Forum Category: Health Care

Specialist care

I'm seeing a Rheumatologist for arthritis here in NZ and I'm on govt subsidised meds (Biologic called Enbrel) and Methotrexate. Is it very expensive to see specialists and does medicare help cover any of the costs? TIA

Private Health Insurance for NZ Citizens

Hi everyone! So the time has come where I have seen myself setting up to transfer from NZ to Aus. I have managed to secure a job while still in NZ in Sydney and I will be moving there this January 2019--fresh start! Now, I am wondering, as a NZ ...

Ambulance cover

We will be travelling in Australia (mostly Queensland) for 4 - 6 months starting July. We thought just purchasing Ambulance Insurance Cover would be sensible as emergency hospital cover is automatically available. I have been unable to find this and hoped someone might be able to help

How do I still get my prescribed medicine?

As a New Zealander moved to Australia, how can I still get my prescribed medicine while I am in Australia thx

I am a pensioner moving to Perth, am I able to apply for a Medicare card on arrival in Perth?

Do I need to live in Perth for a period of time before I can apply for an use a Medicare card? Will my pension still be paid by the NZ government?

Can a New Zealand resident, not a permanent resident, be entitled to medicare in Australia?

There are two different categories of NZ residents, permanent resident and just a resident. My French partner will apply for being a NZ resident while living in Australia, which is possible, if and when it is granted, will she be eligible for Medicare? Has anyone heard of this situation before? ...

Cancer Care for Australian Permanent Resident

I want to know Cancer coverage by medicare for Australian Permanent Resident. Can you tell me as to what is covered and what is not? Appreciate your help. I live in Sydney.

Are New Zealanders able to receive permanent/temporary renal haemomdialysis treatment in Australia?

Hi, My partner has been living and working in Australia for 9 mths and I a wanting to join him. My dilemma is I am a haemodialysis home patient and need dialysis treatment while I'm there, I am considering anything at this stage so I was wondering if anyone had ...

Am I allowed to have my baby in Aussie as a New Zealand permanent resident?

Hi. I'm 13 weeks away from having a baby. But we were hoping to move before I have the baby. My husband is a New Zealand citizen and I'm on a NZ permanent residency visa. We also have five children, but we wanted to know if I'm able to have ...

We are looking to move to Australia to be with family. My partner has COPD.

My partner has chronic obstructive pluminary disease. Will we be allowed to live in Australia and will Medicare cover this?.

My son has just moved to Darwin and has been bitten by any ant.

His leg has become infected spreading to lymph nodes. Had an op last night. Is he covered for this?

Subclass 461 holder can give a birth like australian citizen?

Could I get medical support to give a birth even tho I don't have a pr visa, because my husband is a New Zealand citizen? We are planning to move to Australia to live and my husband will be subclass 444 holder. Is it possible to give a birth [with ...

Moving to Australia with thyroid disease (hashimotos). experience of care, medication synthroid, WTE?

I have Hashimotos and i am thinking of moving to Australa. If anyone has thyroid disease, how good is the treatment there, lab only or holistic? Do you need to go private to get WTE, can you get synthroid? What is the cist like in medicare? I. currently see a ...

How to move medical records from NZ to Australia

We are based in Auckland, and will be moving to Sydney in April. I know I can ask ADHB for all my medical records, and I can possibly also get that from our GP. Should we get these and carry with us to give to our new GP in Australia ...

Moving to Australia: how would we or could we be covered by Australian Heathcare for transplant?

We are wanting to move to Australia for our daughter, she is 2, to get a kidney transplant quicker, she is on dialysis 12hrs per day. Just be a long wait in NZ on the list. Just wondering whether we would be covered by Medicare I assume?? If I apply ...

Child with Cochlear Implant

We have a daughter with a Cochlear Implant and am trying to find out if we are eligible for paid ongoing care and habilitation for her when we move to Australia. I have emailed the Hear & Say Centre in Australia but have not yet had a reply so trying ...

Moving from NZ to Australia with a child with a disability

Hi there, I have a little girl with speech problems and borderline autism. I have been told that we might not be able to move there because of this. We could go on a holiday but cannot stay permanently. Is this true? Has anyone else moved from NZ to Australia ...

Is your income covered in an accident in Australia , or do you need insurance e.g, car crash, slipping in the shower etc.

I have heard that it's not, but I can't find anything online to confirm.

How easy is it to apply for Medicare?

Can anyone tell me what is involved in applying for Medicare? I'm just after an indication of what it is like in practice - the documentation requirements etc. Thanks :)

Medicare Proof Doccuments

Hello, I have moved to Australia and am looking to apply for a Medicare card. It implies on the their website that they require documents from another country and that they have to be "certified" documents. I am found that most documents are being emailed these days in NZ and ...

Can my autistic son be enrolled at a mainstream or special school on arrival?

I doubt Australian govt welcomes foriegner (esp. children) with disability in its territory because it is gonna cost them heaps to care for them. So I guess it is free for non-disabled kiwi kids to enrol at Australian school whereas it is not free for the disabled. I ALSO heard ...

How much to pay?

Hello, silly questions, in NZ, we don't pay for the healthcare system, in AUS once we have applied medicare, do we have to pay the Levy? and how does it get charged? do we notify work once we have applied for Medicare? also how is the special levy gets charged? ...

Are pre-existing conditions accepted by medicare? eg diabeties

We are looking at shifting to Australia, however our daughter is type 1 diabetic and we would like to know if diabeties is covered under Medicare, eg insulin.

Help after serious illness

My son is dealing with a life threatening illness, he has lived in Australia for 17 months and will need financial assistance once he leaves hospital until he gets back to work. Anyone know what is available.

Moving to Australia pregnant

hi, My Australian husband and I are looking to move to Australia at the end of the year, from Switzerland. We would like to start trying for a baby but are worried that it's not a good idea financially. I have a spouse visa and I'm currently working full time ...

NZ Citizen on dialysis looking to move to Australia. Is a medicare number needed for dialysis treatment at public hospital?

Can't get medicare number till he arrives but yet hospital asking for medicare number. Can't wait till gets medicare as needs dialysis treatment 3 days a week and can't risk having him sit there in limbo waiting for medicare number.

Are New Zealand citizens covered for doctors visits and pathology when travelling in Australia?

Can my temporary resident (sub class 461) husband be able to a medicare card and car loans?

I am an NZ citizen but my husband isn't. He has a temporary resident visa that allows him to work, live and study for 5 years in Australia. We want to move to Brisbane in the next 3 months. The site has a lot of very helpful information. If anyone ...

Can I move to Australia and get medicare cover and treatment with a pre existing cancer diagnosis?

Disability Australia

I am a NZ Citizen on a disability pension. When I move to Australia will I still get my disability pension?

Is there any help in Australia for New Zealand-born kids with disabilities??

Unpaid small Medical bills

I was doing PhD at The University of Sydney. During early days I faced some medical conditions and managed to pay heavy amount of medical bills through OSHC. However, few bills like pharmaceutical I couldn't pay because I didn't receive the bills due to change of apartment. I had once ...

Husband is NZ citizen w/permanent NZ residency and wife is an Indian. We are now pregnant.

Hi, We are living in Australia from the last 7 months and my wife is on subclass 461 visa ( NZ dependent visa). Since she is on subclass 461, she is not eligible for Medicare facilities also since we took medical insurance last Sept only, so medical insurance team is ...

Have any New Zealand invalid beneficiaries moved to Australia?

I am currently on the NZ Invalids Benefit. I understand under the reciprical agreement between NZ & Australia that I am able to continue getting this in Australia when I move (I have family in Australia). I would love some advice from anyone who has gone through this transition from ...

Do I still get ACC in Australia?

I receive weekly payments from ACC in New Zealand. If I move to Australia do I keep getting these payments?

I lived in Australia back in 2001. Will my tax number and Medicare number still be valid, or do I apply again?

Moving to Australia with Kiwi husband, German children.

Hi there. We currently live in Germany, but my husband may have the opportunity to work in Australia. I am Malaysian, but both my children have German passports while my husband has German and NZ passport. I am told we need to apply for Aussie PR to be able to ...

How costly is support care for my disabled partner?

At the moment I get home support carers for 4 hours for my disabled partner. He can walk, they help to get him to gym and assist him in cooking, and get him to his doctors appointments or other activities.

Subsidy For Medication

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?

Can you just apply for medical insurance in Australia instead of Medicare?

(Not travel insurance from NZ)?

Can my son (5) get permanent residency then citizenship? He has Down Syndrome.

Is there an ACC equivelant in Oz and is it available for Kiwis and to what level?

Hi, In NZ we get some specialist care and surgery free under ACC. e.g. I've had many sports injuries over the years. One resulted in a chronic back problem that I have been seeing a specialist for and had minor surgery for. Without ACC this would've cost me thousands, with ...

A friend has Parkinsons and is considering moving to OZ to be near family how would she get on?

She is able to pay for her own carer's if needed, just wondering if she would be allowed to come to OZ with this condition, thanks in advance

How to avoid private insurance loading?

I moved to Australia a few years ago and had no knowledge of private health insurance and also couldn't afford it but when i joined a big company i signed up for private health insurance provided by the company but because i did not have health insurance within a year ...

How much does orthodontic care cost - child needing braces

We are in the process of moving to Sydney. Our youngest child has had all her moulds etc done and are due back for her final consult before having her braces applied. The cost is approx $8000.00. How does this compare to prices in Australia, do you think we should ...

Eligible For Hospital Care In Queensland?

Hi there...In December 2011 My family and I booked our flights to move to Emerald Queensland on March the 9th 2012 ...Two weeks later our 10 year old son was diagnosed with Aqute Rheumatic heart fever...To this day he is still in hospital care...Doctors have told us that he is ...

I have a child who is on medication full time. How would I go about getting medication for him in Australia? Will I need letters from my New Zealand GP?

Where can we look up good schools in Brisbane? We will be moving to the Ipswich/Brassall area. Your site has been an EXCELLENT help so far!

Moving to Melbourne with special needs child?

We are moving to melbourne next year. Our 8 yo Daughter has down syndrome and attends a main stream school with the support of a funded teacher aide. Will she be entitled to something similar under this recipricol agreement between the countries?

Can I get a Health Care Card?

I'm a student going to Australia for postgraduate study and was wondering if anyone has got a Health Care Card? The eligibility requirements are: --- You need to be living in Australia and be: in Australia, and an Australian resident, or the holder of a special category visa—that is a ...

Do New Zealand permanent residents have to pay for maternity support/birthing etc in Australia?

I am a New Zealand citizen, my wife is a New Zealand permanent resident. We are moving to Australia - if my wife falls pregnant, will Medicare cover pregnancy costs?

Access to medications in Australia

Can you access medications for a specific condition when moving to Australia?

Yound child with cerebal palsy moving to Brisbane. Is he covered medically?

Hi, my son has just turned 1 and was born with cerebal palsy. We have pediatric appointments every 8 weeks and attend an early intervention centre every week. Are these services available to us in Brisbane??

As a Kiwi citizen moving to Australia, can one get cancer treatment whilst living there and an invalids benefit?

I have advanced breast cancer and have to have treatments every 3 weeks for the rest of my life. I have met a lovely person who lives in Aussie and we would like to pursue a relationship. In order to do this, I am the one that has to move. ...

We just moved from NZ and our daughter is due for her 15 month immunisation. Can we still get it here in Australia for free?

Can Kiwis receive IVF (fertility treatment) in Australia?

Hi, we are Kiwis and may be moving to Australia (Brisbane area), however I need IVF. What is the waiting list like for IVF? How much rebate will I get with Medicare? Is there a cut-off age for IVF? Can we have as much IVF as we want and still ...

Do my children (New Zealanders) qualify for free health care?

What is the best way for me to get to Australia asap? I have NZ residency, my husband is Australian living in NZ for all his life. Can we apply for family assistance straight away?

I'm receiving the disability pension. Can I move to Australia on a holiday visa and keep my pension?

Me and my boyfriend want to move to Australia for a year but I'm receiving the disability pension. He wants to go and work but won't go without me. I was wondering if I could go on a holiday visa and keep my disability pension??

How do i apply for the medicare scheme?

I lived in Australia in 1998 for one year and then moved back to Adelaide in 2008. Are my tax file number and Medicare card still valid?

Getting medication prescribed and finding specialists

I am wanting to know how we can ensure we have no problems getting prescriptions for the medicine that both my daughter and partner must take every day. How can we find specialists to monitor their conditions? In New Zealand they see a Pediatrician and Liver specialist.

Will elderly care continue for an aged parent if they come to Australia?

I have a parent who is being taken care of full time in a dementia care unit. If I wish to have him come across to Australia with me, how will that work?

Taking doctor-prescribed pills into Australia

My wife and I will be moving to Melbourne in a few months to become residents. Because of a medical condition, I am required to take two different types of doctor-prescribed pills per day for the rest of my life. I will of course be bringing these pills into the ...

Child disability allowance in Australia

We have 2 kids, one with a disability. Do you know if you get more disability entitlements in Australia than in New Zealand?

Permanent residency for a family with a disabled child

Hi, We are NZ citizens planning to move to Melbourne. I have a 5-year-old boy who has Down's Syndrome. Will we be eligible to apply for permanent residency in Australia? What kind of facilities are available there for children with Down's Syndrome?

Do pre-existing health problems get covered by Medicare?

My husband is on medication for MS, one of which is expensive. Would we be able to get these drugs in Australia?

I am an Australian Citizen wishing to bring my incapacitated father (a New Zealand citizen) to Australia. What benefits will he be able to get and will Medicare help out?

My father has had a stroke and has aphasia and is unable to communicate, as well as being paralysed. My mother is the full time carer. He is 60 and has been in NZ over 20 years. Will Medicare help out with subsidised medications, and will I be able to ...