How easy is it to apply for Medicare?

We're about to apply over the next week, so I'll post a comment here once we've done it.

OK, we finally got around to doing this today. It turned out to be very simple - all you need to do is fill out the Medicare enrolment form (available at any Medicare office, or online from this page: http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/yourhealth/our_services/medicar...). Take the form along with your passport(s) (one for each person who will appear on the card), and two supporting documents to a) prove your Australian address and b) to show that you intend to reside in Australia to your local Medicare office (you can find your local office online here: http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/yourhealth/where_to_find_us/mol...). We took along our tenancy agreement and a contents insurance letter, and this made it easy to meet the requirement. Hope that helps!

We wanted to do this as soon as we arrived (as it is a handy form of identification) and were living with family so hadn't signed a lease or got insurance yet. What we needed in this case was a letter acknowledging our resignation from work and evdience of closed bank account in New Zealand. We managed to get all our ID - medicare card, drivers licence, bank cards, Tax file number, etc all sorted in the first week of arriving.

Some people make it hard for you to get your Medicare card - if you have trouble, you might want to try another Medicare Office. Someone I know was refused even when their application was sent for processing at head office, but tried a different medicare office the next time and got approved on the spot. In general, the more documentation you provide, the easier it is.

While we are talking about applying for Medicare etc, can anyone tell me what this "blue card" business is all about please?

There are 2 types of "blue cards" in australia, 1 is a "general safety induction card" which every person intending to work on any construction site must have, it is quite simple to obtain and only involves sitting a halfday course and correctly answering questions at the end, but because there is a fee (usually $80-$100) they do not let u fail. The second "blue card" is a "child safety card", any one wishing to deal with children either working(daycare, teacher etc..) or volunteer(little athletics, coaching...) must first obtain 1 of these cards, it is basically a police backround check on you to make sure you're not dodgey or have any previous bad history working with children, there is also a fee with this card usually around $30 and just requires you to fill out a form stating your name and 3 previous addressess

For Perth: Make sure that when you apply for a medicare card that everyone you register for is present for ID verification. I went in on my own to apply for hubby and myself and was told he had to be present. Documentation we took: drivers license/cashflow cards/wage slips & passports. You also need to have a stat declaration formed filled out and signed. We went to our bank to witness the declaration for us. Also make sure that the address you fill in on the medicare form is the same address as your drivers license/wage slips etc.

I would like to move to Melbourne wit my family. My daughter and I are NZ citizen's, my wife is a residence of NZ. Will my wife be able to immigrate with us, or does she need to apply for a visa... which one? Does anybody have a similar seniora.

we got medicare in Sydney the first day we arrived if I recall??? Or very close to it. Brillant!!!! Proof of Address. Proof that you plan to become a permanent resident etc etc., bank a/c details Go through customs where you get " stamped", not the easy photo id through.

We just arrived from New Zealand to Sunshine Coast, to apply for Medi care we took our sales agreement for proof but they must be the original copys, we used our cancellation of contents insurance,and our shipping details (must be original copy of itinary), with your lease agreement from here it must have a electricity/gas account with it, they couldnt use our Bank account that we had opened online a month before we came, as it has to opened after you arrive. i found them very unhelpful.

how easy is it to get a rsa?

Look up what you need on the medicare website and print that off and take it with you so that when they so "sorry you don't have the adequate documentation" you can say "actually your website says I need two things and I've got three", unless you've got evidence they'll muck you around.

My daughter just moved to aussie to work at Ayers rock, she doesn't actually have any of the termination of things stuff, has never owned a house, was living at home until she left, didn't have anything to ship over and wants to keep her NZ bank account open so she can pay back her NZ student loan. She does have the aussie bank account, residential address and proof of employment though. Is it going to be a waste of her time trying to apply for the medicare card based on her not having any documentation to actually prove she left NZ? (other than the fact she is standing there in person.. would be kind of obvious she isn't in NZ huh)

Hi guys, 1st off we moved to Melbourne in September 2011 from CHCH, (yes we lost our house in the EQ's)
With regards to Medicare ours was quite easy, let me tell you tho' Ozzies are not forth coming with information. So ask lots of questions!!!!!

1. When you arrive to a Medicare office there is a touch screen, choose the correct option (forgot which one ..) this will print out a # for you. listen for your number over the speakers.
You need all your documents, passport, rental agreement, water bill, power bill etc, or shipping form if you shipped your furniture, if you shipped animals with you that’s fine too. (Power bill or gas is billed every 2 or 3 months) More documents you have the better, you will need to fill out a statdec (Statutory of declaration) to say you are living permanently in OZ.

2. You will need to get the statdec signed off by either a doctor or pharmacist this will cost you $2 per document, they don’t tell you this at the Medicare office btw.

3. Once you get the statdec signed off take the forms back get another ticket # wait in line and they will give you a temporary Medicare # (Piece of paper which’s looks like a receipt)

Easy as, any issues post here and I’ll see if I can give you more information.

@ Pickles, If she can provide a bill of somesort like a mobile phone bill, she should be in good shape.

I didnt realize you needed a medicare card until I became unwell and needed hospital treatment.Emergency care is not a problem for Nz'ers as it as covered by a reciprical deal with NZ govt. However if ongoing treatment is needed (as in my case) it is much easier to get a medicare card,especially if you intend staying in Oz.
I fronted up to a medicare office in Sydney,(yes pressed the button and got a number,and waited 30 minutes for my number to be called). I gave them a letter from my employer, my passport,an origional copy of my latest bank statement (with my address on it) and they gave me a temporary number,followed 2 weeks later by my card. I found them very polite and helpful

My son receives medication for his ADHD and I am on anti-depression medication. At the moment we receive these with a subsidy. Would we still qualify for this in Australia as NZ Citizens

Hi there, this is very helpful! I am moving over to Melbourne to study and this healthcare stuff is confusing - where abouts do you obtain a statutory of declaration? I am only in Australia for 3 years studying and don't plan on becoming a resident at this stage so will I still be able to qualify for medicare?
This website is very helpful thank you!!! :)

also - when I look at insurance options, I don't have a student visa because of the SCV, so do I count as an 'overseas visitor' or do I apply as if I am a local (there is specific student cover but I don't have a student visa so am not listed as 'eligible').
Thanks again :)

Really easy- just remember to say you have moved to Australia permanently when asked. After all -you can have changed your minhd later can't you, if you are... a little bit unsure right now?

When you leave home make sure you have as many forms of ID a s you can.

You need tohave plenty of Id to say you have moved permanently, eg lease agreement, bank details, shipping of house hold goods. The most painful part is you need a JP to witness your documents - they are generally available at malls at specified times - no ones tells yo this part so read the documentation first, get the JP witness signature, then medicare is simple.
HOWEVER getting private health insurance is a lot harder!!