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Medicare Relating to the Subclass 143 Visa Application

Medicare Entitlements

Applicants for the subclass 143 visa, even if they were a subclass 173 visa holder when they made their application, are not entitled to most social security payments from Centrelink. Details are available from Centrelink at www.centrelink.gov.au.

Even if a person as specified in Schedule 1 item 1130(5)(b) and (c) and who is in Australia does regain the status of a 'holder of a subclass 173 visa' as they did not apply for the subclass 143 visa while their subclass 173 visa was in effect - not only is the Bridging visa status affected - but other entitlements for which they had been eligible while they were the holder of a subclass 173 are also affected.

For instance, such a person will not be granted work rights unless they apply to the Department of Immigration on grounds of hardship.

In addition, their eligibility for Medicare will have ceased once their subclass 173 visa ceased because that person did not apply for the subclass 143 visa while their subclass 173 visa was in effect.

In accordance with the Health Insurance Act 1973, any applicant for a parent visa is not eligible for Medicare unless:

• they are a citizen of a country that has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia and consequently has limited access to Medicare or
• they actually held the subclass 173 visa when they made their subclass 143 visa application, which even after their subclass 173 ceases will enable their Medicare access to continue while their subclass 143 visa application is processed.

However, if a person applies for a subclass 143 visa:

• within 28 days of their subclass 173 visa ceasing, they are able to regain eligibility for Medicare when they made their subclass 143 permanent visa application or
• more than 28 days after their subclass 173 visa has ceased and supplies information seeking to regain their subclass 173 temporary visa status on compassionate and compelling grounds, it is not until a delegate has decided that compassionate and compelling circumstances do exist and has informed the applicant that they can regain eligibility to Medicare.
  

For more details about Medicare eligibility, see www.medicareaustralia.gov.au.

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