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  • AADD Moderators: swilow | Vagabond696

Private Health Insurance

Raz

Raz

Bluelighter
Joined
Aug 11, 2002
Messages
7,330
Let's talk about...health insurance!

I was just wondering, how many of y'all have health insurance, and how much do you know about it?

Before I started working for a health fund, I had absolutely zero idea at all about how health insurance works; it has been a very eye-opening experience for me. I've decided I'm gonna get hospital and ancillary cover this year, but if I had never got my current job I would never have given health insurance a second thought.

It doesn't surprise me that people who don't have it don't know anything about it cause I know I didn't, but it does kind of blow me away that there are so many people who have been throwing money at their health fund for years and have absolutely no idea at all what they're actually paying for....I mean it's not a cheap thing to have, I guess I would have thought that people might try to take some interest in what they're throwing their money at every month...

So...any thoughts? I know it's boring as fuck, but I figure it might be worth discussing something that maybe people have never given a second thought to and maybe should...
 
I've got private health insurance but it's at a majorly discounted price until I'm 25 because it's connected to my mum's... something something something.

Yeah I don't know anything. All I know is that I get free contact lenses all year which pretty much covers how much it costs.

And a cool health card with a family jumping around on it as if they're laughing at the sick people who actually have to use the card.
 
I'm covered through the folks (which is fucking awesome) through what is apparently the best health fund in Australia, and as above, I get free contact lenses, and an assload of other things like that.

most notably, I get my eyes lasered this year and get 2 grand refunded
\O/
 
Just watch TV for the best deals, ch 9 and ch 7 are absolutely reaming our free-to-air TV with health insurance ads, in the wake of all our recent disasters..
 
I found out everything I know about private health last year when I started earning enough that I had to take it out, otherwise the government would start taxing me a shitload for staying in the public system.

From the perspective of recreational drug use, I think people on this site should take a greater interest in not only health insurance but also, especially, ambulance cover.

These days I can't believe I went for so long, taking drugs like I did without ambulance cover. If you live in a state where an ambulance call out isn't free, and you take drugs (especially GHB, and especially if you take it in clubs/events) you really should have ambulance membership.

You should also note that there are restricted benefit periods on some services like psychiatric care, so for example you have to wait two years before you can claim benefits if you spiral into psychosis after your next meth binge.

Also, the ambulance cover that comes with private health in some states does not cover all situations; make sure you read the fine print.
 
Haven't got and don't plan on getting: Partly because I think it's a rort and partly on principle.

It's costing me quite a bit in extra tax but I still refuse to capitulate (for now). It's probably a pipe dream but I'm still hoping medicare will be repaired rather than scrapped :\
 
I've never had health insurance but after spending $3000 to get my wisdom teeth out this month I wish I did. I've looked into it a few times in the past but it has always looked far too expensive and complicated.

Really though, in the last year I've broken ribs, my ankle, chipped my knee, had two teeth knocked out and been diagnosed with rheumatic fever. I think I'll definately be getting it when I get back from overseas.
 
hoptis said:
otherwise the government would start taxing me a shitload for staying in the public system.
Click to expand...

I know absolutely nothing about health care. Does this statement mean that if we are covered with private health then we pay less tax?
 
^I think it depends on how much you earn... if you're earning heaps and still in the public system they make you pay more tax because you should be able to pay your own way. That's a completely blind guess though :\

I'm not covered now I'm not living at home, and can't afford to pay insurance myself, but luckily I'm pretty spoiled so I know my dad would pay for hospital/ambulance if I needed him to.

Definately planning on signing up as soon as I can afford it though.
 
I was covered by my folks until I graduated from uni...which has just happened sadly for me. I just got my own cover (HCF for anyone interested) and I worked out the most cost effective way to pay it, which cover was best, what I needed etc etc.

Jo, it costs me $26 a fortnight which comes straight out of my pay so I dont notice it's gone. I'm such a walking disaster that I needed it...I spend half my life at the doctors/physio/optometrists etc. Oh yeah...note to self...call dentist.
 
depending on who you work for, you can get discounted health insurance anyway. i know my dear other half gets discounted health insurance with HCF through his workplace. it doesnt seem like much, his is like $3 or so less a fortnight than mine and we are on the same plan, but it all adds up.
 
I have Ambulance membership (it's really quite cheap when you consider the possible alternative :eek: ), but no private health insurance.

I haven't been covered by mum's for many years and have luckily never needed to fork out a large amount for any medical expenses in that time.

There was one point about 4 years ago I investigated the health funds but came to the conclusion it was just too expensive and I had no particular need for it.

I *am* considering getting private cover in the next couple of years though, because with getting married and all, and possibly starting a family I think I'll be more concerned with possible contingencies.
 
I like the idea of having my private cover, simply for that unexpected case where you need it.

I pay mine direct debit a fortnight out of my bank account, on the same day I get paid, so I don't actually notice it missing. However, for five years I was thinking "why have I got this?" I don't use it for anything apart from the regular dental checkup. And the work I need doing on my teeth is not covered by my particular plan anyways, so in order for it to be beneficial there I'd have to upgrade my plan and wait for a year or so before I could claim on it...

BUT, then last year, I suddenly had something happen and needed some stuff done, and was looking at being out of pocket about $700, then the kind lady said "are you in a health fund at all dear?" and I said yeah, not thinking it would get me much back...but I ended up only being out of pocket $200 at the most I think. So it was handy to have my health insurance then, because I certainly didn't have $700 sitting around waiting to be spent on tests, and medical bills and so on.

Still... I wonder if its worth it from time to time (after all, having been in this health fund for 7 years I've spent more than the $500 it saved me that one time), but then say "heck I'm not noticing the missing money each fortnight, and if I did save that money I'm spending on health insurance, I'd probably only drink it away anyways and not actually save it to be spent on good and wise things".

I am thinking of possibly upgrading my membership though, make it more useful to me. got a flyer in the mail the other day with all the different covers available now- back when I was getting my cover, through NIB, there was only one package available for single people really....unless you paid the top top cover, which would have seen me sitting at home doing nothing all the time thus never getting sick or injured in order to use it! Now I notice its all a bit different. Think I want to upgrade to something that will cover the extras I need doing on my teeth, and for that possible one day I might get pregnant and want to have a baby, and thus would prefer to have some sort of coverage there....I've seen my friends go through the public system, and I couldn't hack that.


not that I am planning on pregnancy ever, the chances of me falling pregnant without IVF are somewhat slim, but I just think at the age I am at now, if I were to accidentally fall pregnant, on that off chance, I'd probably want to have the baby, as opposed to five or six years ago, I'd probably not have a baby- thus would like to have a better coverage on that off chance...after all thats what health insurance is all about for a lot of people, especially me who has no need for contact lenses, physio etc- the off chance you need it for those big things! Also if I upgrade now, and then in 6 months meet a perfect Mr Right and change my whole mind on wanting to plan a baby, I will be covered right up for IVF services when it comes time to plan that family, as opposed to having to change then, and wait for the waiting period to be up- and at my age, I'd not be wanting to wait any extra than I had to.

I figure, I've just got a pay rise that in the hand, covers the extra I'd be paying for the top top cover, so I won't miss it.


But then I think.... why bother.

I don't know...half the problem is I really still have no clue what I want to do in the future, if I really want to get my teeth fixed or not, if I seriously think I'll meet a someone who will change my mind on kids...and that all plays a part in this decision on health insurance...
 
^ That's also another reason I'm considering it.

The Medicare levy fucking sucks at tax time :(. I might as well put that $600 to better use.

So Raz, give us the speil, is Medibank Private any good? I'm pretty sure that's what mum had.
 
I would recommend that everyone gets ambulance cover. They are freaking expensive if you don't have it. If you have a health care card then that covers the cost I think, at least in Victoria.
I have been in an ambulance twice now. The first time was about two city blocks worth of distance, cost $600. Luckily I had a health care card at the time because I am at uni. But membership only costs $50 a year or something and is well worth it.

I don't have private health cover, I think it is a massive rort and everybody in Australia should be able to get free public health care HOWEVER this isn't the reality, and when I am working full time I imagine I will get some.
 
I have ambulance cover and the top health cover offered by HBA because I'm covered under my parents cover until I'm 25 (I live out of home and I'm not a student, so kudos to HBA).

I did have my own cover for a year before they changed their policy. Start N Save Hospital + General Extras, was around $75 a month.

Basically the extra's don't cover much, my physio covered around $15 out of a $55 session and dental was even more pitiful but basically I want it so I can afford a private room should I ever end up in hospital or require major surgery.

The premium cover I'm on at the moment covers between 60-80% depending on the practioner, so very worthwhile, also only costs me $40 per month! But I guess next year I'll need to look at my personal private care again.
 
Get a clue.

Everyone in Australia should have public hospital cover? Private health insurance is a rort? Boohoo, poor me, I only earn $60,000pa and have to pay 1% out of my pay for a medicare levy, how terrible!

Medicare was NOT introduced for everyone, it has been abused and now we're paying the price. Medicare was introduced for families, people on low incomes and older Australians. Not for single people or couples, earning ridiculous amounts of money, who will quite cheerfully buy expensive cars, furniture, holidays, drugs, go out to restaurants on a regular basis etc etc etc, who wouldn't dream of not insuring their cars or houses but won't insure their own health.

Do any of you read papers? Watch the news? Our Health system is in a crisis at the moment and its not just Qld. There are many reasons for this, and it certainly hasn't been helped by the abuse of a system by a lot of Australians who are, quite frankly, spoilt, selfish children who think they aren't responsible for their own health.

Please, to those people earning a decent amount of money - stop acting like its your right to use the public health system and leave it for the people who really need it.

And yes, quite possibly private health insurance is a rort - much like other types of insurance but hey - that's life! Being screwed over by big corporations is a reality! 8)

Also, having private health insurance not only doesn't guarantee a private room, 9 times out of 10 you wont get one anyway since most people share a room in private hospitals and private rooms are kept for those that are seriously ill.

The advantages of private cover are being able to choose your own specialist and not being on a lengthy waiting list for so called 'elective' surgery (the definition of which is surgery which is not required in the next 24 hours). Trust me, if you ever get sick or are diagnosed with a medical condition, you will appreciate this.
 
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