Private health insurance only worth it for 'the pregnant, the rich and the sick'

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/nov/17/market-failure-private-health-insurance-only-worth-it-for-the-pregnant-the-rich-and-the-sick

I like one comment:

'Imagine the government saying to you that you have to buy a car to relieve the public transport system and if you don't, you're taxed extra and every year you don't its going to get more expensive. Meanwhile you're already being taxed for the public transport...'

Don't know why people think it's better than public system when you're pregnant? My wifes a nurse and we had our second child here. Public system was fantastic, even with some fairly serious problems at birth. Didn't cost anything. If we had been private it would have cost us for the same level of care.

My partner and our friend both had babies in the same hospital. We were private they were public. Main differences was I got my own bed in the room while he had to go home. Also. picking the obstetrician was a comfort to my partner. Oh and I got loads of food.

My partner and our friend both had babies in the same hospital. We were private they were public. Main differences was I got my own bed in the room while he had to go home. Also. picking the obstetrician was a comfort to my partner. Oh and I got loads of food.

Don't know why people think it's better than public system when you're pregnant? My wifes a nurse and we had our second child here. Public system was fantastic, even with some fairly serious problems at birth. Didn't cost anything. If we had been private it would have cost us for the same level of care.

Agree when things go wrong in the private they move them to the public as they have accces to more equipment etc

Having just had an operation last month for a very painful condition, I am extremely glad I had private insurance. I could choose the timing of the operation and the surgeon and knew I wouldn't be kicked out on my ear because they had a rash of unexpected emergencies. Plus a much calmer environment than the very stressed public hospital system here ( which I've witnessed first hand).

Conversely, a friend of mine going through the public system with a different, but also very painful condition which has seriously affected her employment, has just been given her impending operation date - 21 months after she was first referred by the G.P. And let's hope it doesn't get postponed several times, as happens quite frequently here.

Interesting article. My first Chiropractor in Australia mentioned the having a baby costs and went with Medicare as if she went private it would have cost her in the region of $8K.

Private healthcare fail. She had nothing bad to say about public healthcare or the waiting times.

And another thing I notice not a lot of companies provide it, and the cost if you want a decent package is very high and highly discussed/disputed about whether worth it I know a number of friends over 40 that will not pay for it, as they cannot justify the costs for the benefits.

The medicare surcharge verses purchasing PHI, puts you in a a difficult position. Does the surcharge outweigh the extra cost and possible or not possible benefits of PHI?

I have had public and private treatment in Oz and for the same condition.

In both cases I was treated by the same specialist. In both I received excellent care. The only difference was in private I had my own room. In public I had a room with two of us in. I prefered the later at it was nice to have someone to chat to. Oh, and I had a large gap payment in private.

Sorry but for me private is the only way. When I found out I had cancer of the esophugus we were told some don't make it and as they were removing my stomach as well I had chance to google and find the best surgeon in Australia and was able to fly down to Sydney and get him to do the operation.

Then when I needed my colon removing and a Stoma the public hospital were telling me what I had to have, their option was basically remove everything and she won't be back. I researched and found a guy in Brisbane who could do a new kind of operation that even my professor couldn't do. So again I went private.

Then I started having problems with my heart. After Townsville ran loads of tests I still haven't heard anything. Thankfully after my last operation in Brisbane after my tubes came out they had to get the crash team in as they couldn't bring me round. The anesthetist told me I needed to see a cardiologist very quick. Well I had the op on the Tuesday and after the recovery I was booked back in to hospital within a week for heart tests. After the results my cardiologist went mad that Townsville had left me that long.

i have had my money worth hundreds time over.

If you don't have any health problems then yes Medicare is fine.

Agree when things go wrong in the private they move them to the public as they have accces to more equipment etc

Not always, it depends which private hospital it is. I currently am waiting for an operation on my liver that's being done in the public as the private hospital in Townville didn't have the specialist equipment. Again, I'm still waiting, but to be honest I will probably cancel anyway.

I've only used the private system which has been excellent in the speed of being seen from referral and the benefit of being able to chose the operation date. My only additional costs were for the consult fee then there were no other out of pocket expenses

Title should include and the elderly.

Trust me the reassurance of being treated quickly when you are older is well worth it.

Sorry but for me private is the only way. When I found out I had cancer of the esophugus we were told some don't make it and as they were removing my stomach as well I had chance to google and find the best surgeon in Australia and was able to fly down to Sydney and get him to do the operation.

Then when I needed my colon removing and a Stoma the public hospital were telling me what I had to have, their option was basically remove everything and she won't be back. I researched and found a guy in Brisbane who could do a new kind of operation that even my professor couldn't do. So again I went private.

Then I started having problems with my heart. After Townsville ran loads of tests I still haven't heard anything. Thankfully after my last operation in Brisbane after my tubes came out they had to get the crash team in as they couldn't bring me round. The anesthetist told me I needed to see a cardiologist very quick. Well I had the op on the Tuesday and after the recovery I was booked back in to hospital within a week for heart tests. After the results my cardiologist went mad that Townsville had left me that long.

i have had my money worth hundreds time over.

If you don't have any health problems then yes Medicare is fine.

Firstly Pom Queen, I didn't know, but much respect to you for the difficult journey you have faced, I am thinking of you and re evaluating my rather pathetic first world problems xxxxxx

On the matter of private health, I'm a total believer, ever word you said was correct xxx

Not always, it depends which private hospital it is. I currently am waiting for an operation on my liver that's being done in the public as the private hospital in Townville didn't have the specialist equipment. Again, I'm still waiting, but to be honest I will probably cancel anyway.

Wow Pom Queen knew you had serious health issues but had no idea how serious - what a hard time you have had and you still manage to remain very positive and upbeat - you are a legend - total respect to you girl x

Just to add our family private health insurance is substancially cheaper than what I would pay in National health insurance in the UK anyway (not even including my partners wage) and that is the top policy covering pregnancy etc. Not to mention we would be slugged at tax time anyway.

I went to MediBank the other day just to test the price for someone joining now. I have been a member since the beginning when started by Howard. I only pay the basic, which doesn't allow me much, but had suspicions with regards to the 20% plus loading of 2% a year after 31 not a member. Goodness what a kerfuffle trying to get a price. The staff member wanted my name, to which I refused to give, as obviously already a member, finally getting the person to put in a fake name, John Smith, they claimed at first it wasn't possible, but said to consider I had just arrived from overseas. It was worse than drawing teeth, even after explaining no extras required, just the basic rate.

Finally managed to come up with a figure, after difficulty with the computer and it appears I am paying the correct amount.

A very hard job to compare though. If I hadn't been in for so long, I'd have most likely put the money aside in a special account, and joined in the age, if still in the country.