NickyC

Yep, your dead right. We're way over 30 too, but joined a fund within the allowable period to qualify for the reduction in premiums.

If you leave your health fund now and try to rejoin it later when you're older (like most people did in the past) you'll get stung for the top premium - no more 30% government subsidies - plus you might have to pay an extra 1% Medicare levy, in the meantime, depending on your income.

Our premium is about $145 a month for the most basic hospital cover plus standard extras (for a family), but the hospital part costs less than the extra medicare levy we'd have to pay if we didn't have it.

Hutch

Do you know how long the allowable period is, and how you get them to account for it when you apply?

renth

I seem to remember it's 12 months after becoming a PR. I had to show my passport to the (bemused) woman at the local Medibank Private office.

NickyC

I've been here for years and years but when they changed the rules (5-6 years ago?) bringing in the extra Medicare levy and giving the 30% subsidy for private hospital premiums, they gave everyone a certain amount of time to get themselves organised. Can't remember what it was now, but if you've just arrived then you'd qualify for the 12 months grace period that Renth mentioned.

Fiona&malc

as i said earlier, we only have the extras cover, but every person i have spoken to on the suject has a differnet opinion, some say no to hospital cover others say yes.
my daughter needs her tonsils and adenoids out, if we go private it will cost us around $2k and we will get some (approx $400) back from medicare but do i go with the public hospital where it wont cost a cent or do i pay for the private for her to go somewhere that doesnt smell like a hospital and she can get done next week...

Vanessa

I can't work it out either. We pay nearly $500 per month for a couple - Optimal Visitors Cover. Up until now pretty much been able to claim most things back. Husband had surgery etc etc. However he has just been to a sleep clinic for diagnostic testing at $600 per night and bill been sent back to us saying that we are not covered for Gap? WTF is Gap - going to try Medicare but if no joy then we are $1,200 lighter which was my air fare to Las Vegas!!

ianandhelena

we're only taking out basic hospital cover cos it's cheaper than paying the medicare surcharge-otherwise no point as you say.

worzel

A few things that may make private healthcare worthwhile:

If you earn over $50K as a single or $100K as a family then it is worth it just by avoiding the extra 1.5% medicare levy.

My employer pays about 1/3rd of my Medibank Private premiums and also provides “gap cover”. I think a lot of big employers do something similar.

If you have to pay any medical bills not covered by the policy you can claim some of it back via your tax return – your cover provider will give you a statement of how much to put in each box.

I hope that helps.

Amazulu

Renth, I was having some problems a few weeks ago & thought it was a re-occurance of some health issues I had last year in the UK. I was on my way to the doctor & was driving past Royal Perth. I had a brainwave & decided to pop in there & see if they could sort me out. I parked up, went into emergency, got admitted within 20 minutes, saw a specialist within an hour, had a whole battery of tests done straight away (had to spend the night unfortunately) & was given a clean bill of health. I signed a Medicare form & was on my way without paying a cent. The standard at RPH was top class & I would put it on a par with the NHS ie superb. I really cannot see the point of Private Medical cover when the public system is so good.

Vash the Stampede

renth, you have my deep and abiding sympathy.

My father had epilepsy as a side-effect of his antidepressants. I still have vivid memories of his first grand mal seizure, which happened in public at a local church gathering. I was quite young at the time (around 12-13, I think) and the sheer violence of it took my breath away. It was one of the most horrifying experiences of my childhood.

He went on to have several more over the next few years. A change of medication brought some relief, but true peace only came when he finally died.

I sincerely hope that your poor child receives the very best possible treatment Down Under; it's an awful thing for a little lass to have.

renth

Thanks Vash.

She's had 3 seizures now, 1 a month. The first was a mild absence seizure, we didn't even know it was a seizure at the time. The second a massive "status epilepticus" hence ambulance and hospital. The third was another mild one, probably mild because of the medication.

We're hoping she'll grow out of it but I'm getting nervous now as the previous 3 were on the 25th or 26th of the month and that date for July is approaching.

Vash the Stampede

Fingers crossed. Kids can be remarkably resilient.

Hutch

I guess it varies, but if my family's history is anything to go by - it comes and goes. My dad's been on medication for it most of his adult life (remember some very nasty incidents when I was a little kid), my elder sister didn't start having grand mal's until she was in her late '30s. They both find that modern medication (when they remember to take it!!!) stops it completely. My dad doesn't hold a driving licence to this day because of his epilepsy.

jad n rich

Sorry about your daughter.

Gaps are an arse even on medicare, kids specialist $300 (first visit $150 after that, medicare rebate about $67 )

Regarding gaps in the private system, you health fund should have a booklet on reducing the the gap, its usually by using recommended docs and hospitals who are in agreement with them for schedule fee, or close to it. Of course thats all very well if you know about the surgery in advance, not in the case with your daughter. If its an emergency like seizure/heart attack or something you will get seen in public hospital, however you can then switch onto your private cover if the waiting list for what you need done is long.

Unfortunately its all a bit catch 22, we cant give it up, would pay the fee in extra tax, (high income penalty over $100,000 joint, (hardly high with a family )

But dont regret keeping it now, recent eye operation, only left us out of pocket private (by studying the gap thing ) by a few hundred dollars, waiting list on medicare for an obviously essential operation to continue working/driving for a start was in the specialists words, you will go blind waiting, however we looked into that, several years certainly seemed the case.

JaneandJim

When I looked into this after last years tax return, I couldn't find any policy that would save us money. We're better off paying the levy because we didn't take it out straightaway and would have a 2% loading for each year over 30. We're better off putting money aside in case we need it. At least that way we still have it if we don't.

Jane