Your company only needs to *ensure* you have medical insurance. They are not required to provide it. In fact, now the rules have changed, it is taxed as a fringe benefits tax, so, for example, my current employer does not provide it though did require proof that I had acquired it. As far as I know though, you could simply stop paying it since no one ever follows it up (though this would be extremely foolish as accidents do happen.
My previous work covered it but only after tough relocation negotiations. I have found though that my medical insurance covers virtually nothing unless I'm in some sort of horrible accident requiring hospitalization and unless you're paying very high monthly tiers.). I had Medibank's highest tier when my employer paid, I've since switched to IMAN which has much lower costs... but conversely covers just the basics of misadventure. I have a lot of things I want to say about working in Aus (and in comparison having worked in Canada, several European countries, the US and several points East), but don't have the time at the moment. Will try to get tho this before I head down to the snows this weekend. ciao ! Daryl. On Fri, Aug 24, 2012 at 11:25 AM, Jonathan Clarke <jonat...@beilabs.com>wrote: > > * Working in Oz was simple for me - I'm on a 457 sponsored visa with >> reInteractive.net. It has limitations though - I can only work for my >> sponsor - if things don't work out I have 28 days to leave the country. >> After 2 years I can apply for residency. Because the US doesn't have >> nationwide health coverage I also get no health coverage here and am >> required to have 3rd party health insurance ($$$). If you're on a visa >> from a civilized nation though (UK, Canada, EU, etc.) I think you get >> health coverage here with your visa. >> > > I thought it was a requirement on the 457 that your company provide you > with visitors coverage through a third party ( Medibank ). It was the case > with me anyway, 2*457 + current permanent Resident. You can get Medicare > when you apply for your permanent residency. > > I've worked all over the world and I have never seen the like of the > Australian ruby community, I was made feel very welcome when I came off the > boat from Ireland not really knowing anyone over here. I did take your > jobs but at least I brought my own woman. :D > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Ruby or Rails Oceania" group. > To post to this group, send email to rails-oceania@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > rails-oceania+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/rails-oceania?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ruby or Rails Oceania" group. To post to this group, send email to rails-oceania@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rails-oceania+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rails-oceania?hl=en.
