Medicare Portability and Residency

[Banjo]

Just arrived.

Thank you for contacting the Australian Government Department of Human Services (DHS) regarding your enrolment.

Accessing personal information from an email is restricted to protect your privacy and the integrity of Medicare records.

If you are an Australian Citizen who has been residing overseas for more than 5 years, or you are an Australian permanent resident or New Zealand citizen who has been residing overseas for more than 12 months, you will need to attend a DHS Service Centre when you return to Australia. All persons aged 15 or over must also attend the DHS Service Centre. You will be asked to complete a Medicare Enrolment Application form and a Commonwealth Statutory Declaration and provide proof of identity and Australian residency documentation. The Medicare enrolment form and Commonwealth Statutory Declaration can be found on our website, humanservices.gov.au.

Appropriate identification could include:



· Current passport

· Birth certificate

· Current Australian driver’s license



Proof of residency documents may include, but not limited to:



· rate notices

· rental contract

· employment contract

· bank statements



Please produce as many documents as possible to support your application.



You can find the address of your nearest DHS Service Centre on our website under ‘Find us’ on the Home page



Applications are only accepted by mail in extenuating circumstances, for example, a person is living in a remote area. Post your signed form, including the reason you are unable to attend in person, and certified identification documents to:



Department of Human Services

GPO Box 9822

In your capital city



Copies of the identification documents can be certified as a true copy by:



Justice of the Peace
Commissioner for Declarations
Commissioner of Affidavits
person authorised under State Law
Solicitor
Registered medical practitioner
Bank or postal manager
Pharmacist



This email contains general information only, further information can be found by visiting our website at humanservices.gov.au Alternatively, to discuss your individual situation, please call us on 132 011 or visit your local DHS Service Centre. The Medicare Public line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week excluding some public holidays for your convenience.



Alternatively, to contact DHS from outside of Australia, please call [phone] between 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday (Australian Eastern Standard Time). International call charges may apply.



Yours sincerely,





Enquiry Resolution – Pxxxxxxx

Health Support & Business Services Division

Australian Government Department of Human Services

humanservices.gov.au

[Denis-NFA]

thanks for that info Banjo

[Banjo]

It's vague of course, you would have thought they would have learned their lesson with the DSP residency shambles.

[itsmylife08]

Aug 15, 2017 17:10:37 GMT 7 Banjo said:

It's vague of course, you would have thought they would have learned their lesson with the DSP residency shambles.

Hi Banjo, yes  I have read the post, it does seem a bit vague, I was curious about the need to attend the DHS and fill out Medicare forms + a Statutory Declaration, Why? on earth is there a need other than to trap you into saying that you had severed all ties with whichever country you were in? I am aware of the 5-year limit with Medicare I've been through that hoop before.

1) Is Centrelink using Medicare's Definition for Residency purposes?


 

[Denis-NFA]

Aug 15, 2017 17:25:17 GMT 7 itsmylife08 said:

Aug 15, 2017 17:10:37 GMT 7 Banjo said:

It's vague of course, you would have thought they would have learned their lesson with the DSP residency shambles.

Hi Banjo, yes I have read the post, it does seem a bit vague, I was curious about the need to attend the DHS and fill out Medicare forms + a Statutory Declaration, Why? on earth is there a need other than to trap you into saying that you had severed all ties with whichever country you were in? I am aware of the 5-year limit with Medicare I've been through that hoop before.

1) Is Centrelink using Medicare's Definition for Residency purposes?

Hey itsmylife08 and Banjo

I have no idea what it might do but I have previously linked 'medicare' on myGov website.

Same with the medical records link.

My figuring was that if I ever had to return to Australia they couldn't deny I had been a member but fair enough I would have to prove that I am a permanent resident.

[Deleted]

That is contrary to what happened to me when i returned after 12 months living overseas for a visit
I was told that as long as i returned before the 12 months i was OK !!!
They seem to be using the 5 year limit to be used for the 12 months as well
This is very vague

[Banjo]

I asked a Medicare office a few years back and she did not know, she had to look it up.
That's when I first heard of the 5 years.

[itsmylife08]

Aug 16, 2017 10:32:18 GMT 7 @bedwin said:

That is contrary to what happened to me when i returned after 12 months living overseas for a visit
I was told that as long as i returned before the 12 months i was OK !!!
They seem to be using the 5 year limit to be used for the 12 months as well
This is very vague

How long of a visit  is acceptable to Centrelink, I'm returning for about two weeks next March, ( Don't want to draw the crabs)

[nomadic]

my understanding is if you have UP then two weeks is fine as i have done it many times of up to 6 weeks. although vague memory is if you stay longer than 9 months you may lose it. but don't quote me on that and banjo and others probably know better than me. But i have never had a problem and i go back every year since 2013 and never contact them either unless i need something.

[nomadic]

also? not heard from bear for a while? ??

[ryan]

Hi everyone,
I still have this article from the SMH, dated March 2015 for citizens leaving Australia, advising on travel insurance, rentals, health, etc etc
One part mentioned about Medicare, quote,

" Medicare is principally a health system for Australians who live in Australia. Non residents are theoretically not entitled to Medicare on visits home to Australia but there is some flexibility for temporary absences, usually of up to two years. Once you have lived outside Austalia for more than five years, there is no flexibility - you are not entitled to Medicare on visits home. "

This is also very vague, as in Banjo's post. Do they mean after the 5 years, when you reapply, even after proofing yourself an Aussie citizen, there is some form of quarantine time, like 2 years residency requirements for OAP in- country before they hand you a renew Medi Card? and maybe then you are allowed to go OS again?

I can imagine, the questions, DHS will ask. Why were you away so long? What were you doing? Where did you go? Are you coming home to assess healthcare?

Very worrying, indeed.

[ghostbuster]

Can anyone help me with the form to change your pension being paid to australian bank account to philippine bank account please. I have done this but a friend needs help and i forgot the routine.

[Banjo]

I just re-sent the email I sent you originally ghostie, it's more than 3 years old now, your mate should really give CI a ring and check if it's still OK, maybe you can do it online now.

Philippines 1800 1611 0046

[ghostbuster]

Ok thanks Banjo, Cheers.

[Banjo]

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.

www.mia.org.au/newsletters/id/1919/idString/mxkbul2176