Hi,
<Situation>
My age is in my early 40s.
I was on a 408 Temporary Activity visa from 13 January 2023 until 13 January 2024 and a Bridging visa from 13 January 2024 until 9 January 2025. I submitted my 190 Skilled Independent Permanent Visa on 2 June 2023 and enrolled in interim Medicare (blue card) on 21 August 2023. My permanent Residency was granted on 10 January 2025.
During my time on a 408 visa and Bridging visa (including when I became eligible for interim Medicare), I held Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) insurance from Allianz Australia until 9 January 2025. (I did not know that after applying to PR, we could have converted the insurance from OVHC to private health insurance for residents, even if our permanent residency is not yet granted.)
Once my PR was granted, I cancelled OVHC and took out Private Health Cover from Medibank Australia on 21 January 2025. Now, Medibank says LHC loading will be charged to me since I did not hold "Resident Health Cover" within 12 months of becoming eligible for Medicare benefits.
In my understanding, Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading is avoided for new migrants to Australia if they take out hospital cover within 12 months of registering for full Medicare benefits or the 1 July following their 31st birthday, whichever is later.
<Questions>
1.
Even though I enrolled on Medicare in August 2023, from that time until January 2025, my Medicare status was interim Medicare (blue card), NOT full Medicare (green card).
Under such circumstances, will I still be charged for LHC loading?
If the answer is yes, is it because OVHC is not included in the "hospital cover" definition for LHC loading exemption, and should I have received private health coverage for residents instead of OVHC once I became eligible for interim Medicare?
2.
If the answer to 1. is yes, how long do I need to pay for LHC loading?
I really appreciate any help you can provide.
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