Private Medical Insurance

[joe strummer]

Just wish I had taken it out when i first arrived. Instead I relied on medicare. Developed disc problems (very painful) which requires surgery. Medicare will take years and public hospitals none too good on back operations!. Private Insurance would have taken care of it, however must wait 12 months after applying for it, for said op to be done. You live and learn I suppose.

[Petals]

I do have private health but I believe the care in public is just as good. A lot of operations cannot be carried out in private due to the complexity of cases. I also take the view that if I can wait then that is a good thing, always can get better before needing the op. My friend's husband had the operation and the problem just moved somewhere else in his back. My mum took the cortisone shots down the spine and has had them twice and they worked for 20 years.

 

Just to add get a second, third opinion.

 

I do know that when I did not have health insurance I went to two specialists for two separate problems. Both recommended surgery straight away and then discovered I did not have health insurance, the first then told me I did not need to do anything it would get better and it did, the second said oh well we will do this and he did and it fixed it, no surgery, so make sure with private health its easy to just chop.

[Quinkla]

Private Health Insurance might have taken care of it, but in many cases, you still have to pay an excess, get reimbursed only for a proportion of the overall cost; and have to make huge payments out of your own pocket for accommodation, anaestetics, medication, nursing and stuff. You also have to pay the consultation fees for the doctor before he or she operates. If your poor health results in taking time off work or losing your job, your health insurance will be the first thing to bite the dust - hence it is only useful when you don't need it, and even then it is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

 

Oh yes, plus, as Petals says, if you have insurance you'll find you're never quite cured. Always need more procedures, check-ups, etc.