Medicare eligibility for permanent residency applicants

The contents of this article are correct as at 26 July 2010.

Australian citizens or permanent residents are generally entitled to receive benefits from Medicare Australia (“Medicare”), which includes free access to public hospital health care in Australia.

However, even those without citizenship or permanent residence may still be entitled to these benefits.

Outlined below are those people who may also be eligible, as well as the requirements needed to prove eligibility.

Who is Eligible?

It appears that people are eligible for Medicare if they have applied for permanent residence visa (other than a parent visa) and if one of the following conditions applies:

1.       They also hold a valid temporary visa (which includes a bridging visa), and have permission to work on that temporary visa; or
2.       They also hold a valid temporary visa (which includes a bridging visa), and have a parent/spouse/de facto partner/child who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

Proving Medicare eligibility?

Medicare will expect the following from applicants:

• Their passport; and
• Copy of their valid visa or original visa grant letter; and
• A letter from DIAC stating that their application for permanent residency is under consideration; and
• If they do not have permission to work, proof of their relationship with a spouse, parent or child who is an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident.
• They may also need to provide a receipt from DIAC evidencing that they paid the permanent residency visa application fee.

In each case, before a person lodges an application for permanent residency and expects to receive Medicare entitlements, they should enquiries with Medicare and confirm their eligibility.