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jake_australia(Newbie)Newbie
21 Apr 2022

Hi,


I am an Australian citizen and my partner is a Brazilian citizen currently applying for Australian permanent residency. We both have sufficient health insurance cover to exempt us from the medicare levy surcharge.


We are going to be out of Australia for a 6 month period this year. I called the ATO and was informed that my non-Australian partner would be able to pause her health insurance while overseas and still remain exempt from the medicare levy surcharge. As an Australian citizen, I would need to keep my insurance active while overseas to remain exempt.


Can you please confirm that this is true? These specific exemptions are not covered in this document.


Thank you

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RenATO(Community Support)Community Support
22 Apr 2022

Hi @jake_australia,


That's right. The question about private health asks if you were covered for the whole financial year. If you pause yours then you'd have a period of no coverage.

 

If your partner doesn't qualify for the Medicare benefit then, they'd be exempt from paying the Medicare levy and the Medicare levy surcharge.

 

You'll need to work out your residency for tax purposes for the financial year to determine if you'll be entitled to a full year exemption (if your partner was in an exemption category).

 

If your partner is entitled to the Medicare benefit then, you may both be liable to pay part or all of the Medicare levy surcharge if you’re both classified as residents for tax purposes and don't have the right private patient hospital cover.

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Most helpful reply

RenATO(Community Support)Community Support
22 Apr 2022

Hi @jake_australia,


That's right. The question about private health asks if you were covered for the whole financial year. If you pause yours then you'd have a period of no coverage.

 

If your partner doesn't qualify for the Medicare benefit then, they'd be exempt from paying the Medicare levy and the Medicare levy surcharge.

 

You'll need to work out your residency for tax purposes for the financial year to determine if you'll be entitled to a full year exemption (if your partner was in an exemption category).

 

If your partner is entitled to the Medicare benefit then, you may both be liable to pay part or all of the Medicare levy surcharge if you’re both classified as residents for tax purposes and don't have the right private patient hospital cover.

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Medicare levy surcharge while overseas | ATO Community