Expats Healthcare Solutions: Aussie Style

Image by craynol via Flickr

I got a fat check from the Aussie government this week. It wasn't my tax return. Nor was it a payout based on my rugged good looks (that one's due next week). It's called the Childcare Tax Rebate and it helps offset the costs of daycare. It has the added benefit of keeping my 3 and 5 year olds from being prematurely forced into the workforce (but they can use jobs if you've got openings). Right now there's a huge political debate taking place in the States around healthcare specifically, and the role of government more broadly. Conservatives, generally speaking, want lower taxes and less government involvement in everything save for the military. Progressives, broadly speaking, want better government and see health coverage as a moral obligation. I'm not here to argue which side is right or wrong, at least not now, but I am here to give the Aussie government props for doing a few things right that have made a difference for this American down under.

I'm just like a hundred brothas I know (none in Oz...yet) - trying to make a dollar out of 15 cent (not a typo). I arrived in Oz with no job and barely knowing a soul. What I did have were some thick soled shoes and a million dollar smile (ok - more like a 50k grin). I wasn't looking for handouts but a little help along the way never hurt anyone and thankfully we got that. Medicare reduced a bit of stress in case the kids got sick before I got a job. Family Assistance helped mitigate some pre-employment expenses and childcare assistance gave us peace of mind that we could provide the kids the best daycare program we could find. Real help for regular people.

So as the debate rages Stateside, with the right calling Obama a Socialist and the progressives saying he's not going far enough, I feel obligated to make my voice heard from afar. To that end, I've written the "Marry An Aussie Amendment" complete with a Facebook group. I've asked Harry Reid add this to the bill. I suggest you do the same. This will solve 2 great societal ills - the lack of health insurance for the Yanks and the lack of eligible men for the Sydneysiders (straight & gay - that's how they roll in Sydney!). To my mates in Oz, 2 things - (1) I promise to keep the brothas from taking over all your sports (you can keep cricket) and (2) appreciate what you've got!

Black2Oz out. (and no you can't have any of my check)