scrubbedexpat020

When we arrived I took up health care and avoided the age loading.

If I stop now and decide to get it again at a later date will I have to pay the age loading?

Ian

Wol

I believe you are allowed a "holiday" for a short time but I would check with the provider or online as I can't remember where I *may* have seen it!

goldchoccycoin

From http://www.privatehealth.gov.au/info...s/lifetime.htm


'To cover small gaps, such as switching from one insurer to another, you are able to be without private cover for periods totalling 1094 days (ie three years less one day) during your lifetime, without affecting your loading. If you have a gap of 1095 days you will pay a 2% loading. For every 365 days without cover after that, your loading will increase by 2%. If you apply to your health insurer to suspend your cover for a short period, and it agrees, this period of suspension does not affect your LHC loading (you are considered to be maintaining your cover).'

Hope that helps!

scrubbedexpat020

just what I needed.

thanks,
Ian

paulry

In the context of the new migrant concession, roughly what is the difference in price between a 30 and 45 year old for private med insurance?

Amazulu

Premiums go up by 2% for every year over 30, so for a 45yo it would be an extra 30% - quite a big difference.

paulry

Thanks. That is a big difference. So the concession stays with us for life? What I mean is: If I take it out within 12 months of arriving and remain with the insurer, will I will always have that discount?

Jimclevs

Yes

........... but it won't protect you from any annual increase from the insurer!!

Jim

Amazulu

Yes and you can change insurer any time you like without penalty.

Mark Janet

If you stop now and you want to start later, its fully depend on terms of insurance and i think you can not get extra benefits when you start again later.
If you find any of positive response regarding this, please let me know.

Thanks,
Mark Janet

paulry

Thanks

Petals

You also need to read the small print and see how many days you will be covered in hospital for. Also if you have a pre existing condition then you have to be in the fund for a year before they will cover you for the condition.

Personally we do not have it at all.

I just needed to be in hospital the other day and they said I could not get in till May and I will be away. So we decided to pay for a private stay for the day and the doc however the public hospital phoned on Monday and I got in that day. So instead of costing me $1,000 it cost me nothing.

If its too hard they tip you into public anyway.

Jimclevs

Hi

We don't have it either - especially as we missed the 12 month point (never informed - but that's another story!) and were invited to take up (at that time) a 64% loading

We've been here 5 years now and have not yet paid for any medical consultation etc and, as we now have the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, all scripts are set at $5.40 ($5.60?). As our CP visa cost mucho money that gave us full Medicare rights from day 1 and, hopefully, if we ever do need surgery etc, the public system will cope!

Jim

goldchoccycoin

Often the reason for taking out Private Health cover has absolutely nothing to do with needing health cover and simply as a vehicle to avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge (1% for any earnings over $70,000 for a single).

Saves me money and I get cash back from the dentist/optician/physio!

Jimclevs

Yes - makes total sense if you are in full employment on a good salary and subject to the MLS. I just knew "taxation" would rear its ugly head somewhere !

Jim