Private Healthcare versus Medicare

[fish.01]

Ok, getting screwed vs. Aussies, I can understand. Yeah, we're guests, yeah we're going to pay the same 1.5%Levy + 1%MLS that you do but get half the Medicare service. Yeah if we want additional private insurance it will cost us twice as much and we're not even eligible for the 30% rebate. OK, fine. I'll be sure to return the favour when you come visit UK. I'll make sure the NHS writes in some nice coverage exemptions for you all.

 

I'll make it up on the LAFHA, you jerks. :-)

 

But getting screwed vs. non-Brits, that part, I just can't comprehend. If we want beyond-minimal coverage, we have to pay 1.5%+$500 more than they do!

 

Ok, I'm getting myself upset at this. Surely, there must be a good explanation! Last vent for the day :-)

 

:laugh: you pay 1.5%+500 more than non reciprocal but I don't agree that you end up exactly the same as them...that money covers the public health system not the private....they don't have any access to that...most will tell you that using the public system will in many situations save you a fortune over using private insurance. Agree though that paying the 500 is dodgy when you have already paid for OHC.

 

Your OHC covers far more than my resident private hospital insurance so not surprised it is expensive.

[Ken]

Ok, getting screwed vs. Aussies, I can understand. I'll make it up on the LAFHA, you jerks. :-)

 

 

Good point. Aussies (and Brits with PR) don't get LAFHA. If that's not saving you at least what you're paying extra on health insurance you're doing it wrong.

[Guest David and Sarah]

Maybe i'm being a bit dim here, but I just don't get it.

Can someone give me a simple answer ??

 

My 457 is ready - But I need to show proof of health insurance.

Do I get travel insurance - but all the ones I can see need a return date, or the 'one way'ones end as soon as you pass thru Aussie immigration.

 

OR do I need a Bupa, HCF, IMAN type policy - whihc i will probably cancel when I get there ????

 

Need to get it sorted this evening ........

[Guest PocketMamma]

thought I read somewhere, that if you opted into a private health scheme within so many weeks of arriving in Oz you would get it as if aged 31 years..........or have I imagined it

 

No not imagined...I've just received a letter from Department of Health (I arrived in Dec '10). It says I have up to 12 months from when I registered with Medicare to purchase appropriate hospital cover without having to pay the Lifetime Health Cover loading.

[Guest PocketMamma]

Oh - and I'm 38!

[brucewayne]

Maybe i'm being a bit dim here, but I just don't get it.

Can someone give me a simple answer ??

 

My 457 is ready - But I need to show proof of health insurance.

Do I get travel insurance - but all the ones I can see need a return date, or the 'one way'ones end as soon as you pass thru Aussie immigration.

 

OR do I need a Bupa, HCF, IMAN type policy - whihc i will probably cancel when I get there ????

 

Need to get it sorted this evening ........

 

I came over on a 457 and I bought my temporary insurance with the Post Office. Their policy explicity states that they have one way cover (max duration 17 days - so just count out 17 days from the start date and use that as your end/date i.e. return date. No point adding anything more than that cos you won't be covered and it will cost you more).

 

Try looking at http://www2.postoffice.co.uk/travel/travel-insurance/travel-insurance-policy

 

I supplied that info in my visa application and it was all fine

[Cal2]

thanks PocketMamma, will make a note of that and I'm you plus 10!

[Guest cosmopolman]

:laugh: you pay 1.5%+500 more than non reciprocal but I don't agree that you end up exactly the same as them...that money covers the public health system not the private....they don't have any access to that...most will tell you that using the public system will in many situations save you a fortune over using private insurance. Agree though that paying the 500 is dodgy when you have already paid for OHC.

 

Your OHC covers far more than my resident private hospital insurance so not surprised it is expensive.

 

With almost any OHC plans, which non-Brits are obliged to buy (like the ones from IMAN), non-Brits have the exact same coverage of public treatment that everyone else in Oz does. all IMAN plans cover all public costs, and the higher end plans even cover private costs. These are the same plans available to Brits, so Brits gain nothing in terms of coverage over non-Brits if they buy the same private plan. In fact, they lose out because they also pay the 1.5+500. The only way a Brit wins is if he doesn't buy any insurance, and just used reciprocal partial-Medicare. This is only useful to 23 year-old healthy backpackers, alas, not to someone who might want to visit a non-emergency room doctor once in a while.

 

Also, don't think that OHC covers more than resident insurance. I did a side by side comparison (on MBF, for example), and equivalent levels of coverage are 2-3 times cheaper for Aussies.

 

I'm starting to suspect this is a little loophole in the law that insurance companies are exploiting by not giving Brits a discount on the OHC plans. They probably get some of their costs reimbursed by Medicare for reciprocals, but don't pass the savings on to us in the form of lower premiums, making us pay the same thing non-reciprocals pay. Hmh....

[fish.01]

With almost any OHC plans, which non-Brits are obliged to buy (like the ones from IMAN), non-Brits have the exact same coverage of public treatment that everyone else in Oz does. all IMAN plans cover all public costs, and the higher end plans even cover private costs. These are the same plans available to Brits, so Brits gain nothing in terms of coverage over non-Brits if they buy the same private plan. In fact, they lose out because they also pay the 1.5+500. The only way a Brit wins is if he doesn't buy any insurance, and just used reciprocal partial-Medicare. This is only useful to 23 year-old healthy backpackers, alas, not to someone who might want to visit a non-emergency room doctor once in a while.

 

Also, don't think that OHC covers more than resident insurance. I did a side by side comparison (on MBF, for example), and equivalent levels of coverage are 2-3 times cheaper for Aussies.

 

I'm starting to suspect this is a little loophole in the law that insurance companies are exploiting by not giving Brits a discount on the OHC plans. They probably get some of their costs reimbursed by Medicare for reciprocals, but don't pass the savings on to us in the form of lower premiums, making us pay the same thing non-reciprocals pay. Hmh....

 

I didn't take into account that OHC policies cover public for non reciprocals as well so i agree that does make it worse value for you. Though I do doubt they cover it totally. Private insurance is notorious for co-pays and exclusions - bet they have them :wink:

 

"visit a non-emergency room doctor once in a while"

 

While it certainly has limitations I don't think it is this limited. It is not for emergencies only - many things are not emergencies but still medically necessary before leaving the country. Many anecdotal reports on here suggest in practice there are few limitations. Can understand you not relying on that though.

 

"Also, don't think that OHC covers more than resident insurance. I did a side by side comparison (on MBF, for example), and equivalent levels of coverage are 2-3 times cheaper for Aussies."

 

Resident private hospital insurance covers procedures performed in private hospitals only.

 

OHC seems to cover that plus:

- Public hospitals

- GP's

- Public and private specialists

- PBS medicines in hospital

- Medical repatriation

 

NONE of the above is covered by resident private insurance.

 

"I'm starting to suspect this is a little loophole in the law that insurance companies are exploiting by not giving Brits a discount on the OHC plans. They probably get some of their costs reimbursed by Medicare for reciprocals, but don't pass the savings on to us in the form of lower premiums, making us pay the same thing non-reciprocals pay. Hmh...."

 

Wouldn't put it past them to rip you off - I doubt they directly get their costs reimbursed but possibly customers with reciprocal claim Medicare benefits and then only claim the difference from their OHC...not sure if it works that way? But then with resident private hospital insurance they do get reimbursed directly from medicare so maybe?

[Guest Scotinaus]

As others have said, ambulance cover is essential if you don't have private health insurance. The decision to go private depends on how much you earn as if it is over the threshold you get hit with the levy, and you may as well have paid for private insurance if you have to pay for that! We initially just used medicare and paid for ambo cover, and then went private when our salaries went up.

 

One thing - some employers insist that people they sponsor on 457s have private health cover. I assume yours doesn't but thought it was worth mentioning.

 

If you do go private, you won't have all the options that Aussies have unfortunately - there are special private health covers for people on 457s, which frankly is more expensive with less coverage. We were glad as soon as we got PR and then citizenship as it meant we could get decent cover at last!