Costs of medical care Oz vs UK or NZ
#16
Re: Costs of medical care Oz vs UK or NZ
If you have a prolonged illness in Australia you will be covered by Medicare.
#17
Re: Costs of medical care Oz vs UK or NZ
Interesting point!
We have a choice between Sydney or Melbourne, although we are swayed towards Melbourne at the moment.....sounds like it might be a better fit for us. Are people generally able to find bulk-billing doctors there or are they few and far between.....we are talking about family friendly suburbs (in the NE, E or S) here as we have school age children. One of our current problems in NZ is that due to the way our local primary care trust thing is funded it actually costs more to take our school age (6+) children to see a GP than is does for us as adults and when all of our kids are ill at once this can cost us a small fortune.
We have a choice between Sydney or Melbourne, although we are swayed towards Melbourne at the moment.....sounds like it might be a better fit for us. Are people generally able to find bulk-billing doctors there or are they few and far between.....we are talking about family friendly suburbs (in the NE, E or S) here as we have school age children. One of our current problems in NZ is that due to the way our local primary care trust thing is funded it actually costs more to take our school age (6+) children to see a GP than is does for us as adults and when all of our kids are ill at once this can cost us a small fortune.
#19
Re: Costs of medical care Oz vs UK or NZ
Yes, in the NI (as in you are taxed), so I mentioned it as the impression is made that you pay less tax in Oz - just highlighting that the cost may be elsewhere.
So if you earn an above average wage, yet need to regularly see a chiropractor - you get it for free?
So if you earn an above average wage, yet need to regularly see a chiropractor - you get it for free?
#20
Re: Costs of medical care Oz vs UK or NZ
Chiropractors are shysters for most things anyway.
#21
Re: Costs of medical care Oz vs UK or NZ
I personally saw a physiotherapist for 8 months (for a dodgy knee). Got referred straight away, and didn't cost me a bean.
My point is that you're better off in oz (with less tax), but if you need to see specialists it might work out cheaper in the UK in the long run.
Regarding UK finances - it'll be all sorted in under 6yrs won't it? aren't they putting VAT up to 20% (and increasing the income tax threshold as a sweetener)?
#22
Re: Costs of medical care Oz vs UK or NZ
Yes, I agree you pay via NI (tax).
I personally saw a physiotherapist for 8 months (for a dodgy knee). Got referred straight away, and didn't cost me a bean.
My point is that you're better off in oz (with less tax), but if you need to see specialists it might work out cheaper in the UK in the long run.
Regarding UK finances - it'll be all sorted in under 6yrs won't it? aren't they putting VAT up to 20% (and increasing the income tax threshold as a sweetener)?
I personally saw a physiotherapist for 8 months (for a dodgy knee). Got referred straight away, and didn't cost me a bean.
My point is that you're better off in oz (with less tax), but if you need to see specialists it might work out cheaper in the UK in the long run.
Regarding UK finances - it'll be all sorted in under 6yrs won't it? aren't they putting VAT up to 20% (and increasing the income tax threshold as a sweetener)?
#23
Re: Costs of medical care Oz vs UK or NZ
Depends were you live. Some NHS trusts include it and some don't.
#24
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Posts: n/a
Re: Costs of medical care Oz vs UK or NZ
Oh and where some things are "free" they are only free once Medicare pays you back 100% of the cost. You still have to fund the payment to the person. In some events medicare will write a cheque to the specialist, then post it to you, then you have to get it to the specialist along with any gap in the payment.
GP's: More like $66 before Medicare refund. And not sure about 80% bulk bill. Some bulk bill kids, some not. You have to really look and then you'll only get 5 minutes attention on bulk bill. I find that i usually can get an appointment on the same day at full price, unlike the UK.
GP's: More like $66 before Medicare refund. And not sure about 80% bulk bill. Some bulk bill kids, some not. You have to really look and then you'll only get 5 minutes attention on bulk bill. I find that i usually can get an appointment on the same day at full price, unlike the UK.
If a Doctor fully bulk bills, they will not charge you, but they will get paid all of the scheduled fee direct from the Medicare.
Some Doctors wish to charge, say $50.00 or more, so this may happen:
The doctor will charge you say $50, and YOU claim 100% of the scheduled $33.55 fee back from the local Medicare Office. Net cost to you = $16.45
Some Doctors wish to charge, say $50.00 or more, so this may happen:
The doctor will charge you say $50, and YOU claim 100% of the scheduled $33.55 fee back from the local Medicare Office. Net cost to you = $16.45
24 Jun 2003 ... Only 68 per cent of doctors now bulk bill (www.parliament.nsw.gov.au)
10 Feb 2006 ... The national GP bulk-billing rate increased to 75.1 per cent (www.health.gov.au)
November 10, 2007 ... the rate of bulk billing by GPs, has dipped by 0.2 per cent of services to 78 per cent nationally. (www.smh.com.au)
10 Feb 2006 ... The national GP bulk-billing rate increased to 75.1 per cent (www.health.gov.au)
November 10, 2007 ... the rate of bulk billing by GPs, has dipped by 0.2 per cent of services to 78 per cent nationally. (www.smh.com.au)
GP Attendances Bulk Billed by State, March 2010
84.2% NSW
79.2% QLD
78.4% SA
78.4% VIC
74.8% TAS
72.5% WA
66.1% NT
47.0% ACT
84.2% NSW
79.2% QLD
78.4% SA
78.4% VIC
74.8% TAS
72.5% WA
66.1% NT
47.0% ACT
#25
Re: Costs of medical care Oz vs UK or NZ
It can also be a case of knowing where to go. I work in a public hospital in the cardiology department, we bulk bill all heart tests and doctors can refer to us but often don't. The same goes for xrays, blood test, MRIs and probably a host of other procedures. Its down to the doc or specialist. I have had a host of MRIs for my medical condition and have never paid here at the hospital. I go to see my neuro and she bulk bills (lovely smart offices too) and have not ever seen patients pay on their way out. I do pay to see my GP however LOL.
Jo
Jo
#26
Re: Costs of medical care Oz vs UK or NZ
Australia
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Specialists: Not free at Public Hospitals. You pay them and get a refund from Medicare again depending on your circumstances how much you get back. Expensive everywhere else. In-patient hospital specialist costs are usually free (unless private). Out patient are Medicare refunded as rule.
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Specialists: Not free at Public Hospitals. You pay them and get a refund from Medicare again depending on your circumstances how much you get back. Expensive everywhere else. In-patient hospital specialist costs are usually free (unless private). Out patient are Medicare refunded as rule.
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#27
Re: Costs of medical care Oz vs UK or NZ
so which is cheaper over a lifetime, National insurance + NHS dentist OR Private Health Cover + Oz dentist?