jumpingjellybean Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 (edited) I'm not sure if you're planning to stay in Australia long-term -but if you are, you need to be aware that "waiting till you're older" can cost you a LOT of money. If you don't start paying health insurance when you're 30, when you try to take out a policy later, you'll be charged an extra loading. Oh well; so be it. It is completely pointless paying $100 a month now to a health fund, when I just don't use doctors and such like very often. It is just a massive waste of money. But the insurance companies like to play on people’s fears. In the past five years I have been to: The dentist twice and that cost me $250.00 the first time and $130.00 the second The optician twice and that cost me nothing the first time as it was simply an eye check, and the second time cost $150.00 The doctors three times and that cost me $60.00 each time So in the space of five years I have personally spent just $710.00 Or over the past five years, I could have given the health insurance company $6000; for a very limited return Doing it myself has saved me $5290. Which if I don’t spend, will only add up over the years, and I can use it after I turn 60 for other health issues if the need arises. Instead of paying $1,200 per year to a health fund, I would much rather pay $1,200 per year directly into my “emergency health” bank account and earn interest on it too. Edited October 8, 2015 by jumpingjellybean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JockinTas Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 We live very close to the Mersey Hospital. I have had day surgery there after a wait of 2 weeks. No charge. Like you jumpingjillybean we have our own emergency fund to fall back on if need be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigelWaring Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Thanks for that very realistic report Vicky, particularly liked your comments on Culture / Australians / Australia which described it all very well. All those who have not taken out medical insurance, I recommend that you do right away. I never really thought that I'd ever need it but so many told me that it was essential so I took it out on the first working day after I arrived. That was around 40 years ago and since then I've only had average claims. The health fund was definitely making a profit out of me until about six years ago, since diagnosis my medical expenses have become close to a million. Yes I would have probably got similar treatment on the public health system but I might have had to queue a lot longer and I'm not sure if I would have survived as long. I can now pick one of the best private hospitals and have access to several top of the range specialists. My own direct contribution to the costs has been quite manageable, almost negligible. Yes I can definitely recommend that you take out medical insurance, even just the basics, as soon as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie 2 Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 I totally agree with Nigel Waring in regards to health cover. When I came there was no medicare so we all had to have health cover. It was very cheap then as everyone except pensioners and unemployed had to have it. I kept my cover going after Gough stuffed everything up and I am so glad I did. I get treated when I need it and don't have to wait for ever. I have been healthy all my life, until recently, but having had 4 sons, we've had numerous broken bones,tonsillectomies, dentists visits etc. Over all I think we've had more paid for than we paid in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 Private specialists work in the public system too. With regard to many serious complaints I believe the public system is preferable and private does not always equal increased access. I can't see a need for private healthcare in Australia to be honest. All the private patients I see are up to their neck in complicated fee structures and get money back for this and that but not the other whereas the public patients get access to clinical trials, latest research for free and don't get seduced by unnecessary treatments that private patients might feel more obliged to try. The fact that the public system will only find a treatment if it has proven efficacy is actually most often in the best interest of the patient from my professional perspective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 Private specialists work in the public system too. With regard to many serious complaints I believe the public system is preferable and private does not always equal increased access. I can't see a need for private healthcare in Australia to be honest. All the private patients I see are up to their neck in complicated fee structures and get money back for this and that but not the other whereas the public patients get access to clinical trials, latest research for free and don't get seduced by unnecessary treatments that private patients might feel more obliged to try. The fact that the public system will only fund a treatment if it has proven efficacy is actually most often in the best interest of the patient from my professional perspective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumpingjellybean Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 All those who have not taken out medical insurance, I recommend that you do right away. Still no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigelWaring Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 HappyHeart I've not had any of those problems, it may depend on which health fund you are in. I'm in the Teachers' Federation at the top cover level, my wife was a teacher. I have just about all my treatment at the Sanitarium Hospital in Sydney, they also handle much of the public patients treatment because there is little available at Hornsby Public Hospital, you can't even get an x-ray with them, you have to go to the private one across the road. Anyway for treatment and visits to specialists I just present my Federation Health and Medicare Cards, they process everything on the spot and I never have to pay any top up fee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naomi from Manchester Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 I was advised by a public health GP that private health insurance is a waste of money for typically developing children, with the exception being if they experience frequent ear infections and end up needing expensive gromits. Does anyone have any informed views on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie 2 Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 Private specialists work in the public system too. With regard to many serious complaints I believe the public system is preferable and private does not always equal increased access. I can't see a need for private healthcare in Australia to be honest. All the private patients I see are up to their neck in complicated fee structures and get money back for this and that but not the other whereas the public patients get access to clinical trials, latest research for free and don't get seduced by unnecessary treatments that private patients might feel more obliged to try. The fact that the public system will only find a treatment if it has proven efficacy is actually most often in the best interest of the patient from my professional perspective. i totally disagree. Have found the public sector horrendous and have never been "seduced" into unnecessary treatments. Perhaps, as has been suggested, the private patients you see should change their fund. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie 2 Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 I was advised by a public health GP that private health insurance is a waste of money for typically developing children, with the exception being if they experience frequent ear infections and end up needing expensive gromits. Does anyone have any informed views on this? Private cover is a safe guard for the things children do to themselves and for things like grommets, braces, tonsils etc. As I have boys, I was always glad of my cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JockinTas Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 i totally disagree. Have found the public sector horrendous and have never been "seduced" into unnecessary treatments. Perhaps, as has been suggested, the private patients you see should change their fund. We must have been very lucky as we have found the public health system to be very good here. OH has had abdominal surgery twice and didn't have to wait at all because the doc said he needed the ops asap. I've had minor surgery and the longest I waited was 4 weeks. I had both my sons in public hospitals and couldn't have asked for better care. As I said, maybe we were lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie 2 Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 I think that you have been very lucky. There were only public hospitals when I had my 4 sons. I had 2 in Scotland and 2 here when there were no private hospitals or such as everyone paid medical benefits. With my 3rd son my fund sent me a cheque because the RNS didn't have a private room available at the time! The cheque covered the difference between the cost of a private room and what I was given. Those were the days when funds paid everything - no gaps or exclusions. As I said before Gough stuffed the health system up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JockinTas Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 I think that you have been very lucky. There were only public hospitals when I had my 4 sons. I had 2 in Scotland and 2 here when there were no private hospitals or such as everyone paid medical benefits. With my 3rd son my fund sent me a cheque because the RNS didn't have a private room available at the time! The cheque covered the difference between the cost of a private room and what I was given. Those were the days when funds paid everything - no gaps or exclusions. As I said before Gough stuffed the health system up. Just before I migrated, I visited a cousin who had just had her first baby in a Scottish maternity hospital. I was really impressed as this was of course a public hospital but she had a private room and bathroom! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie 2 Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Just before I migrated, I visited a cousin who had just had her first baby in a Scottish maternity hospital. I was really impressed as this was of course a public hospital but she had a private room and bathroom! So did I. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest littlesarah Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I cancelled our private health insurance - for what we paid in premiums we got less back in benefits so it makes more sense to save that money and earmark it specifically for health care. I think a lot of people lack the discipline to do that (or begrduge account keeping fees), so instead take out health cover. It's all too complicated and in some ways I'd rather just keep the money in a mortgage offset or high interest account and reinvest the profit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peach Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I cancelled our private health insurance - for what we paid in premiums we got less back in benefits That's the case with all forms of insurance. Until the unexpected happens and you need to use it.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigelWaring Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Over the last six years I have needed just over $860,000 since I was diagnosed with Stage 3B Lung Cancer (inoperable), a much more common disease than most think, mine is Adenocarcinoma which is the non-smokers version. Since diagnosis it has metastasized (spread) to my ribs, spine, sternum and hips so that it is now Stage 4 Cancer. Just over two years ago I was put on Alimta Maintenance Chemotherapy and it has now stabilised, Alimta is never a cure but hopefully will keep me going until something better becomes available. The cost of Alimta including the work done by the infusion centre is about $1,500 a time plus the cost of a very comprehensive blood test, CT Scan and a review by my Oncologist. I am so glad that I did take out full cover health insurance about 40 years ago, I do not think that my health fund is as enthusiastic though. Anyway nobody has to worry about any of this because we all know that it only happens to other people. I'm not really being sarcastic. I'm now very much involved with a support group and stressing the seriousness of the situation seems to be the most effective way of saving lives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumpingjellybean Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 Still not doing it. I would rather save the money in an emergency fund instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigelWaring Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 A good idea especially if you can quickly get that emergency fund up to about one million dollars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumpingjellybean Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 A good idea especially if you can quickly get that emergency fund up to about one million dollars. Yep quite easily over 40 plus years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diane Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 I would quite like to have private medical insurance, but unfortunately I have a pre-existing condition that would make it pretty worthless. I have scleroderma which is a connective tissue disorder, and as pretty much your whole body is made up of connective tissues of one sort or another, anything I get would be considered to be part of the pre-existing condition - even if it isn't usually (as is the case with my current problems!). About the only thing I would be covered for would be accidents, and those are covered under Medicare anyway as emergencies. I have recently had two lots of surgery, and District Nurses visiting me at home every couple of days since July. All I have been asked to pay is a $60 contribution towards the RDNS. I have even seen specialists privately who have bulk-billed the appointments so I didn't have to even pay a gap. I must admit the whole system is pretty confusing, but there is a reason the Health Insurance companies make big profits!! Can someone explain the whole 'extras' cover to me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vickyplum Posted November 6, 2015 Author Share Posted November 6, 2015 I'm biased as I started this thread in the first place, but the last 2.5 pages are about health insurance, and I started it as an arrival report... Not really the end of the world but not what was intended either! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.