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Private Health Insurance / Medicare / Out of Pocket Expense

Private Health Insurance / Medicare / Out of Pocket Expense

Old May 20th 2012, 8:18 pm
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Default Re: Private Health Insurance / Medicare / Out of Pocket Expense

Thanks fish super helpful

Really beginning to wonder why people bother with private though doesn't seem to get you out of jail free at all. Suppose would be good for some injuries if you needed to get back to work as quickly as possible but other than that ...
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Old May 20th 2012, 9:25 pm
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Default Re: Private Health Insurance / Medicare / Out of Pocket Expense

Originally Posted by abi31
Thanks fish super helpful

Really beginning to wonder why people bother with private though doesn't seem to get you out of jail free at all. Suppose would be good for some injuries if you needed to get back to work as quickly as possible but other than that ...
On reason people bother is because the premiums are less than the additional tax you have to pay if you don't have it (above a certain income level).
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Old May 21st 2012, 4:37 am
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Default Re: Private Health Insurance / Medicare / Out of Pocket Expense

Originally Posted by abi31
Thanks fish super helpful

Really beginning to wonder why people bother with private though doesn't seem to get you out of jail free at all. Suppose would be good for some injuries if you needed to get back to work as quickly as possible but other than that ...
Another big thing is that it allows you your choice of specialist, whereas if you are a public patient you have less choice.

The other thing not mentioned here is that the PMI generally covers most if not all of the private hospital/theatre (not doctor) charges.
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Old May 21st 2012, 8:34 am
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Default Re: Private Health Insurance / Medicare / Out of Pocket Expense

My eldest daughter was involved in a severe accident and the trauma team at the hospital she was taken to was brilliant but the remainder of the care she received at the public hospital was laughable. I would rather be out of pocket and have better care with the doctors we can choose than deal with substandard care.

We have spoken with several friends that are Australian and they all said they would rather choose private and being out of pocket versus some of the care they have received on the public system.
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Old May 21st 2012, 10:56 pm
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Default Re: Private Health Insurance / Medicare / Out of Pocket Expense

I think it depends where you live the care you have, all the States are different.

My daughter has brain cancer and she is treat in a public hospital here in Melbourne and has been since 2004 and she has the best care. All her appointments are arranged. Sees three specialists at once every year, just fantastic care.

You could not get the care for her condition in a private hospital anyway.
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Old May 21st 2012, 11:06 pm
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Default Re: Private Health Insurance / Medicare / Out of Pocket Expense

Originally Posted by Petals
I think it depends where you live the care you have, all the States are different.

My daughter has brain cancer and she is treat in a public hospital here in Melbourne and has been since 2004 and she has the best care. All her appointments are arranged. Sees three specialists at once every year, just fantastic care.

You could not get the care for her condition in a private hospital anyway.
I agree. Even further I think it comes down to the individual hospital rather that the state. It sometimes even comes down to the speciality. Very much a postcode lottery like the NHS.

Last edited by fish.01; May 21st 2012 at 11:09 pm.
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Old May 22nd 2012, 4:30 am
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Default Re: Private Health Insurance / Medicare / Out of Pocket Expense

So coming from a different perspective, my wife and I have got used to top level cover in the Middle East and getting a superb service from both the provider Allianz and from the hospitals, GPs etc.
Can anyone suggest who is the best of the private medical insurance providers who cover QLD. I would just like some peace of mind for the first year whilst we get settled and learn the ropes and dont mind forking out for the peace of mind if such a thing exists and taking into the account the exclusions mentioned by previous posters.
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Old May 22nd 2012, 6:11 am
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Default Re: Private Health Insurance / Medicare / Out of Pocket Expense

If there is always a gap on "out patient" services, is it worthwhile just getting the hospital (no extras), this way saving on premiums yet not getting slugged with the extra Medicare Surcharge Levy? And using the money saved to pay full price for braces, etc. As even on high level premiums if your kid needs braces they don't pay out all that much.
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Old May 22nd 2012, 9:44 am
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Default Re: Private Health Insurance / Medicare / Out of Pocket Expense

For certain specialisms the wait times can be just as long in private as I found out this afternoon. For one knee surgeon, he's closed his private books until December.........
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Old Jun 6th 2012, 7:58 am
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Default Re: Private Health Insurance / Medicare / Out of Pocket Expense

Originally Posted by itigo
For certain specialisms the wait times can be just as long in private as I found out this afternoon. For one knee surgeon, he's closed his private books until December.........
Similarly I had to wait three months before seeing a private specialist, which took all of 10min and ripped me of $300.

Coming from the UK and used to the NHS system, I can't believe the public (Medicare) service in Australia can be any worse?

I've been doing lots of digging around, and have concluded that we'll be dropping our HBF hospital cover and sticking with public care, the premium and hidden costs of private are too high for us.
The only benefit I can see from private vs public is
Private room
Choose doctor
No wait time (supposedly)

I don't really care about private rooms, rather share with someone or be in a war so we can have conversations and share stories.
Choosing your own doctor? How would I know which one to choose, I don't know any? Are you supposed to look at each of their CVs and interview them as candidates?
No wait time, well my experience of private hasn't shown that, and to be honest, if it's not life threatening, does it matter how long it takes? I'd rather take out income protection insurance if I'm out sick for long time
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Old Jun 7th 2012, 9:31 pm
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Default Re: Private Health Insurance / Medicare / Out of Pocket Expense

Side issue - but I just accidentally came across this article whilst looking at something about prostitutes (different thread )...

http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/parent...ng+a+baby,7505

And it is very interesting to note that going public to give birth in Oz sounds the absolute spit of giving birth in the UK on NHS.
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Old Jun 8th 2012, 9:43 am
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Default Re: Private Health Insurance / Medicare / Out of Pocket Expense

Originally Posted by abi31
Side issue - but I just accidentally came across this article whilst looking at something about prostitutes (different thread )...

http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/parent...ng+a+baby,7505

And it is very interesting to note that going public to give birth in Oz sounds the absolute spit of giving birth in the UK on NHS.
FYI, quite a few generalisations in that article that may not be accurate for all like:

"if there is an emergency, a private patient will be rushed to the nearest public hospital for treatment." (large private hospitals have their own facilities - some public/private hospitals share emergency staff if either are caught short)

and

"in the public system, who you see comes down to luck of the draw, and a complete stranger will be delivering your child." (many are midwife deliveries with same midwife already known)

and

"a team of midwives will see you for appointments and the on-call doctor will perform your delivery when you go into labour." (many are midwife deliveries with little ob involvement)

and

"The good news is that the bill gets sent straight to your health fund, which covers the full cost" (not necessarily - sometimes ancillary specialists bill you separately and you pay out of pocket gap)


Each state/city/hospital offers different programmes and/or experiences in public maternity services.

Last edited by fish.01; Jun 8th 2012 at 9:46 am.
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