Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) eligibility in Medicare 011-44080000
Expand allMedicare entitlement types and eligibility for LHC letter
This table explains Medicare entitlement types, eligibility to get an LHC letter, and date applicable. A person can request an LHC letter if they are registered for full Medicare benefits.
Note: date of registration means the date the person was enrolled in Medicare.
|
Medicare entitlement |
LHC eligibility |
LHC date |
|
Migrants (permanent resident visa) |
Yes |
Date of registration (processing date). |
|
Migrants (permanent resident visa) |
Yes |
Migrants who have been absent from Australia should get a 'Request for international movement records (IMR)' from the Department of Home Affairs website. An IMR gives a person's entry and exits from Australia. Migrants must give the IMR to their private health fund to have their LHC loading reassessed. Enrolled after 1 April 2007 Initial date of registration (processing date). Enrolled before 1 April 2007 Medicare entitlement start date. See:
|
|
Conditional migrant (applicant for permanent residency) |
Yes |
Date of registration (processing date). |
|
Applicants for Permanent Protection (866 visa) |
Yes |
Date of registration (processing date). |
|
New Zealand citizens |
Yes |
Date of registration (processing date). |
|
New Zealand citizens |
Yes |
New Zealand citizens who have been absent from Australia should get an IMR from the Department of Home Affairs website. New Zealand citizens must give the IMR to their private health fund to have their LHC loading reassessed. Enrolled after 1 April 2007 Initial date of registration (processing date). Enrolled before 1 April 2007 Medicare entitlement start date. See:
|
|
Australian citizens Newly enrolled in Medicare |
Yes |
Date of registration (processing date). |
|
Australian citizens Previously enrolled in Medicare and have been absent from Australia |
Yes |
Australian citizens who have been absent from Australia must get an IMR from the Department of Home Affairs website. Australian citizens must give the IMR to their private health fund to have their LHC loading reassessed. Enrolled after 1 April 2007 Initial date of registration (processing date). Enrolled before 1 April 2007 Medicare entitlement start date. Note: before CDMS, when a newborn was added to a family Medicare card, their entitlement date would be the same as the parent. This date could be before their date of birth. In these instances, the Medicare registration date will be the child's date of birth. See:
|
|
Australian citizens Previously enrolled in Medicare and have not been absent from Australia |
No |
The LHC letter is not relevant to Australian citizens who have been previously enrolled and have not been absent from Australia. |
|
Norfolk Island residents |
Yes |
On 1 July 2016, residents of Norfolk Island became eligible for Medicare benefits and therefore became able to purchase Australian private health insurance policies. Norfolk Island residents who were aged over 31 years at 1 July 2016 had until 30 June 2017 to purchase insurance without incurring an LHC loading. If Norfolk Island residents purchased insurance from or after 1 July 2017, an LHC loading applies. Younger residents will have until their normal LHC base day of 1 July following their 31st birthday to purchase insurance without incurring an LHC loading. |
|
Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) |
No |
LHC does not apply. If a written request is received, it must be returned with the Z0138 Lifetime Health Cover letter option LHC does not apply to the applicant letter. Note: if the customer is now a Conditional Migrant or Migrant, use the date on which the full Medicare entitlement was registered (processed date). |
|
Yes |
Date of Registration (processing date). |
|
|
Diplomats |
No |
LHC does not apply. If a written request is received, it must be returned with the Z0138 Lifetime Health Cover letter option LHC does not apply to the applicant letter. |
Letters
Services Australia has endorsed this letter for use. This is the latest version. Do not use locally produced letters.
Service Officers create the following letter from DMC. See Digital Messaging Capability (DMC) to create and send letters.
Z0138 Lifetime Health Cover - Service Officers must select one of the options within the letter.