Author Topic: Private Health Insurance.  (Read 38951 times)

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Offline LB

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #50 on: March 09, 2017, 06:45:09 PM »
$460 a month is $600 out of reach of many families, no matter what sort of warm and fuzzy story you put infront of it - and that price I mentioned is 2 60+ yr olds, no kids.

I just jumped on the medibank private site and looked how much it would cost for basic hospital (doesn't cover pregenacy , hip replacements stuff like that) but does cover most of the stuff families will cop plus 55% back on your extra's and it was $250 per month. Figured most would not be earning over $180000. Far cry from the 400 - 600 you are saying. Most families don't need top hospital that tends to be something you need later in life when stuff starts wearing out.  Now it is with a $500 excess but there is no excess on kids.
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Offline LB

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #51 on: March 09, 2017, 06:52:53 PM »
Just checked over 60's for Top Hospital and basic extra's and it was about $287. medibank private
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Offline Bird

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #52 on: March 09, 2017, 06:53:25 PM »
I just jumped on the medibank private site and looked how much it would cost for basic hospital (doesn't cover pregenacy , hip replacements stuff like that) but does cover most of the stuff families will cop plus 55% back on your extra's and it was $250 per month. Figured most would not be earning over $180000. Far cry from the 400 - 600 you are saying. Most families don't need top hospital that tends to be something you need later in life when stuff starts wearing out.  Now it is with a $500 excess but there is no excess on kids.
I have no idea what cover level she is on, but that's the price she had in the letter. I know her hubby is retired, and shes planning to retire this yr, dunno if that changes it, but shes been planning on retiring for last 4yrs.
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Offline listo

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #53 on: March 09, 2017, 06:59:37 PM »
I've looked into it & it's too much for us. We have extras to keep ourselves tuned up when we need it, but I can't bring myself to get more than that.
I insure my cars because if anything happens to it, no one else will fix it. If anything happens to me, insurance or not, I'll get fixed up. I had kidney failure 10years ago & I couldn't have been looked after better, by the public system.

Offline LB

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #54 on: March 09, 2017, 07:07:09 PM »
I have no idea what cover level she is on, but that's the price she had in the letter. I know her hubby is retired, and shes planning to retire this yr, dunno if that changes it, but shes been planning on retiring for last 4yrs.

It greatly depends on the cover you chose, If you have top everything with no or little excess and high extra returns you will pay big bikkies. The biggest problem is people who have had the same health policy for a long time don't often take a good look at what they are paying for. Things like a 60 you probably don't need fertility treatment or orthodontic. By checking to make sure you only have the cover that is appropriate for you is the way to go. There is no point for a 40 year old to be covered for a hip replacement they wont even look at you till you are over 60. Know that because my hubby has arthritis in his knees and they wont do it. Knowing it would happen in the future I rang a spoke to medibank and the lovely lady said they usually let you know 12 to 18 months before they will consider doing it, up your cover then waste of money now.

I would strongly suggest she takes a good look at her cover and see what else is around. All the health funds wipe waiting times if you had the same stuff on your other policy.
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Offline Pete79

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Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #55 on: March 09, 2017, 07:15:55 PM »
I think there's enough evidence just in this thread to say that it is actually an over priced scam. ;)

I do like the comparisons to car insurance.
If health insurance actually worked like car insurance I reckon we'd all be signed up.
You know, you pay your premiums, then when you break it, they either fix it or replace it. Simples.

Imagine if car insurers started saying, "well that prado you just crashed might be worth $80,000 to replace, but we recon it's only worth $20,000. How about you just chip in the extra bit to cover the difference and we'll replace it just like we promised we would?"

I get there are situations where the private system can help, but overall the system is very broken.
For the average person a one off trip to the dentist for a root canal or a couple of trips to the Physio here and there to sort out the old footy injury does not justify the ridiculous monthly fees, let alone that scam that is the gap payment.

Maybe we'll see a mass exodus in the coming years if they keep hiking up their fees.
Will be interesting to see the industry's reaction once the cash cow is gone.
« Last Edit: March 09, 2017, 08:03:00 PM by Pete79 »

Offline LB

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #56 on: March 09, 2017, 08:15:57 PM »
I think there's enough evidence just in this thread to say that it is actually an over priced scam. ;)

I do like the comparisons to car insurance.
If health insurance actually worked like car insurance I reckon we'd all be signed up.
You know, you pay your premiums, then when you break it, they either fix it or replace it. Simples.

Imagine if car insurers started saying, "well that prado you just crashed might be worth $80,000 to replace, but we recon it's only worth $20,000. How about you just chip in the extra bit to cover the difference and we'll replace it just like we promised we would?"

I get there are situations where the private system can help, but overall the system is very broken.
For the average person a one off trip to the dentist for a root canal or a couple of trips to the Physio here and there to sort out the old footy injury does not justify the ridiculous monthly fees, let alone that scam that is the gap payment.

Maybe we'll see a mass exodus in the coming years if they keep hiking up their fees.
Will be interesting to see the industry's reaction once the cash cow is gone.

Its not about the one off trips to the dentist for root canal or the physio, if I didn't have private health insurance I would have to wait 12 - 18 months for surgery on my knee with the possibility of permanent damage being caused to other parts of knee due to the instability with another 9-12months rehab.

But thank you to my private health insurance. now I will be back in the field with the SES in the next 9-12 months with no further damage. If that's a scam then I am so glad I'm part of it. Of course my other choice with out insurance would have been to fork out the nearly $15,000 do have it done quickly (that's like 5 years worth of my family's health insurance payments).

Where our health system is by no means perfect we are a lot better off then some, you would be stuffed without insurance in places like the USA, they don't have medicare like we do.
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Offline Bird

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #57 on: March 09, 2017, 08:24:01 PM »
Quote from: Pete79
Maybe we'll see a mass exodus in the coming years if they keep hiking up their fees.
Will be interesting to see the industry's reaction once the cash cow is gone.

They will do 1 of 2 things
1-  they will Shit their pants and drop prices which they say they cant afford...
2 - say **** you to those still in it (instead of giving them extra) and raise the prices again with full Gov support, more will drop out - then they will go broke.

I'm betting on #2. They are too arrogant now.

My old mans HCF is ~1800 yr... but when he broke his hip last year 5 mths in private hospital and rehab it was value - but they have been paying for it as long as I remember... If you  banked that money at todays massive .0% interest and 10% fees you'd be better off ???

It's great when you need it, but its extortion for the Gov Co to penalise those who cant afford it.

I don't think some people out there (or any rich **** politician) realise many families have no spare cash at the end of the week after essentials. Fuel to get to work, Gas, elect, food, schooling - and its gone. Some cant even stretch that far... more and more stories of FAMILIES living in cars.. what a **** of a life that would be.
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Offline Pete79

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #58 on: March 09, 2017, 08:43:20 PM »
The best thing about Australia is that we are NOT America!
As much as the health insurance companies here would love us to have that system.

I fear that you're right Bird.

For the moment our public system is pretty good, not perfect but for most of us it works.
My brother had a shoulder reconstruction through the public system, pretty sure the wait wasn't too bad for him. I had my appendix out through the public system, it was same day service for me.

I posted this one in my rant post, but the kicker for me was when we had our twins.
Call it luck or what ever you like, but the day we went in for a routine checkup the doctor on duty was a leader in multiple births. He travels the world lecturing on the subject. He had a whole tribe of students following him around as he came and saw us. His checkup was so thorough, I was super impressed. He found a few things he wasn't happy with with one of the babies, so straight up to the surgical ward and in for an emergency C-section we went.
Again, call it luck if you like, but we had world class treatment in the public system that didn't cost us a cent. Meanwhile in the bed next to my wife was a lady that had a normal, simple birth, but went through the private system. Same hospital, same doctors, same Shitty food, about $2,000 difference in price.

Like I said, it might be worth while for some (especially the elderly and those with pre existing conditions) but the vast majority of people are just getting ripped off by a system and industry that relies on fear.
« Last Edit: March 09, 2017, 09:46:43 PM by Pete79 »

Offline LB

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #59 on: March 10, 2017, 02:29:26 AM »
I don't want people to get me wrong I have nothing but praise for a public system staff our guys at a local Orange Base hospital are lovely. Had two of my children through the midwife program and 1 through the private system and if I had a forth I would have gone back to the public. We were only out of pocket about $800 and I did get to have smoked salmon, but I just didn't see the value, and to be honest I preferred the midwifes.

I f its an emergency like appendix, broken bones etc you will always be better off going public. A friend of ours who was a nurse at Westmead told us emergencies or urgent stuff go public everything else you are better off private.  I also do know it helps our local base hospital if we have insurance as they don't charge us anything but the get to claim a little extra from the insurance company.

You can choose with at least our health insurance to go to a no gap hospital and a no gap surgeon so no out of pocket.

For those who a doing it tuff bloody oath we should do more a friend of mine has waited over 12 months to get a hip replacement since he was put on the list, he is only in his 40's but his hip was totally screwed, its effected his ability to work and his quality of life like you would not believe.  There is very little spare cash in that family even though they work hard so no insurance and no ability to pay the 20K - 30K for the opp to go private. This just plain wrong. I struggle to see in this case how this is elective surgery.

And I totally agree one of the best things about Australia is we are not America!!!!! Their health care system is the least of their worries
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Offline Julian Kaye

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #60 on: March 10, 2017, 07:22:32 AM »

  My wife was a NSW teacher and we have been in the Teachers Federation Health Fund for many years. Their prices are competitive and the coverage is excellent.  For those looking for health cover and in the public sector maybe look into your union or association for a health fund. They are usually a pretty good alternative to the big health funds.
  A few people here have questioned the need and value of private health cover, now I am old enough to remember pre- Whitlam when everybody had private health cover and doctors worked in public hospitals on an honorary basis in return for treating their own patients in public hospitals. Now that was a system that worked very well. Then Gough came along and told everyone that in the socialist utopia health care should be free and universal. Personal responsibility went out the window with people swamping the public system for everything from head colds to ingrown toenails. That is why people have to wait 12 months for hip replacements, because the notion that people should take responsibility for their health care has gone out the window.
 This is how the private system works. I have been putting off a knee replacement for the for the last five years but it flared up badly in January and I knew the time had come. Saw my GP on the 3rd February, X-rays on the 8th February, saw the surgeon on the 28th February, started pre-op physio on the 1st March, surgery scheduled for the 22nd March. It will cost me $400 for the gap between my surgeon's fee and the health fund cover, the anaesthetist will be a $80 gap. Everything else is covered by my health fund. Everyone can make up their own mind if they think it is worth it, personally I would have to have the arse out of my pants before I would give up private health cover.
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Offline Bird

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #61 on: March 10, 2017, 07:30:55 AM »
Quote from: Julian Kaye
, personally I would have to have the arse out of my pants before I would give up private health cover.
that's the thing.. many people have their arse out of their pants.
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Offline chester ver2.0

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #62 on: March 10, 2017, 08:18:40 AM »
When i came off my bike

Dislocated shoulder with bone chipped
Split skin up the side of the nose to the bone
Snapped in half eye tooth, tooth in front and chipped molar behind

Basically the public hospital re seated my shoulder stitched the nose and sent me on my wa.

private insurance covered
All dental work for repair of the teeth
Plastic surgery and repair of the nose as i could not breathe properly and it looked terrible
Additional surgery for the shoulder as they being the public hospital did not find the chipped bone the first time

My experience was that if you walk into a public hospital by yourself and you are not in immediate risk of dying the service you get is utter crap and my private health insurance was worth every penny
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Offline Julian Kaye

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #63 on: March 10, 2017, 11:32:19 AM »
that's the thing.. many people have their arse out of their pants.



  That's the thing, Medicare should exist for those who can't look after themselves, not those who have their own house with all the trimmings but who think the rest of Australia should fund their health care needs through Medicare. It's called priorities, the most important thing a person has is their health and yet many won't put a cracker into private health care cover when they could and should look after themselves.

Offline LB

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #64 on: March 10, 2017, 12:12:26 PM »


  That's the thing, Medicare should exist for those who can't look after themselves, not those who have their own house with all the trimmings but who think the rest of Australia should fund their health care needs through Medicare. It's called priorities, the most important thing a person has is their health and yet many won't put a cracker into private health care cover when they could and should look after themselves.

Well said, if all those who could afford it had it and then that would take the pressure off the public system, and bring those waiting lists down for all those families and pensioners who can't really afford to have it.
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Offline krisandkev

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #66 on: March 10, 2017, 04:03:10 PM »
I suppose people like my wife and I are part of the problem.  Did not join a health fund until I was 46, had to pay the extra % for the next 10 years and did not have to make a claim in that time.  Then when 56 they found I had a large pituitary tumour which was pressing against my optic nerve causing partial loss of vision in one eye. That was on a Friday, then after travelling to Brisbane for a MRI and then seeing a Specialist neurosurgeon by the following Tuesday I was on the operating table!  I was also under the care of two other specialists for a while. The neurosurgeon said lucky I have private health and was not waiting in the public system.  The tumour came back and in 2015 back for another operation and then two months of radiation. My wife in 2015 also injured her hip and now we find out she actually ripped a muscle and will need surgery as well as it looks like a knee replacement.  Again she can have all that ASAP because of our cover.

My point is that while we paid extra for a while to have private cover we did not have cover for most of our more healthy lives, but in the past few years and again soon we have been using our private cover.  So they need to encourage people to join a private fund when young.  I suppose it is like paying taxes, you pay them all of your life and hopefully you can retire one day on a pension.  Mind you we are self funded retirees and when we get to pension age we will not qualify for anything, but that is a good thing.   ;D   

So then does anyone have a answer?  How to encourage people to join a health fund as soon as they start work? Maybe a cheaper premium that increases over time?  Or what about making the premiums tax deductable?  Remembering the government health insurance rebate has been reducing!!  So a double hit in April, the funds increase and less rebate.  Kevin
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Offline areyonga

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #67 on: March 11, 2017, 11:32:13 AM »
I am in defence health insurance and just came back from surgery with a previous stint for the same problem a few weeks ago and in 4 weeks back for more, my saving on the hospital is around $11,000.00 and there was no access.  I have also saved om some of the medical so I wouldnt be without private health insurance.

When doing your sums for health insurance consider a quote from defence health, my monthly payments I am paying are less than others and I am in top hospital ans top extras, its easy enough to get in as long as someone in your family is in defence or a defence civilian employee, it may even be a grandfather or grandmother who was in defence.



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Offline Nomad

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #68 on: March 11, 2017, 03:46:21 PM »


  That's the thing, Medicare should exist for those who can't look after themselves, not those who have their own house with all the trimmings but who think the rest of Australia should fund their health care needs through Medicare. It's called priorities, the most important thing a person has is their health and yet many won't put a cracker into private health care cover when they could and should look after themselves.

I think thats a bit harsh.....so would you abolish the medicare levy for those people that own a nice house with all the trimmings....or are they expected to still pay it and not have any access to the public healthcare service.
« Last Edit: March 11, 2017, 05:16:05 PM by Nomad »

Offline LB

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #69 on: March 12, 2017, 05:23:50 AM »
I think thats a bit harsh.....so would you abolish the medicare levy for those people that own a nice house with all the trimmings....or are they expected to still pay it and not have any access to the public healthcare service.

Even when you go to a local doctor this has nothing to do with your health fund this is Medicare so yes you still need to pay the surcharge. If you are in a bad car crash for instance you will be taken to a public hospital as well.

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Offline LB

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #70 on: March 12, 2017, 05:27:47 AM »
Some interesting info here http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/the-private-health-insurance-hack-that-saved-us-4000/news-story/af02f0a6ffbd6e781133dce3f7d4238a


Medibank Private has a thing on their website so you can pick no gap surgeons. It also lets you find members choice dentists etc. By using a member s choice you will get back the exact claim % you pay for. Ours is 85% and that's exactly what we get back.
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Offline Julian Kaye

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #71 on: March 12, 2017, 05:44:54 AM »
I think thats a bit harsh.....so would you abolish the medicare levy for those people that own a nice house with all the trimmings....or are they expected to still pay it and not have any access to the public healthcare service.



   I have posted twice on this subject and neither time did I suggest that the Medicare Levy be abolished for anyone. My point was simply that people who are able to look after their own health care needs should do so. It does two things, it gives the individual choice in their health care and it helps unclog the Medicare system for those who really need it. Quite frankly it ludicrous for a wealthy person to lob at a doctor or hospital and expect the poorer people in our society to pick up the tab,

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #72 on: March 12, 2017, 06:15:37 AM »
....Quite frankly it ludicrous for a wealthy person to lob at a doctor or hospital and expect the poorer people in our society to pick up the tab,

An interesting comment Julian. The Medicare Levy is percentage based.
Low income earners may qualify for a reduction, or even an exemption.
People without private cover will incur a surcharge.
High income earners may be hit with an additional surcharge.

Those that earn more, pay more. It's not unreasonable to expect something for it....IMO

https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Medicare-levy/

 :cheers:
« Last Edit: March 12, 2017, 06:41:06 AM by GeoffA »
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Offline Julian Kaye

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #73 on: March 12, 2017, 10:34:22 AM »
An interesting comment Julian. The Medicare Levy is percentage based.
Low income earners may qualify for a reduction, or even an exemption.
People without private cover will incur a surcharge.
High income earners may be hit with an additional surcharge.

Those that earn more, pay more. It's not unreasonable to expect something for it....IMO

https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Medicare-levy/

 :cheers:


  Fair point Geoff, but from memory the Medicare levy covers less than 10% of the total cost of the national health care scheme, so one way or another lower paid taxpayers will end up subsidising well off people who don't take their health care seriously and use Medicare when they could and should be looking after themselves.

Offline GeoffA

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Re: Private Health Insurance.
« Reply #74 on: March 12, 2017, 10:49:37 AM »
50% of people pay no net tax.....
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