Medical System

[k8bug79]

Hi, I have read quite a few things about the medical system out in OZ. Maybe I am beinga bit simple. But everything I read just confuses me further. COuld someone talk me through how it works. For eg an example from going to the Docs to going to Hospital tests etc prescriptions and emergancy treatment.

 

I know loads of people have private health insurance. Why do most feel this is necessary and how does private health care work in contrast to medicare???

 

Thanks

[Guest jooby]

Hi, you don't need to have private health insurance but many people do. Private insurance can go from just paying enough not to get hit with extra taxes (medicare levy surcharge) if you earn a combined income above $100000 or so as family, $50000 as a single, to all the way up to complete cover for a family for most private procedures and some dental, physio etc...

 

If you don't have private insurance and are eligible for medicare (are a permanent resident or citizen) the system is pretty similar to the UK except for going to the GP, where you will pay a fee (around $50) and then claim most of it back from the medicare office - which has always seemed a massive waste of money and admin to me but that's how the system works. Prescriptions are more expensive than UK but if you have a health care card cost is very small (need to be on low income). Once you reach a yearly dollar threshold on prescriptions/treatments you can then claim most of the extra money you spend back from the government - called medicare safetynet or something like that

 

Depending where you live and availability of GPs you may be able to "bulk bill" your GP costs. This means the GP practice does not actually charge you anything when you go and claims it directly from Medicare. Many GPs will do this for children, students, low income earners, the elderly etc. but may make "working people" pay up front.

 

Public hospitals (IMO) are of a higher standard in some regards than UK, food and accommodation is better, although sometimes not staffed as well as UK. If you are diagnosed with an illness that needs hospital treatment you will be referred via the GP to a specialist and will not pay anything at the hospital, but will have to wait much longer for treatment usually than if you have private insurance (but where I live is still much quicker than the wait in UK). For emergency treatment you just rock up to emergency department and get treated for free.

 

Another thing that is different (in NSW anyway) is that if you do not have private insurance you have to pay for any ambulance trip to hospital...have a few times when kids get concussed at sports and you have a bill for $500 for a 4km trip to hospital and the private cover can start to make sense!

 

Private insurance is really quite complicated, and not something my family has felt the need to have as what you are covered for, which hospitals you can use etc. is really difficult to work out, and we found that paying out upfront or saving for things such as braces, physio etc. was actually cheaper than paying the insurance and then finding money for the "gap" (excess). Everyone's circumstances are different though, if you have regular needs for hospital treatment or six kids it might be worthwhile...we do however have the most "basic" private cover that gives us a private room in a public hospital and covers for ambulance transport (costs $1000 a year but saves us the 1.5% medicare levy on our tax bill, so still saving around $2500 a year than if we didn't have it)

[Petals]

I agree with the previous poster, no insurance here and I do have a daughter with multiple ongoing medical problems and she is very well looked after in the public system.

 

Have a look at the Medicare site it may assist you.Medicare Australia

 

Its wise to take out ambulance cover and you just contact the ambulance service in the State you live in and arrange it.

[k8bug79]

Thanks I think I am a bit clearer, So Am I right in thinking you only really pay for GP visits (which you can claim back if they don't bulk bill) and Prescriptions. Also ambulances but I had read about getting ambulance cover and for the small cost we would get that anyway.

 

Emergancy treatment in hospital is free. But if you are referred by your GP do you pay a percentage of it like the medicine and gp appointments or from there is it free?

 

I will look into the Medicare tax levy as that is something I don't quite understand. I doubt we'll be earning over $100K as a family so doubt it will apply to us and also the basic private insurance.

 

Thanks for your help guys

[ozsurfie]

im qld we pay a compulsory subscription through your electricity bill to the ambulance which covers you for ambulance service. other states may or may not have similar - if you travel interstate some states have some recipricol arrangements for certain types of qld residents - BUt good to check as if you get airlifted to hospital in nsw it can cost you up to $5k Which state do you intend to live in ?

 

Off to UK for a visit soon going to visit Praa Sands - beautiful area

[k8bug79]

im qld we pay a compulsory subscription through your electricity bill to the ambulance which covers you for ambulance service. other states may or may not have similar - if you travel interstate some states have some recipricol arrangements for certain types of qld residents - BUt good to check as if you get airlifted to hospital in nsw it can cost you up to $5k Which state do you intend to live in ?

 

Off to UK for a visit soon going to visit Praa Sands - beautiful area

 

 

Thanks, we are hoping to go to adelaide and I have checked and you pay straight to SA, sounds a good idea to have it lumped in with elec or some other bill.

 

ENjoy Praa sands, just round the corner from me, tis a nice area but touristy. Hope you have a fab time