debshodson Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 hi we need to decide on a medical aid for our 457 visa. We are with discovery at the moment.Who would you all recommend?BUPAMedibankHCFNIB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeferg1 Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 We went with Iman (NIB) - because at the time it was the cheapest option - we only had hospital cover. (we were also with Discovery in SA) I don't really have an opinion as we never had to claim. Their costs could have changed now though, mind you, I think they all pull the ring out of the 457ers because they know you have no choice! Good luck with your decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HFamily Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 My hubby has just signed with BUPA. He did all the research and felt that it would be the best suited to our needs! I wouldn't say it's the cheapest option, but it also has a few extra benefits similar to Discovery Vitality which we liked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debshodson Posted November 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 thanks so much. will look into both x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeferg1 Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 Pleasure debshodson! It depends on your family's needs, but we are a generally healthy bunch (touch wood), so figured we'd be better off putting what we were saving with the difference in premiums into our own savings and earning the interest. With about 4 GP visits a year, it just didn't seem worth going for anything more. Also, we arrived with next to nothing so decided to start cheapest and if the need for more came about, we'd change it accordingly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debshodson Posted November 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 cool .. any idea when you need to sign up from for the visa .. not sure if we need to do it now while they processing the visa or if we only need to have it from the day we land? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HFamily Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 You have to produce some form of medical cover proof when you lodge. I know our CO asked for proof of medical cover. For our purposes, as my hubby was leaving before us and we still had our Discovery MA, we just got the usual medical insurance letter from them which was sufficient. It was valid for 3 months! Not sure of your circumstances, but it worked for us - it has since expired, hence my hubby signing with BUPA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debshodson Posted November 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 ok that's a great idea! thanks - will phone discovery now - even if its just for the visa application Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinK2409 Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 Hi Debshodson!We are also with Discovery here. We also went with IMAN, as they were the most affordable option - for $170 per month we get private hospital cover and unlimited GP and specialist visits. We just applied online with an expected cover start date (ie date you intend to arrive in Aus). They charge the first month to your CC and then issue you with a 457 compliance cerificate, which I imagine your CO will need (I just handed it to my new employer in Aus as they did the visa for you). Actually quite easy. We have since booked our flights and will only arrive about two weeks later than initially thought. I just mailed them about it and they issed a letter with the new commencement date of cover within a few hours, very efficient. After we arrive and have activated our bank accounts we will just let them know so that they can change the debit order to our Aus bank account.On another note re the actual medical checks required to progress with the actual visa application: My work applied for the 457 and they just needed us to fill out a health questionnaire, which they submitted to DIBP, which then spat out the medical letters stipulating what we needed to go for. I only had to do an X ray, whilst my wife had to have an X ray and a medical exam (which took all of ten minutes). The results are uploaded through eMedical, so no forms or anything Feels a bit strange that we didn't get any feedback from the doctors here, but a few days later we got the visa, was so quick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimeToGo Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 My hubby has just signed with BUPA. He did all the research and felt that it would be the best suited to our needs! I wouldn't say it's the cheapest option, but it also has a few extra benefits similar to Discovery Vitality which we liked.Hi HFamily,Could you tell me which plan with BUPA this is? And what the cost is?Many thanks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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