I am a midwife and have been sponsored by a hospital in Brisbane.

They have made it a condition of employment that I gain health insurance for my family and I. If I do not provide evidence of this they will take it out of my salary in 4 equal instalments.

As UK citizens I am aware that we have a reciprocal agreement with Australia, but this does not seem to matter to them. They say I need $250,000 of cover per person. I've also been reading about Federal Government Rebate of 30% and I don't think I can have this. Not sure.

Anyone any ideas, I have been scouring the net and its all very confusing which policy does what etc etc.

Anyone any tips?

Hi Debra

My son is on a 457 and wanted to renew his medicare card but needed to get evidence of his visa which his employer had lost. He phoned his head office only to be told he should have private health care as its a condition of service. It was new to him and after we thought he may have developed cancer. He's not got cancer but you can appreciate that if there is no reciprocal agreement he would have to come home to have treatment (unofficially, officially)as he had no private health care.

He got his medicare and sees the doc no probs but may need an operation will they fund this? On the medicare site it says if an employer is responsible then its not covered. So Alan help us out here has UK citizens on 457 got Medicare for necessary treatment or what?

PS Debs I was told you can get 30% reductionon private health care on a 457 visa and it seems competitive if you shop around