Private Health provider opinion: allowed?

[chatterbox]

Hi,

 

We're moving over to Perth in January. I've started to look into healthcare providers. I have absolutely no idea who is good and who isn't. I have searched through many, many pages on here reading up, but would appreciate some guidance.

 

We're thinking of going with HCF, as they also provide all of the other types of insurance, so could do a one-stop insurance shop with them! However, it's a huge amount of money, so I'm a wee but nervous about plucking a company out of the air. Any of you have experience of HCF?

 

We're a couple who may or may not consider children in the future. 33 and 37.

 

Apologies if I'm not allowed to ask this, please delete my thread if so.

 

Thanks

[VERYSTORMY]

The different providers are all a bit of a muchness. I would say if you don't need it for earnings - if you wont be hit by the Medicare levy, then think about if you need full insurance. My earnings are below the levy and so I just have the cover for things like dentistry and ambulance

[Marisawright]

We're moving over to Perth in January. I've started to look into healthcare providers. I have absolutely no idea who is good and who isn't. I have searched through many, many pages on here reading up, but would appreciate some guidance.

 

We're thinking of going with HCF, as they also provide all of the other types of insurance, so could do a one-stop insurance shop with them! However, it's a huge amount of money, so I'm a wee but nervous about plucking a company out of the air. Any of you have experience of HCF?

 

We're a couple who may or may not consider children in the future. 33 and 37.

 

 

 

I'm with HCF and I'm happy with them. As VeryStormy says, they're all much of a muchness in terms of price, but I've found their service good.

 

The bigger question is whether you need it. Does your visa require you to have it? If not, I wouldn't bother. I certainly wouldn't be taking out health insurance before you arrive - you've got enough expenses to worry about. Wait until you're settled then you can take your time to decide which way you want to go.

 

The private health insurers do a very good job of scaring people into thinking they must have insurance - but Australia is not like America! If you don't have private health insurance, you just get treated free under Medicare- you'll never get turned away. The quality of care under the public health system is just as good as the private system - in fact in some places, you'll find yourself in the same hospital with the same doctor, the only different is that private patients get a nicer room!

 

The only real drawbacks of not having private health insurance:

 

1. You may face a long waiting list if you need an "elective" operation

 

2. You'll pay a higher Medicare levy IF your salary is above the threshold (but the increase may be less than the premium you'd pay, so work it out)

 

3. If you don't take out health insurance, you'll be slugged for a surcharge if you decide to take out insurance in the future. However as a new migrant, you've got 12 months to make up your mind so there's no rush.

Edited December 14, 2015 by Marisawright

[Phoenix16]

we are with HBF, Ive personally found health insurance to be amazing,we are a pretty healthy family but as ive learned you never know! Hubby cricked his neck on one of our many camping trips, after suffering for 9 months (like men do, it'll be right!) turns out after i finally got him to see a GP and then a specialist his C5 disk was degenerated and at the ripe old age of 39 he needed a disk replacement, by this time it had become debilitating,under HBF he saw the consultant, the consultant was awesome, laid out the risks asked him to weigh up his quality of life and could he 'live with it' given its a serious op, he decided no and had the op 2 days later, was told 6 weeks recovery, returned to week 3 weeks later and has been in great health ever since. 7 year old daughter had a spell of nocturia, saw a GP, specialist immediately queried kidney reflux, she saw a specialist within a week after scans etc, had a procedure, yes, low and behold her ureter was twisted and malfunctioning and was causing kidney reflux, fortunately the prompt thinking of the GP and immediate treatment prevented any long term kidney scarring and prevented ultimately kidney failure, so yes im all for private health in OZ, it definitely has its place, im not saying our experience would have been any different under the public system, it seems the GP i go to refers privately and so, having insurance, I just go with it but its been very very worth it for us as a family...xxxxx

[Marisawright]

we are with HBF, Ive personally found health insurance to be amazing,we are a pretty healthy family but as ive learned you never know! Hubby cricked his neck on one of our many camping trips, after suffering for 9 months (like men do, it'll be right!) turns out after i finally got him to see a GP and then a specialist his C5 disk was degenerated and at the ripe old age of 39 he needed a disk replacement... 7 year old daughter had a spell of nocturia, saw a GP, specialist immediately queried kidney reflux, she saw a specialist within a week after scans etc, had a procedure,...im not saying our experience would have been any different under the public system, it seems the GP i go to refers privately and so, having insurance, I just go with it but its been very very worth it for us as a family...xxxxx

 

This is exactly my point - contrary to what the private health insurers try to tell you, it's very likely you would've had exactly the same experience in the public system.

 

To give you an example, I had a similar neck problem as your husband, had it done privately and was very happy with the whole experience. Even with health insurance it cost me several thousand dollars. I thought I was so lucky to have private health insurance to reduce the cost, to be able to get it resolved faster and to get such a good outcome.

 

Then my friend's father had the same problem. He didn't have health insurance so thought he would have a long painful wait, and he worried about the quality of care he would get. As it turned out, he had his op within three months and recovered just as well and quickly as I did. Couldn't fault the care. And it didn't cost him a cent!!

 

I have other examples of two completely different health problems where I was initially seen by a specialist in the private system and wasn't getting any better, despite multiple (expensive) appointments and tests. Both times, I then asked to be referred to a specialist in the public system who spotted the real problem straight away, treated it and I was fine. So I am by no means convinced that private specialists are always better!

 

Australian GP's are so accustomed to people having private health insurance that they automatically refer to private specialists. It's because of habit or prejudice, not for any good reason. You are always entitled to ask to see a specialist in the public system.

[Phoenix16]

This is exactly my point - contrary to what the private health insurers try to tell you, it's very likely you would've had exactly the same experience in the public system.

 

To give you an example, I had a similar neck problem as your husband, had it done privately and was very happy with the whole experience. Even with health insurance it cost me several thousand dollars. I thought I was so lucky to have private health insurance to reduce the cost, to be able to get it resolved faster and to get such a good outcome.

 

Then my friend's father had the same problem. He didn't have health insurance so thought he would have a long painful wait, and he worried about the quality of care he would get. As it turned out, he had his op within three months and recovered just as well and quickly as I did. Couldn't fault the care. And it didn't cost him a cent!!

 

I have other examples of two completely different health problems where I was initially seen by a specialist in the private system and wasn't getting any better, despite multiple (expensive) appointments and tests. Both times, I then asked to be referred to a specialist in the public system who spotted the real problem straight away, treated it and I was fine. So I am by no means convinced that private specialists are always better!

 

Australian GP's are so accustomed to people having private health insurance that they automatically refer to private specialists. It's because of habit or prejudice, not for any good reason. You are always entitled to ask to see a specialist in the public system.

 

Im so with you, I do completely get what you are saying, unfortunately for us if we don't spent 10K a year on health insurance we get taxed 20K extra in tax so we really have no choice and if we have to pay insurance we might as well use it! However, I would say this, when it comes to serious health issues like cancer, you cannot ever get better treatment and going private will simply bankrupt you, ive seen that with my own eyes.........

[Phoenix16]

And to clarify, out or pocket expenses were approx $200, his 'support' tights, a few coffee's for me, the rest was covered. I actually didnt check with the surgeon in advance, we just knew he needed this op and budgeted $x from the savings, it was a pleasant surprise to find out it was all taken care of by the health insurance!!!

[Marisawright]

Im so with you, I do completely get what you are saying, unfortunately for us if we don't spent 10K a year on health insurance we get taxed 20K extra in tax so we really have no choice and if we have to pay insurance we might as well use it! However, I would say this, when it comes to serious health issues like cancer, you cannot ever get better treatment and going private will simply bankrupt you, ive seen that with my own eyes.........

 

I was in the same boat, financially it made sense to have private health insurance so that's why I got it initially. As you say, once you've got it, you may as well take maximum advantage.

[ali]

I'm with medibank, paid only one access in a 12 month period, paid initial consult fees and no out of pocket other out of pocket expenses for 2 surgeries, hospital stay and my daughter having her wisdom teeth out. We were able to schedule the surgeries when we wanted them which was an advantage.

[chatterbox]

Thanks everyone, your input has been very helpful. I would expect that we'll be beyond the $180k joint income within a year or so, so figured we might as well take it. So glad to hear that everyone has recovered well Marisa and Jessie and that you had a positive experience.

 

Take care.

[Marisawright]

Thanks everyone, your input has been very helpful. I would expect that we'll be beyond the $180k joint income within a year or so, so figured we might as well take it. So glad to hear that everyone has recovered well Marisa and Jessie and that you had a positive experience.

 

 

If you're not going to hit the threshold in the first year, then the sensible thing is to delay. You won't reduce your premiums any by joining earlier.

[forbes]

hi, i am coming to melbourne on tourist visa. reason being i am getting married there in january. can any good bros and sis advise me what kind of insurance is good for covering GP outpatient treatment? is it advisable to cover for hospitalisation as well? i will only need it for 4 months until my temporary visa is approved and i get my medicare card. many thanks in advance.

[VERYSTORMY]

They thing to remember with using private is that you can have a gap payment and dependent on what is being done, this can be in the thousands or even tens of thousands.

 

I have been treated as both a private and public patient for the same thing and didn't see any difference at all in the treatment or wait times

[VERYSTORMY]

hi, i am coming to melbourne on tourist visa. reason being i am getting married there in january. can any good bros and sis advise me what kind of insurance is good for covering GP outpatient treatment? is it advisable to cover for hospitalisation as well? i will only need it for 4 months until my temporary visa is approved and i get my medicare card. many thanks in advance.

 

Just regular travel insurance

[robfromdublin]

If you're not going to hit the threshold in the first year, then the sensible thing is to delay. You won't reduce your premiums any by joining earlier.

 

 

This is not technically correct. The OP is over 30 and so is subject to the 'Lifetime Loading' legislation (link below). If you don't sign up to this within your first 12 months then you will have a 2% loading applied to your premiums. This loading can be removed after 10 years of continuous health cover.

 

So your future premiums will be a little more but the increase will be substantially less than a single year's premium.

 

http://www.privatehealth.gov.au/healthinsurance/incentivessurcharges/lifetimehealthcover.htm

If you are a new migrant to Australia, then you have until the later of 1 July following your 31st birthday or the first anniversary of your full Medicare registration to take out private hospital cover without incurring a Lifetime Health Cover loading.

[robfromdublin]

We have private health insurance but I consider it a waste of money. It's primarily there because my wife is very keen to have it. We make money on the 'extras' (dental, optical, physio, etc.) but this is dwarfed by the cost of the 'hospital' cover. I have a hospital procedure about once per year and see a private consultant about twice per year. Even with this I would be better off not paying premiums but paying entirely out of my own pocket.

 

The only risk I would see in not having it would be things like a knee ligament injury or something like that. It's common and not debilitating so the wait list to be seen publicly can be several months, but if you're into sports you may not want to wait that long. In this case you'd be up for a few grand.

 

If you're considering having kids then it will cost you several thousand dollars over and above your premiums to go privately. If you go public it might cost you a few hundred dollars at most. The care difference is that afterwards you'll be on a ward rather than a private room for a couple of days, and that you are less likely to have a caesarian section if you go publicly.

[Phoenix16]

It is a personal choice, I personally believe the public health care here is brilliant, however, it's also a no brainer at a certain salary bracket bexcause you get penalised tax wise for not having it, and so then you might as well use it. For me, the fact that when problems occur they can be swiftly dealt with is the bonus. The public health system is great here but nevertheless, if it's not life threatening then you will have to wait, my husbands disc replacement would not have been a priority but unfortunately for him, it was a total priority in terms of his quality of life by the time he decided to see his GP, we were then able to have the op and get on with life pretty quickly thereafter, like I said it's a personal thing xxxx

[Marisawright]

This is not technically correct. The OP is over 30 and so is subject to the 'Lifetime Loading' legislation (link below). If you don't sign up to this within your first 12 months then you will have a 2% loading applied to your premiums..

 

That's true but my statement is also correct. They have 12 months to decide whether to sign up, and my advice is to take advantage of that. Obviously IF they decide they're worried about Lifetime Loading, then they will need to sign up before the deadline, but there's no advantage in signing up any earlier than that.

 

Besides, they may decide they're not worried about Lifetime Loading. For instance, they may not be planning to stay in Australia in retirement, so they're not worried about needing health insurance in their old age. Or they may prefer to self-insure, like my husband does.

Edited December 15, 2015 by Marisawright

[Guest]

If you're not going to hit the threshold in the first year, then the sensible thing is to delay. You won't reduce your premiums any by joining earlier.

 

Agree with this. Hold off till the year is almost up and before you are about to get hit with the loading, then take a policy out if you need one.

 

We held off and got it 11 months after we arrived after we had a reminder about the loading applying from X date in the near future and to arrange cover if we wanted to avoid this.