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by sierra2469alpha » Mon, 19 Jan 2009 5:50 pm
Chippie - the question has been asked here many times, including by myself! Have a look using the search function here for medical insurance and familiarise yourself with the differences between back in Oz and here.
Secondly, remember that if you have EXPAT insurance, that will NOT cover you if you are on a return trip to OZ.
Thridly, I am assuming you have some form of private health cover in OZ. You should ask your current provider about suspending it. This way, you don't pay the premiums while you are away, and ALSO you are not penalised if you return and try to take up health insurance again (this is a double whammy - the FedGov hits you if you simply terminate, as it figures you have ceased cover, and therefore you then get the age uplift if you rejoin a health fund back in Oz, and secondly the premiums will be higher with your health fund of choice as they will have deemed you to have ceased cover - so you will be treated as a new customer with all the usual waiting periods etc.)
And finally - are you paying for expat insurance yourself, or will your company pay it? If the company is paying for it then make sure they also include TRAVEL insurance, which is different. If you are paying for it, consider local insurance and travel insurance back to Oz, but keep your existing insurance there.
Sound complicated? Yes, it is. I have done a heap of research on it for all the new employees that one business we're involved in here in SIN. But as usual, research takes time and that's my best suggestion - it's a good use of your time for peace of mind.
HTH, Mr. P