Travel Insurance - Visiting Home

[SandBuiltDreams]

I'm going home for 3 weeks during Christmas. I'm looking into Travel Insurance to cover me for my trip home (USA). I'm here on a 457, and I've only come across 2 companies that will cover non-citizens/permanent residents. The prices are very different.

Has anyone been in the same situation? What did you do?

[amaslam]

Do you have AU credit card. I know if you have a card like Earth+ Gold they have travel insurance if you charge your trip to it.

Otherwise you might want to get medical insurance while in the US (as if you were unemployed).

Originally Posted by SandBuiltDreams

I'm going home for 3 weeks during Christmas. I'm looking into Travel Insurance to cover me for my trip home (USA). I'm here on a 457, and I've only come across 2 companies that will cover non-citizens/permanent residents. The prices are very different.

Has anyone been in the same situation? What did you do?

[SandBuiltDreams]

Originally Posted by amaslam

Do you have AU credit card. I know if you have a card like Earth+ Gold they have travel insurance if you charge your trip to it.

Otherwise you might want to get medical insurance while in the US (as if you were unemployed).

If you read the fine print, those Gold cards still only cover you if you are a PR or Citizen.

I think I'll just go with the policy underwritten by Lloyd's and hope I don't need it!

[ardie514]

This reminded me of a question I've been meaning to ask of others who emigrated from the U.S. We will be moving to Perth in April on a 457 visa. I know that before our visa gets approved we must show proof of insurance in Australia. I've used some of the links on this forum to get some quotes, however I have come across some companies that offer insurance to ex-pats that have the option of covering you in your home country (mine being the U.S.) as well as in the country you will be living in (Australia). Does that make sense? My thought is that I would want the U.S coverage for when we do travel back to visit. It seems ALOT more expensive then the quotes I got through iselect or medibank just for coverage in Australia. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks.

[SandBuiltDreams]

Originally Posted by ardie514

This reminded me of a question I've been meaning to ask of others who emigrated from the U.S. We will be moving to Perth in April on a 457 visa. I know that before our visa gets approved we must show proof of insurance in Australia. I've used some of the links on this forum to get some quotes, however I have come across some companies that offer insurance to ex-pats that have the option of covering you in your home country (mine being the U.S.) as well as in the country you will be living in (Australia). Does that make sense? My thought is that I would want the U.S coverage for when we do travel back to visit. It seems ALOT more expensive then the quotes I got through iselect or medibank just for coverage in Australia. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks.

Is your employer not supplying your insurance in Australia? I know they changed the law in September (before it was a requirement), but it is something you should definitely demand.

[ardie514]

Originally Posted by SandBuiltDreams

Is your employer not supplying your insurance in Australia? I know they changed the law in September (before it was a requirement), but it is something you should definitely demand.

Nope, it's my husband's employer, a university, and they are not offering us health insurance. He asked as part of negotiations, but didn't get it. Did get a higher salary, but no insurance.

[crwolf79]

To the OP:

I just bought a policy with BUPA/HPA Link here if interested to satisfy the requirements of my 457 visa. FYI for those intereseted, I did a bit of shopping from the US and there were several options I found. This one fit our needs and seemed reasonably price...

Regarding your question, I asked this company about temporary travel insurance while I travel home and they said that they provide it directly. They said could just call before leaving and they would sell it as needed. Since you are on a 457, I'm assuming you have Overseas Visitor Cover with someone, so call your insurance company for a quote. I was told it would be about $150 for 2 weeks for standard cover in the US. I didn't look into it extensively yet, as we're no in OZ yet, but we leave in just over 3 weeks.

Hope this helps.

[ardie514]

Thank you! We don't yet have our overseas health cover. Just starting the process and waiting for employer to complete their nomination, but I did read on the visa application that we must have the insurance in place to get the visa so that is what I'm exploring. Sounds like the best thing to do is get the private insurance from an Australian company and just pay for temp travelers insurance when we come back to the U.S., or travel anywhere outside Australia. Thank you.

[crwolf79]

FYI... You need to get health insurance in Australia when you're filing, or your application will be delayed a bit. I'd just start shopping now, tell them you are a 457 applicant. Tell them your expected date of arrival. Your policy doesn't start until you arrive, but if you apply and pay for your first month, you will get a certified letter that serves as proof of OZ insurance. You will submit this as supporting documentation with you 457 application. If you don't, they will request it anyway.

Good luck.

[ardie514]

Originally Posted by crwolf79

FYI... You need to get health insurance in Australia when you're filing, or your application will be delayed a bit. I'd just start shopping now, tell them you are a 457 applicant. Tell them your expected date of arrival. Your policy doesn't start until you arrive, but if you apply and pay for your first month, you will get a certified letter that serves as proof of OZ insurance. You will submit this as supporting documentation with you 457 application. If you don't, they will request it anyway.

Good luck.

Excellent info, thank you so much for your help. Sorry that I hijacked the original thread.