October 23rd 2024.
Marta Bellini, a 28-year-old Italian native, has found herself in a difficult situation. After living and working in Australia for over three years, she returned to her home country for some time. However, upon coming back to Australia on April 9, 2024, Marta neglected to enroll for medical coverage, not realizing the consequences that would follow.
As fate would have it, Marta suffered severe seizures just days after her Medicare eligibility expired. She now faces medical bills totaling over $40,000, a burden that she never could have anticipated. The Australia-Italy Reciprocal Health Care Agreement, which allows Italian citizens to receive immediate medical treatment in Australia's public hospital system, could have helped Marta in this situation. However, she didn't take the time to enroll, thinking she was young, fit, and healthy and wouldn't need it.
It wasn't until early October, when Marta fell ill, that her sister Giorgia Bellini urged her to enroll in Medicare. Unfortunately, it was too late. On October 15, just two days after applying, Marta collapsed at home in Queensland and was rushed to the hospital by her sister and her partner, Samuele Lo Bocchiaro. Marta has been suffering from daily seizures since, and doctors are still trying to determine the cause.
When Giorgia checked on her sister's Medicare application, she was shocked to learn that Marta had missed her eligibility window by just a few days. According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, the six-month period of eligibility starts on the day of arrival in Australia and ends after six months or when the visitor's visa expires, whichever comes first. In Marta's case, her eligibility ended on October 9, and she had submitted her application after that date had passed.
While there is an option to apply for an extension if medical treatment is needed after the six-month period, Marta's situation does not qualify for this extension. As a result, she is now facing exorbitant medical bills that her family fears they won't be able to afford. They have set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs and raise awareness for other international visitors who may find themselves in a similar situation.
It's a stressful and uncertain time for Marta's family, not just because of the financial burden, but also because they are still waiting for a diagnosis. They hope that by sharing their story, others will learn from Marta's experience and take the necessary precautions to avoid a similar situation.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Aged Care has reminded all visitors to Australia to make their own arrangements for private health insurance to ensure they are fully covered for any unplanned medical or hospital care they may need while in the country. They also emphasized that Australian hospitals will still treat Medicare-ineligible patients based on clinical need, but they may be charged by the state or territory government for the services received.
The Bellini family is not alone in their struggles, and they hope that by raising awareness, they can prevent others from facing the same challenges. As Giorgia said, they never thought about Medicare until Marta got sick, and they don't want anyone else to make the same mistake.
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