover which would cost the same as here.

you cant have private health care in Australia if a non resident,as part of private health is subsidised by medicare,this was the govts way of keeping private health cheaper.I have my private health care in oz on freeze for 2 years in case I return,but I am no longer insured

[AlexRRR]

Unless having private cover waiting times even to see a specialist is crazy let alone needing an operation there for as an expat returning for treatment is next to useless unless you want to sit around for a year or two.

[Kenny202]

i went through this with many letters even to head person in medecare

answer sorry you are not a resident of oz

till you come back and become a resident in oz

what is bad the people that worked and built the country

health problems devoleped in there working life there

You could still have private health cover which would cost the same as here.

you cant have private health care in Australia if a non resident,as part of private health is subsidised by medicare,this was the govts way of keeping private health cheaper.I have my private health care in oz on freeze for 2 years in case I return,but I am no longer insured

my private care is frozen for 4 years. I cudnt understand it. I even asked them for clarification and cited an example. ...so I get cancer oversees I can come back within 4 years, resume payments and be fully covered. Yep

[simple1]

i went through this with many letters even to head person in medecare

answer sorry you are not a resident of oz

till you come back and become a resident in oz

what is bad the people that worked and built the country

health problems devoleped in there working life there

You could still have private health cover which would cost the same as here.

you cant have private health care in Australia if a non resident,as part of private health is subsidised by medicare,this was the govts way of keeping private health cheaper.I have my private health care in oz on freeze for 2 years in case I return,but I am no longer insured

my private care is frozen for 4 years. I cudnt understand it. I even asked them for clarification and cited an example. ...so I get cancer oversees I can come back within 4 years, resume payments and be fully covered. Yep

Don't forget upon renewal there is a waiting period of one year for preexisting conditions. Plus most specialists no longer provide 'no gap' services.

[gailhardin]

Thanks for sharing.

[Kenny202]

More than 5 years you have to re-apply. Also you need to sign a stat dec that you are returning to live permanently. Where some long term ex pats are running into trouble is with the residency requirements for the pension.

I thought they told me when I left after 6 months living continuously overseas you were considered a non resident and therefore not eligible for Medicare