Do you know all the benefits you get when you enroll in Medicare? Just by reading the title, you may imagine that to process this application, you must complete multiple steps, which can also be cumbersome and exhausting. Don’t worry: the good news is that the enrollment process is not complicated.
That being said, at Insiderbits, we invite you to pay close attention to our reading today. In it, we will explain the step-by-step process so you can complete your Medicare enrollment as quickly as possible. So, if you live in Australia, don’t keep putting off the opportunity to access this service. Will you join us to find out?
What is Medicare Australia?
Before we show you how to enroll in Medicare, we’ll briefly tell you what it consists of. It is a reputable national healthcare system where beneficiaries receive free care in public hospitals, financial aid to cover expenses in private medical institutions, and contributions to cover most prescribed medications.
While this model of healthcare is found in many countries around the world, it works differently in Australia. The reason? The Australian government allocates 1.5% of national taxes to the program. This contribution makes the country’s Medicare one of the best in the world and is also recognized as one of the most equitable.
Both citizens, residents, and even immigrants of the largest country in Oceania gain immediate access to the health system. Do you need medical care but don’t have the financial means to pay for it? At Insidertbits, we will teach you how to enroll in Medicare and get ready to enjoy its many benefits.
Step by step to enroll in Medicare successfully
Now that you know better what the Medicare program entails, we will tell you how you can enroll. The first thing you should know is that you have two ways to manage your Medicare enrollment:
- Completing the program membership form, along with the necessary documentation.
- Online, through the official Medicare portal in Australia.
Let’s look at the step-by-step process to enroll in Medicare from the comfort of your home.
- You must have the following documentation: a valid passport or ImmiCard, a visa from the Ministry of the Interior, and other documents according to your status in the country.
- Go to the official Australian Government website, create an account, or log in if registered with myGov.
- If you are a new user, select “Create my myGov account,” as shown in the image.
- A new window will open with two options to open your account with your email address or digital ID.
We will divide the registration forms according to each option to better understand.
Register using your email account
If you select the email option, a window will open with five steps to complete.
- Accept the myGov terms of use.
- Enter an active email address; please note that you will be sent a code there that you must enter.
- Next, you must add your mobile phone number and enter the code that will be sent to you.
- Create a password with at least ten characters and 1 number. This will complete your registration process.
- You will see a window with your assigned user number; if you prefer, you can use your email to log in.
Source 4: Screenshot by the editor.
Note: You can skip adding a phone number if you do not have an active mobile phone line. Instead, you must set three secret questions. Each time you log in, you will be randomly asked for the answers you provided.
How do you link your account to Medicare? When you log in, you will see the main screen of myGov. In the middle, locate the “Linked services” section, click the black button, “Link a service,” and choose the Medicare option. Accepting the terms will redirect you to the healthcare service portal. Press the “Linking to Medicare” button and enter your card or membership code.
To complete your Medicare Enrollment, you will be taken to another window where you must add your personal information and upload your documents.
Register using your Digital ID.
If you prefer to create your myGov account using your Digital ID, you must follow these steps:
- Own an iOS or Android device.
- Have your identification documents on hand
- Accept the terms and conditions.
- Select the Remember My Choice box to create your account from a private device.
- You must log in to myGovID, which will complete your registration in myGov.
If you do not have a myGovID account, you can create one by downloading the app on your Android or iOS device. You must have a smartphone, PC, or tablet, a personal email address, and be over 15 years of age.
To enroll in Medicare, you must link the service to your myGov account by following the “How to enroll your account in Medicare.”
The process to follow to enroll babies in Medicare
Enrolling a baby in Medicare requires other considerations. In this case, you have two ways to do it.
Register your baby if you have family assistance at Centrelink
You should have your baby’s printed newborn declaration form on hand. Remember that this form and all their documentation are given to you at the hospital where your child was born. Use this form to enroll the child in Medicare and thus begin the child’s medical history.
Check that the birth certificate on the back of the newborn declaration contains complete information; the doctor or midwife must have filled it out at birth.
Once your baby’s Medicare registration is complete, you will receive a physical membership card at your postal address. You can also request your digital card through the myGov app.
Register if you do not receive Centrelink family support
Not all parents are eligible for Centrelink family benefits. If this is the case for you, don’t worry; this doesn’t stop you from enrolling your baby in Medicare. First, you must register your child in your Medicare account through myGov.
To do this, you will need proof of your baby’s birth. This can be a birth certificate, a birth certificate, a letter from the doctor or midwife who delivered the baby, or any other legal document from the Australian government that certifies the infant’s name and date of birth.
Log in to your myGov account and follow the instructions:
- Select the Medicare option.
- In the services section, choose “Register newborns.”
- Confirm your baby’s personal information.
- Upload the documents that certify the child’s identity and press the next button.
- Choose to add your baby to someone else’s Medicare card.
Next, you must ensure you have correctly uploaded your baby’s information. Once you have verified everything, press the button to submit the registration.
Who can enroll in Medicare?
As with any contribution and subsidy program, the candidate must meet certain conditions. Let’s look at those that apply to Medicare in Australia.
- The first condition is that you must live in Australia.
- You must be an Australian citizen.
- It is also valid if you are a New Zealand citizen.
- Citizens who are in the process of applying for permanent residence are admitted.
- This is valid for citizens or permanent residents of the Cocos (Keeling), Norfolk, Lord Howe, or Christmas Islands.
- Another exception the medical assistance program allows is temporary residences as long as a ministerial order covers them.
Don’t miss out on valuable opportunities
We applaud the initiative of governments like Australia that favor their population. Don’t feel reluctant to sign up for these social programs. After all, you have every right to do so. If you, as a citizen, pay your annual taxes on time, you can enroll in Medicare immediately today if you wish!
Once your account is active, the linking process will take less than 10 minutes. Remember that when you create your account, you must protect it, just as you do with all your other passwords. To do so, we recommend another interesting post entitled: How to recover your social security password: step by step.
At Insiderbits, we will always keep you informed about the best apps and programs available. Stay tuned!
