Welcome to the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme health insurance hub
Health insurance is a type of insurance that covers some or all costs of treatment when you get sick or injured so that you can get better. You must maintain adequate health insurance while working in Australia and ensure the policy remains valid throughout your stay.
There is now a panel of preferred health insurance providers to help PALM scheme workers and employers choose the most appropriate health insurance product.
Why do I need health insurance?
Maintaining adequate health insurance while working in Australia is a mandatory requirement of your visa. Health insurance ensures that when you get sick or injured and need treatment you will be covered. This can be very expensive without health insurance.
Benefits of the health insurance panel
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) has selected 2 health insurance providers who offered policies which were good value for money and best met the needs of PALM scheme workers to join the panel of preferred health insurance providers.
These providers are nib and Medibank.
While DEWR has a panel of preferred health insurance providers, PALM scheme workers are free to choose a health insurance provider of their choice.
How to choose a policy and health insurance provider
To help with choosing a health insurance policy which suit your needs, you may want to consider:
- what is included and excluded
- price
- excess options
- waiting periods
- your health priorities
- pre-existing conditions
- extras cover.
How to change health insurance provider
You can switch your policy if you prefer one of the new preferred health insurance providers.
You will need to contact the new health insurance provider you choose to let them know you want to change. They will ask you who your current health insurance provider is and will need you to provide some details. The new health insurance provider can then request to cancel your old policy and organise a transfer certificate for you.
When switching, a transfer certificate ensures you will not have to re-serve waiting periods.
Not having health insurance is a breach of your visa conditions so you must ensure there is no gap between leaving your old health insurance provider and starting with your new one.
You can switch health insurance providers at any time.
Understanding your member card
A member card is a card issued by your health insurance provider that provides proof of your health insurance coverage and is used to make claims for health services. Always take this with you as often you will need to show this to avoid upfront costs.
Where should I go when I’m sick?
In Australia, a doctor who is qualified in general medical practice is called a General Practitioner (GP). A GP should be your first point of contact for any non-emergency and general health problems.
If you are seriously injured or in need of urgent medical attention that could be life-threatening, you should call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance which will take you to the emergency department at the hospital, or you can get a friend to take you to the hospital.
What is a prescription?
A prescription is a legal document written by a health professional that you can take to the pharmacy to get the medicine you need.
What is a referral?
A referral is a written request from one health professional to another so that you can receive more specialised care.
What is a telehealth appointment?
A telehealth appointment is where you will have a phone call or video call with a health professional so that you do not have to go in person.
What is a waiting period?
A waiting period is the amount of time you must wait before you can claim for a certain health service so that you can be covered for it. This can be very expensive without.
What is an excess?
An excess is what you will have to pay when you are admitted to the hospital before you are able to be treated. If you pick a higher excess, the amount you pay each week will be less. However, if you do not have the money for this higher excess when you are admitted to hospital, you will not be treated.
What is a gap payment?
A gap payment is the extra money you pay when your health insurance doesn’t cover the full cost of a medical service.
- Your doctor or hospital charges a fee for a service.
- Your health insurer pays part of that fee (this is called the benefit).
- If the doctor’s fee is higher than what your insurer pays, you pay the difference.
- That difference is called the gap payment.
Why do I have to make a claim?
You need to make a claim with your health insurance because the insurer doesn’t automatically know you’ve had a medical service.
- When you visit a doctor or hospital, they charge you for the service.
- Your health insurer will pay part of the cost, but only if they know about it.
- Making a claim is how you tell your insurer what service you had and ask them to pay their share.
Where can I find more information about health insurance and how to make a claim?
This guide contains a checklist on health insurance basics and information about how to make a claim. It is translated into 10 PALM scheme country languages, so you can read the information in your language.
PrivateHealth.gov.au explains how private health insurance works in Australia. It helps you compare different health insurance policies, check what each policy covers, and find which hospitals have agreements with your insurer. The site also answers common questions, shows medical cost information and explains government rules like Lifetime Health Cover and rebates. It’s a useful place to learn about your health insurance options and how to use your cover.
Your employer can help answer questions you have about health insurance. If your employer cannot help, you can call the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme support service line on (1800 51 51 31), or email (palm@dewr.gov.au) between 8:30 am and 6:30 pm AEDT. If there is a serious problem, you can call the support service line any time of the day or night.
Information for PALM scheme employers
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) undertook a tender process to create a panel of preferred health insurance providers who have products which best meet the needs of PALM scheme workers.
The department has signed Memorandums of Understanding with two preferred health insurance providers, nib and Medibank.
While it is the obligation of the PALM scheme employer to organise or purchase health insurance on a PALM scheme worker’s behalf, workers must retain the ability to select a health insurance policy or provider of their choice.
Employers must support PALM scheme workers to understand what is covered and are encouraged to inform workers of how to change their health insurance if they prefer one of the new preferred health insurance providers.
If employers prefer one of the new preferred health insurance providers for workers and wish to switch, you will be required to notify the department and receive written consent from the workers. It can be expected that there will be a price difference between the current and new health insurance which will change the amount that is deducted from a worker’s pay.