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Balimed

What is it?

In recognition of the extreme difficulties faced by those injured in the Bali bombings on 12 October 2002, the Australian Government has agreed to cover all out-of-pocket expenses for the treatment of injuries received. The scheme is called Balimed.

Balimed covers out-of-pocket expenses incurred by patients for the following kinds of services that are certified by a doctor as necessary and related to the injury:

  • medical-gap payments between normal Medicare benefits and the fee charged by the doctor, to the extent that the amount is not covered by private health insurance
  • hospital-costs not otherwise covered by public patient arrangements or private health insurance
  • pharmaceutical-the full cost of pharmaceuticals covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
  • allied health-costs of services such as physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy, less any amounts covered by private health insurance.
  • the cost of counselling and psychological care

How to register and claim out-of-pocket expenses?

  • Evidence of presence in Bali on 12 October 2002 is required before out-of-pocket costs will be reimbursed. This proof can either be a certified copy of a passport or a statutory declaration to the effect that:
    • the passport was destroyed by the explosion, or was stolen or lost in the aftermath; and
    • written permission is given to obtain relevant information from the Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs and/or the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
  • Confirmation that the condition that requires health care was directly caused by the Bali incident.
  • A service will attract a benefit when the provider of that service states in writing with signature and date, that the service is directly related to care for a condition arising directly from the Bali tragedy. If the provider cannot satisfy this requirement, the patient must provide a statutory declaration to that effect.
  • Any services received must be claimed through Medicare and/or private health insurance and/or any other insurance or compensation scheme before claiming through Balimed.
  • Complete a Balimed form (provided in the Balimed kit).
  • You must attach all Medicare and/or private insurance benefit statements to the claim form. Where services do not attract a Medicare benefit and are not covered by any other insurance, attach all accounts and/or receipts for a case by case assessment.

Lodging your claim

You can lodge the claim in one of the following ways:

  • at your local Medicare office
  • fax to 08 9214 8129
  • post to:
    Medicare Australia Special Assistance
    Reply Paid 9822
    Perth WA 6848

For claim forms and reply paid envelopes call the Medicare Australia Special Assistance Line on 1800 660 026 (Monday to Friday between 7.30 am and 5.00 pm Australian Western Standard Time) or visit your local Medicare office.

Payments for paid accounts can be made to the person making the claim either by cheque or by EFT deposit into a nominated financial institution account. Cheques will be made payable to the provider of the service for unpaid accounts.

For more information freecall the Balimed hotline on 1800 660 026.

Registration and claim forms

More information

Some documents on this page may require the free Adobe PDF reader.

Last updated: 18 August, 2009