ABCDiamond

Is it right that the Medibank private cover is limited to $800 total general dental for the year, on Smart Choice Extras, and only $500 on the First Choice plan ?

Margaret3

I work in a large public hosp , which also has a maternity unit. I would say most of my nursing collegues have private insurance. Recently a few of the nurses have become pregnant and some opted to have thier babies privately in the public hosp.

As far as I could see, the private cover they had was for the pure luxury of seeing the same OB, and i would say most had a gap of around $3,000.

I get the impression the midwifery here could do with an overhaul, its a money making system for OB's, in scotland when i had my two girls, i mainly saw midwives (the same ones), and saw my OB around 3 times, i was extremely happy with the care i recieved and had every confidence in the system.

Margaret3

Also save for the 'gap', as i dont think i have ever spoken to anyone here who has not paid a gap for something when they have had an operation.

My daughters boyfriend recently had his wisdom teeth out under his family's private health insurance the 'gap' was $2,000

jad n rich

We have unlimited general dental, and we use it to the max

There are several levels and combinations of cover you can take. I think you can also vary the excess to adjust the premiums too. As I said about $290 a month for ours, hosptial and extras package.

ABCDiamond

That top cover for us would be $419.30 pm or $5,031 per year. Much higher than we have ever spent in one year on medical expenses.

DadAgain

You gotta consider the benefits of PHI in each case.
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For having baby the evidence is quite clear - the waiting list is NO longer for public than private - you get seen within approximately 9 months either way.

1 Way sees you probably $3-$5k out of pocket, the other way is pretty much free.

1 Way sees you led by a doctor and more likely to be cut open and suffer coplications, the other way more likely to be led by a midwife and have a positive birth experience.

On the whole PHI for this reason only seems a like a bit of a scam....
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On the other hand my 6yr old daughter is currently significantly deaf in both ears due to blocked middle ears. Publicly the waiting list for insertion of ear 'grommets' is around 18-24 months. Privately the wait is 3 weeks.

Publicly it would cost us nothing, Privately it will cost approx. ~$300.

Publicly my duaghter would be deaf for the most part of grade 1 and 3 at school, Privately she'll be perfectly normal by Thursday afternoon.

In this case PHI is clearly the way to go.
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Its important to have PHI - but I think its equally important to assess very carefully each time you need to use a hospital/specialist whether or not you're going to gain anything from using it.

jad n rich

Surprised ABC didnt know about the 30% govt rebate off that premium.

Actually just guessing your over 65, thats probably 35% rebate.

Over 70 LOL 40% rebate.

ABCDiamond

Wrong, that's after all the rebates.
and wrong again, under 65

and no, two wrongs don't make a right

jad n rich

Some serious age loading penalty then for not having health cover up to now?
That aussie govt has you screwed either way

Never mind I reckon if you got a toothache or gammy leg, you would probably just boil up some onion ointment and treat it yourself anyway.

ABCDiamond

Nah, yogurt is better

But actually i'd just go to the doctors, they do bulk bill, and the Dentists aren't too bad overall, compared to insurance premiums



This is the premium if I was eligible for LHC Exemption.

Sherlock Holmes

I had 4 wisdom teeth and two others out under general anaesthetic in a public hospital but a specialist doctor/dentist chappy. His charge $1,000, the day charge and the anaesthetist were refunded under medicare.

jad n rich

I wouldnt be without it, if I didnt have it, the tax dept would just grab extra tax anyway.

I wouldnt like to hold my breath for a bulk billing specialist if I got really ill either bit of a false economy if you drop dead waiting but each to their own.

fish.01

My wife and I have used our PHI for 3 different things and not paid any gap for hospital treatment. We just asked to be a No Gap patient and they have always said no problem.

fish.01

A 3rd option, for people who don't know, is to have no private insurance and then pay for a private specialist in a public hospital if you need to jump an elective surgery queue.

ABCDiamond

I'm not one of the higher paid group, we are well under $154,000 per year, so not affected by that.

Each to their own experiences

If it is life threatening, the hospitals are generally pretty good, and 100% free. At least they have been for us so far.

But for some people it does give peace of mind.