Eligibility criteria changes for visa holders - FAQs

The following information is provided to answer some of your questions about the eligibility criteria changes for visa holders.

Who is eligible for EnableNSW?

To be eligible a person will need to meet the following criteria:

• they are a resident of NSW or Lord Howe Island, or they are an asylum seeker, refugee or hold a humanitarian visa and residing in NSW or Lord Howe Island;
• they are enrolled with Medicare
• the assistive technology is prescribed to support a health need; and,
• they are not receiving or eligible for assistive technology through a third party insurance or other Commonwealth, state or territory government schemes for the identified health need
• they are not an in-patient at a private hospital.

It is important to remember that the person will still need to meet the funding criteria in addition to the standard eligibility criteria.

What has recently changed with the eligibility criteria?

Under the revised policy it is no longer necessary for a person to be a permanent resident of NSW or hold a permanent humanitarian visa to be eligible for EnableNSW.

For example if a person resides in NSW and holds a temporary humanitarian visa and is enrolled with Medicare, they may now be eligible to apply to EnableNSW for assistance.

What if a person is not enrolled with Medicare?

If a person is not enrolled with Medicare they will be ineligible to apply for EnableNSW. This means that their visa does not allow them to access health services in NSW and they will need to access alternate funding pathways.

What colour Medicare card is acceptable?

If a person is enrolled with Medicare and holds a standard (green colour) or interim (blue colour) card they are eligible to apply. If a person holds a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement card (yellow colour) they are ineligible to apply to EnableNSW.

What does Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) mean?

The Australian government currently has a RHCA with 11 countries which allows people who hold these type of Medicare cards to receive essential medical care as a public patient in a public hospital.

The 11 countries Australia has RHCA with (as at May 2021) are Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden and United Kingdom.

For more information on RHCA’s

Are New Zealand residents living in NSW eligible to apply to EnableNSW?

Yes, if that person resides in NSW and holds either a standard (green) or interim (blue) Medicare card then they are eligible to apply to EnableNSW for assistance including Prosthetic Limb Services.

A persons eligibility is assessed each time a request is received, they will still need to meet the funding criteria in addition to the standard eligibility criteria.

Are New Zealand residents with a RHCA Medicare card eligible to apply to EnableNSW?

They are not eligible to apply to EnableNSW.

Once they are granted a standard (green) or interim (blue) Medicare card they are able to apply to EnableNSW for assistance.

Are asylum seekers living in NSW eligible to apply to EnableNSW?

Yes, if that person resides in NSW and holds either a standard (green) or interim (blue) Medicare card then they are eligible to apply to EnableNSW for assistance.

A persons eligibility is assessed each time a request is received, they will still need to meet the funding criteria in addition to the standard eligibility criteria.

What supporting visa documentation is required?

A person will no longer need to supply a copy of their visa, immigration letter or their permanent residency visa with their application form. The visa subclass name will be captured in the Customer Information Management System when the application is being entered into the system.

EnableNSW will conduct regular audits to confirm people’s application details and it is at this point that a person may be asked to provide supporting documentation to verify their details.