View Poll Results: Will you be dumping your private medical health cover in light of the new thresholds?
YES
7
20.59%
NO
27
79.41%
Voters: 34. You may not vote on this poll
Will you dump your private health cover after the budget?
#16
Re: Will you dump your private health cover after the budget?
The hospital cover is what exempts you from the MLS so yes you would be charged the surcharge.
#17
Re: Will you dump your private health cover after the budget?
Given this:
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/arti...444272839.html
Will you be dumping your private medical health cover?
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/arti...444272839.html
Will you be dumping your private medical health cover?
I will be keeping my minimum hospital cover, as I had to fight hard to get the age loading premiums waived owing to a 3 year gap between validation and final arrival.
S
#18
Victorian Evangelist
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Melbourne, by the beach, living the dream.
Posts: 7,704
Re: Will you dump your private health cover after the budget?
Does anyone know if age loading premiums start 1 year after you arrive in Oz, or 1 year after you get PR (if you get it after you arrive in Oz).
Thanks
Buzzy
Thanks
Buzzy
#20
Re: Will you dump your private health cover after the budget?
When I started my cover HCF were adamant that I would have to pay the aged premium, as I hadn't started within a year of validating my visa, so I started to pay it. However, towards the close of my first year with Medicare, the Dept of Health and Aging wrote to me to explain that if I took out health insurance within a year of starting Medicare, the I would be entitled to have the aged premiums waived. I called them, and they were adamant that the cut off was 1 year after joining Medicare. I asked them to confirm this in writing, and sent a copy to the health fund, who capitulated and refunded my aged premiums that I had been paying.
Hope that helps.
S
#21
Victorian Evangelist
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Melbourne, by the beach, living the dream.
Posts: 7,704
Re: Will you dump your private health cover after the budget?
I think it depends who you ask. I registered with Medicare about 3 months after I arrived. I started my health insurance about 6 months after I arrived, as I realised I would get caught by the surcharge.
When I started my cover HCF were adamant that I would have to pay the aged premium, as I hadn't started within a year of validating my visa, so I started to pay it. However, towards the close of my first year with Medicare, the Dept of Health and Aging wrote to me to explain that if I took out health insurance within a year of starting Medicare, the I would be entitled to have the aged premiums waived. I called them, and they were adamant that the cut off was 1 year after joining Medicare. I asked them to confirm this in writing, and sent a copy to the health fund, who capitulated and refunded my aged premiums that I had been paying.
Hope that helps.
S
When I started my cover HCF were adamant that I would have to pay the aged premium, as I hadn't started within a year of validating my visa, so I started to pay it. However, towards the close of my first year with Medicare, the Dept of Health and Aging wrote to me to explain that if I took out health insurance within a year of starting Medicare, the I would be entitled to have the aged premiums waived. I called them, and they were adamant that the cut off was 1 year after joining Medicare. I asked them to confirm this in writing, and sent a copy to the health fund, who capitulated and refunded my aged premiums that I had been paying.
Hope that helps.
S
If you feel the letter is too personal to send to me, if you just have the contact details on the letter so I can get a similar one that would be so much appreciated.
Thanks mate
Buzzy
#22
Re: Will you dump your private health cover after the budget?
I am confused about the whole thing (nothing new here then!) But i have insurance with NRMA called extras select. This covers
Dental
Physio
Ambulance
Optomotrist
Ect
but not actual hospital cover for private care.
Does that mean I pay the levy?
Dental
Physio
Ambulance
Optomotrist
Ect
but not actual hospital cover for private care.
Does that mean I pay the levy?
#23
Re: Will you dump your private health cover after the budget?
Yes you will have to pay the levy if you don't have hospital cover and your income level puts you above the threshold.
#25
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,555
Re: Will you dump your private health cover after the budget?
I still won't be dropping the insurance because I am sure I get way more public money from it than if I didn't. 30% of the premium is subsidised by the government, the government picks up double what the health insurance does on in hospital consultancy and private picks up nothing for GPs, out of hospital consultancy and X-rays etc. I think the main benefit of private is that it pays for your hospital costs eg nursing, the bed. Anaesthetists, consultants and pathology are only partially covered.
The dental is pretty pathetic as well and like most of the stuff on extras is capped.
The whole scheme is so regulated that private health insurance industry runs with minimal risk and a set profit margin.