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Will you dump your private health cover after the budget?

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?

Old May 13th 2008, 1:54 am
  #16  
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Default Re: Will you dump your private health cover after the budget?

Originally Posted by chris and farideh
Just out of interest would any of you know if you keep the general extra on your health insurance, but drop the hospital cover, would you still be charge that 1% levy by the government.
The hospital cover is what exempts you from the MLS so yes you would be charged the surcharge.
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Old May 13th 2008, 3:41 am
  #17  
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Default Re: Will you dump your private health cover after the budget?

Originally Posted by DunRoaminTheUK
Given this:

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
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Old May 13th 2008, 8:48 am
  #18  
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Default 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
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Old May 13th 2008, 9:07 am
  #19  
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Default Re: Will you dump your private health cover after the budget?

Originally Posted by Buzzy--Bee
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
I thought it was 1 year after your visa is validated, but I stand to be corrected.
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Old May 13th 2008, 9:26 am
  #20  
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Default Re: Will you dump your private health cover after the budget?

Originally Posted by tictac
I thought it was 1 year after your visa is validated, but I stand to be corrected.
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.


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Old May 13th 2008, 7:44 pm
  #21  
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Default Re: Will you dump your private health cover after the budget?

Originally Posted by Swerv-o
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
Mate, do you happen to have a copy of the letter the Dept of Health and Aging wrote you you could send me? The reason is, I am on a TR visa and have reciprical medicare (ie my card says Visitor on it). I have now been here 10 months and need to make a decision within the next two months as to whether to buy healthcare. If we could delay that decision it would be very helpful to us.

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

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Old May 13th 2008, 9:58 pm
  #22  
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Default 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?
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Old May 13th 2008, 10:18 pm
  #23  
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Default Re: Will you dump your private health cover after the budget?

Originally Posted by sasbear
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?
Yes you will have to pay the levy if you don't have hospital cover and your income level puts you above the threshold.
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Old May 14th 2008, 11:20 am
  #24  
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Default Re: Will you dump your private health cover after the budget?

Originally Posted by bcworld
Yes you will have to pay the levy if you don't have hospital cover and your income level puts you above the threshold.
thanks
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Old May 14th 2008, 11:35 am
  #25  
 
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Default Re: Will you dump your private health cover after the budget?

Originally Posted by MartinLuther
Typical socialist government looking after those on $100-150k! (those that will benefit from this change).

I can smell crap but it's not coming from the government
It is a joint family income of $100-150K. Not that much when you consider it is estimated you need an income of 120k for an entry level house in Sydney's less salubrious suburbs out west.

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.
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