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Dear Friends ,

I am a Aussie Resident. Got my PR recently and will be moving there permanently. Regarding Health Care Benefits, I will not get any until my 2 years are completed. So am I supposed to apply for Private Health Insurance? If so, which one is the best? Kindly advise.

Thanks

goldchoccycoin

You will get Medicare (public health system) access immediately. The benefits you are not entitled to relate to claiming unemployment benefits and the like.

You can also get private health insurance as well if you want to - some people think it is unecessary as the public system is pretty good.

Check it out at www.privatehealth.gov.au

moonsurfer

Depends on whether you think you will need extensive and ongoing hospital treatment or not. If not - it's not worth it in my view. GPs visits aren't covered by private insurance nor are specialist consultations in rooms.

But - if you earn over a certain amount (not that much!), the Medicare levy that you will have to pay to the taxman will increase and this could be almost to the level that you would have paid in private health insurance anyway. Toss a coin ...

For these reasons I have it, but for many people who are fit and healthy it's a waste of money and premiums seem to be going up every six months or so. My mother is 64 and never bothered with it in 28 years. If you need emergency treatment you will always receive this under Medicare (ambulance excluded and you can go on the public waiting list for anything less urgent. Most funds are pretty much the same in what they cover you for now.

coolshadows

what if you need to call an ambulance? wouldn't it be costly if you didn't have cover?

Centurion

Depends. For example in queens land we pay for the ambulance service through our electric bill so it's not a concern for anyone.

coolshadows

True. If you're in a backwater like Adelaide, you have to pay.

moneypenny20

Well, we do pay, we just don't have to think about it

Alfresco

How much is it then?

moneypenny20

Can't remember, the bill is filed and I can't be arsed to get off my arse - NCIS LA is on. I'll look tomorrow if no one else has

Alfresco

Thanks.

moneypenny20

It's about $100 a year. No idea how it's worked out, not aware of ever being asked how many people were in the household so I don't know if everyone pays that or if someone alone pays less.

ABCDiamond

Down in SA it costs $125.00 for a family

QLD is $105.87 annually added to every electricity bill, regardless of numbers.

WA is $65.50 for a family (I think) That must be wrong, I am always hearing that WA is more expensive for everything...

Alfresco

Thanks, so it's nothing really, < 10 bucks a month.


Maybe they charge Perthites heavily per km if they get called out.

moneypenny20

I think it was Renth who had to call an Ambulance for a child and was fleeced big time because of no insurance. Can't remember how much it was though, something outrageous.

ABCDiamond

NSW Ambulance Costs: