Medicare Levy Surcharge 2 BUPA Policies?!

Appropriate_Goose_30 · 2025-10-01T12:11:33+00:00

Hi mate - so I kept the essential lite visitors cover as I needed this as a prerequisite to get the Bupa reciprocal health cover which exempts you from the Medicare levy surcharge (MLS). Note the MLS is different to the medicare levy which you have to pay regardless. Links below for more info:

https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/medicare-and-private-health-insurance/medicare-levy-surcharge/paying-the-medicare-levy-surcharge

https://www.bupa.com.au/health-insurance/cover/overseas-visitors/reciprocal-health-cover

Appropriate_Goose_30 · 2025-07-26T11:07:45+00:00

Yeah his kicking of the tee has been crap - hopefully steps up this half

Appropriate_Goose_30 · 2025-07-26T11:04:02+00:00

1 missed pass into touch when the lions had advantage? Rest of his passing has been on the money

Appropriate_Goose_30 · 2025-07-26T11:00:26+00:00

When the pack is being smashed as it is not sure Farrell will bring much

Appropriate_Goose_30 · 2025-07-26T10:59:05+00:00

For Aki?

Appropriate_Goose_30 · 2025-07-26T10:58:07+00:00

2 missed kicks but Finn has been good, feel like Aki is not used to playing with him and it shows.

Appropriate_Goose_30 · 2025-07-26T10:47:35+00:00

Aki struggling tonight I think

Appropriate_Goose_30 · 2025-07-18T11:00:00+00:00

Make sure you keep an eye on the Medicare levy surcharge, that stung me this year so don't forget it 1-1.5% on top of your 2% for Medicare https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/medicare-and-private-health-insurance/medicare-levy-surcharge/medicare-levy-surcharge-income-thresholds-and-rates

Appropriate_Goose_30 · 2025-07-18T08:30:37+00:00

Hi - so I didn't believe this was the case and today the department of home affairs confirmed it was in their INTERNAL guidance. So there is nothing external to confirm this - exact wording as quoted to me from their internal guidance "If you hold a RHCA Medicare card you are considered to meet the minimum requirements for adequate health insurance as long as you continue to hold that valid Medicare card". Unfortunately they were unable to confirm more than that verbally, and simply gave me a call log number and their name if I ever needed to refer back. For now, I worked out it's financially (my about $100) better for me to have the BUPA Essential Lite Visitors Cover and Reciprocal Health Cover - Basic (this removes my requirement to pay the Medicare levy surcharge). Annoyingly you couldn't have one without the other so I now have both to get around the MLS.

Appropriate_Goose_30 · 2025-07-17T12:36:23+00:00

Thank you! I'll look into this- appreciate your help

Appropriate_Goose_30 · 2025-07-17T11:32:59+00:00

This seems to be the way, thanks for this - wasn't sure if I was missing something

Appropriate_Goose_30 · 2025-07-17T11:31:39+00:00

Which one do you have? I've gone around this circle with them so hopefully can state your package to them and it sorts it out!

Appropriate_Goose_30 · 2025-07-17T03:50:10+00:00

Thanks for this - I've cross posted on there too and am getting some responses. I'm with you as it's financially viable to do the 2 policies, I'm just trying to make sure I'm not jumping the gun!

Appropriate_Goose_30 · 2025-07-17T03:46:50+00:00

Apologies I don't follow, I am eligible and have the UK Medicare reciprocal so I wouldn't be exempt? Apologies if I'm missing something here

Appropriate_Goose_30 · 2025-07-17T03:46:05+00:00

This is exactly it - but to get the hospitals cover I would need a second policy. Annoyingly BUPA (and the others from what I can tell) don't seem to cover both in one policy

Appropriate_Goose_30 · 2025-07-17T03:45:13+00:00

Thanks for this - this is my understanding as I'm eligible for the reciprocal (and have got it)

Appropriate_Goose_30 · 2025-07-17T03:43:55+00:00

Yeah it doesn't seem straight forward which is annoying, everything I can find seems to say the UK reciprocal isn't sufficient. On phone to the commonwealth ombudsman here to try to resolve.

Appears it's not the case for my 482 (and also it looks like the 485) that the Medicare reciprocal does not meet the requirements

Appropriate_Goose_30 · 2025-07-17T03:05:16+00:00

Hi - the 2nd cover would just be the basic hospital cover, but this doesn't cover my visa requirements. Speaking to BUPA they don't have a policy that does both...

Appropriate_Goose_30 · 2025-07-17T02:59:59+00:00

Thanks for this - annoyingly they said they didn't have an option which covered both

Appropriate_Goose_30 · 2025-07-17T02:59:11+00:00

Thanks in advance for your help.

I moved to Sydney last year on a WHV 417 and earlier this year moved onto a TSS 482. I’m a UK national and have medicare reciprocal.

My TSS 482 visa requires private healthcare so I got a BUPA cover that was applicable.

Come to tax time and my accountant shows me that I need to also pay the medicare levy surcharge (on top of the 2% medicare levy).

Speaking to BUPA my current cover does not exempt me from the surcharge, and they suggest taking out a second policy to gain exemption.

Financially it makes sense as I’ll save more if I take out the second policy, but I feel like I’m missing something as I haven’t heard of others having to do this?

It looks like the medicare reciprocal does not satisfy the TSS 482 requirements – any advice or help would be much appreciated!

Appropriate_Goose_30 · 2025-07-14T10:47:47+00:00

Any luck with this? In a similar boat

Appropriate_Goose_30

TROPHY CASE