Prescription medicine

[ArnoW]

Hi everyone.

We have a 175 Permanent Residence Skills visa and we are planning on moving to Melbourne next year in July.

I just have a question regarding prescription medication please:

I have a chronic condition for which I have to take prescription medication every day. At this stage it is covered by my Medical Aid, but I am a bit concerned what will happen in Australia. We will be coming over and then look for jobs (if we cannot find anything from South Africa), and as such will not be able to join a medical aid fund in the beginning and will have to make use of Medicare.

What then about my prescription medication? Can I bring in a few month's supply from South Africa if I can present a letter from my phsyciatrist stating the reason for the medication, or what route must I take?

Any comments and advice around this issue will be highly appreciated!

[Lynnie]

Yes, bring a letter from your doctor and a few months of supplies (think you are allowed 6 months). Just have the prescriptions ready and declare them at customs - they usually do not even check the prescriptions - as long as you declare it, you should be fine. Once you are here, you can go to Medicare and get more information from them.

Good luck

[Sunnyskies]

Once you land make an appointment with a GP. Tell him about the condition and get a referral to a psychiatrist who can then liaise with your SA doctor or make a fresh diagnosis. You need the referral to ensure that Medicare will pay for the specialist advice. Try and google who the expert in the field is and then see a GP in the area where that expert is located. Generally I've found that GPs are not too prescriptive around which specialist to see.

If you are concerned about costs you can see a GP from a bulk billing clinic and then there will be no co pay for the appointment. Be aware that specialist fees are not covered in full by Medicare, and may also not be covered fully even with private health cover.

Once you have your Aussie prescription it gets loaded into the PBS system and you can get repeats without a new appointment necessary for so many repeats as the doctor allows (just like SA). The bit that is different from SA is the PBS system. Basically the government has a list of medicines that it is prepared to pay for and if your medication is on that list you pay a nominal fee at the pharmacy irrespective of the cost of the medication. If your medicine is not on the PBS you will be charged a much higher fee to get the medicine. From what I can work out private health cover doesn't have a pharmaceuticals portion because you are entitled to the PBS (irrespective of whether you have PR, are a 457 or are a citizen - you just need to be a resident). So try and find out whether your medication is on the PBS. The other thing to bear in mind is that mental health is a big thing here, so I'm sure you won't have any problem in getting sorted out.

[ArnoW]

Thanks Lynnie and Sunnyskies! That helps a lot if I can take 6 months in... reduces the stress of having to immediately sort that out!!

[Guest May]

My husband has high blood pressure and 6 months supply with a scrip/ then off to GP for another scrip that gets filled monthly. No worries.

[ArnoW]

Ah awesome. Thanks May. I will then get my Dr to write a letter and get 6 months supply before I leave.. One less thing to worry about!

[Mara]

Just remember, try and see the GP to get a referral soon after you arrive. It may well take some time for you to get in to see the specialist, if that is required.

[ArnoW]

Thanks Mara. Will do that!

[SmellyN]

Just check up on how many mths -we were told/read somewhere only 3 (although I think it was more because med aid only covered for 90days travelling & 90days meds that you could draw ahead) ...in all fairness we had an official in the foyer at the luggage carousel that just asked us before we hit the declare/no declare lines & he asked us quickly what we had & we told him including informing him of our prams that had come through a rural area - regardless to say he waved us through to the direct exit after stamping our cards as cleared, without even batting an eyelid...no opening of suitcases etc to declare meds, baby milk etc. ....must've been the combination of exhausted looks on our faces & the 3 kiddies!!!

[AndreaL]

Bring a few months supply, depending what medication it is, your new GP here may be fine with continuing to give you scripts for the medication, also remember that you can utilise your Community Mental Health facility, which is free ( but due to case loads, would only likely take on clients with Axis 1 complaints)

You can ask your GP about a mental health care plan..............and I can't find the exact information, but every Australian is entitled to up to 8 free appointments with mental health, I'm not sure if this is via ATAPS, you can read more here http://www.arafmi.org/article/access-mental-health-services-through-you-gp

But if you are just looking for regular anti-anxiety or depression meds you GP will likely be able to help.

PM me if you need more info. I volunteer at an agency that provides mental health referrals etc and can most likely find you any info you need to avoid going the expensive private route.