457 - Private medical Options
May 27th 2013, 7:13 am
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 131
457 - Private medical Options
Curious any views on private medical and/or ways to avoid problems for people new to Australia, here is my own background:
I've been in Australia for 1 year and 4 months now with BUPA gold cover for me and my partner - the cost is roughly $4,000 per year (something we didnt fully consider when doing the cost benefit for moving here). We have gone to the doctor (clinic) twice for a checkup - one bill was about 65$ and we got 40$ back, the other was for I believe 95$ and we got 60$ back. This is for what is called '150%' cover which supposedly should reduce the gap. Both clinics were not exactly 5 star facilities.
In addition to what appears to be limited cover of costs, we have been fighting for almost 4 months now to have BUPA credit us for cover in the USA (with a provider that supposedly they have an agreement with to avoid pre-exisiting conditions issues - i.e. our time with that provider would count against the 1 year wait period, which my partner (but not me) is currently on. Excuses range from lost emails, problems with the format of electronic files, first word doc, then they wanted a pdf, then they said only an encrypted version, etc etc to not 'understanding' the other providers cover. In the meantime, my partner is also paying premiums in two countries in case BUPA refused to cover.
Is this sort of thing 'typical' of the large providers, or of BUPA, or have we simply had bad luck? Can someone suggest another provider that may provider better service - we'd actually be happy to pay more to have the phone answered quickly, to have small medical bills actually covered in full, and/or to have decent customer service. Any advice is greatly appreciated!
I've been in Australia for 1 year and 4 months now with BUPA gold cover for me and my partner - the cost is roughly $4,000 per year (something we didnt fully consider when doing the cost benefit for moving here). We have gone to the doctor (clinic) twice for a checkup - one bill was about 65$ and we got 40$ back, the other was for I believe 95$ and we got 60$ back. This is for what is called '150%' cover which supposedly should reduce the gap. Both clinics were not exactly 5 star facilities.
In addition to what appears to be limited cover of costs, we have been fighting for almost 4 months now to have BUPA credit us for cover in the USA (with a provider that supposedly they have an agreement with to avoid pre-exisiting conditions issues - i.e. our time with that provider would count against the 1 year wait period, which my partner (but not me) is currently on. Excuses range from lost emails, problems with the format of electronic files, first word doc, then they wanted a pdf, then they said only an encrypted version, etc etc to not 'understanding' the other providers cover. In the meantime, my partner is also paying premiums in two countries in case BUPA refused to cover.
Is this sort of thing 'typical' of the large providers, or of BUPA, or have we simply had bad luck? Can someone suggest another provider that may provider better service - we'd actually be happy to pay more to have the phone answered quickly, to have small medical bills actually covered in full, and/or to have decent customer service. Any advice is greatly appreciated!
May 27th 2013, 7:59 pm
#2
Addicted to browsing BE
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Brisbane, QLD
Posts: 2,046
Re: 457 - Private medical Options
I can't give you any recommendations but I'm not sure that any providers offer a '100%' refund amount for doctor's visits.
The definitive site where all providers and policies are listed is privatehealth.gov.au (http://privatehealth.gov.au/healthin...as/457visa.htm) and you can compare the Standard Information Statements of each policy.
Whilst it's costing you $4K per year, is it at least saving you paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge (up to 1.5% of income)?
Best of luck.
The definitive site where all providers and policies are listed is privatehealth.gov.au (http://privatehealth.gov.au/healthin...as/457visa.htm) and you can compare the Standard Information Statements of each policy.
Whilst it's costing you $4K per year, is it at least saving you paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge (up to 1.5% of income)?
Best of luck.
Jun 22nd 2013, 9:24 am
#3
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 17
Re: 457 - Private medical Options
We have been here BNE 4 years we ( wife and 2 kids 3&5) have basic BUPA cover wife got " free" glasses twice and this year I got a pair , I have just been to dentist was given a bill for $1128.70 BUPA will put $97.50!!!!!!!! As family limit is $700. Have now spoke to a number of people, I am the only wage earner so to help my tax dropping to single cover of $51 a month so get my $1000+ tax back, the money we save will go into are bank, most emergency work is covered in QLD
Jun 22nd 2013, 12:58 pm
#4
Concierge
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 21,139
Re: 457 - Private medical Options
Curious any views on private medical and/or ways to avoid problems for people new to Australia, here is my own background:
I've been in Australia for 1 year and 4 months now with BUPA gold cover for me and my partner - the cost is roughly $4,000 per year (something we didnt fully consider when doing the cost benefit for moving here). We have gone to the doctor (clinic) twice for a checkup - one bill was about 65$ and we got 40$ back, the other was for I believe 95$ and we got 60$ back. This is for what is called '150%' cover which supposedly should reduce the gap. Both clinics were not exactly 5 star facilities.
In addition to what appears to be limited cover of costs, we have been fighting for almost 4 months now to have BUPA credit us for cover in the USA (with a provider that supposedly they have an agreement with to avoid pre-exisiting conditions issues - i.e. our time with that provider would count against the 1 year wait period, which my partner (but not me) is currently on. Excuses range from lost emails, problems with the format of electronic files, first word doc, then they wanted a pdf, then they said only an encrypted version, etc etc to not 'understanding' the other providers cover. In the meantime, my partner is also paying premiums in two countries in case BUPA refused to cover.
Is this sort of thing 'typical' of the large providers, or of BUPA, or have we simply had bad luck? Can someone suggest another provider that may provider better service - we'd actually be happy to pay more to have the phone answered quickly, to have small medical bills actually covered in full, and/or to have decent customer service. Any advice is greatly appreciated!
I've been in Australia for 1 year and 4 months now with BUPA gold cover for me and my partner - the cost is roughly $4,000 per year (something we didnt fully consider when doing the cost benefit for moving here). We have gone to the doctor (clinic) twice for a checkup - one bill was about 65$ and we got 40$ back, the other was for I believe 95$ and we got 60$ back. This is for what is called '150%' cover which supposedly should reduce the gap. Both clinics were not exactly 5 star facilities.
In addition to what appears to be limited cover of costs, we have been fighting for almost 4 months now to have BUPA credit us for cover in the USA (with a provider that supposedly they have an agreement with to avoid pre-exisiting conditions issues - i.e. our time with that provider would count against the 1 year wait period, which my partner (but not me) is currently on. Excuses range from lost emails, problems with the format of electronic files, first word doc, then they wanted a pdf, then they said only an encrypted version, etc etc to not 'understanding' the other providers cover. In the meantime, my partner is also paying premiums in two countries in case BUPA refused to cover.
Is this sort of thing 'typical' of the large providers, or of BUPA, or have we simply had bad luck? Can someone suggest another provider that may provider better service - we'd actually be happy to pay more to have the phone answered quickly, to have small medical bills actually covered in full, and/or to have decent customer service. Any advice is greatly appreciated!
It's a shame you're having so much trouble getting your USA insurance recognized for a pre existing condition. In my experience, Australian private health insurers will cover for some pre existing conditions, but you have to wait for a specified period before you can claim for these.
Trying to negotiate private health cover in Oz is a minefield. I did do a fair bit of research when my husband and I married, trying to work out the best couples cover for us (we were in different funds). Eventually I just went with HBF, it's $162 a fortnight for top hospital cover and extra essentials, and so far we've made far more use of it than we ever wanted to!
Jun 24th 2013, 8:31 am
#5
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 23
Re: 457 - Private medical Options
We had our 1 year waiting periods for pre-existing conditions waived. It was really straightforward - I was with Bupa in the UK, but a non-Bupa health cover provider in Aus, but they still recognised my UK health cover, I just had to provide a transfer certificate and policy booklet from Bupa UK which showed the level of cover I had. They waived waiting periods for both Medical and Dental, for both me and my husband (even though our policies were through my employer and in my name in the UK, and through my husband's over here).
I think you've been unlucky. We're with Grand Union here in Aus and I'm really happy with them. They don't cover as much as Bupa did in the UK, but I think that over here you just don't get as much covered generally.
I think you've been unlucky. We're with Grand Union here in Aus and I'm really happy with them. They don't cover as much as Bupa did in the UK, but I think that over here you just don't get as much covered generally.
