DunRoaminTheUK

I'm starting to believe that too. We pay over $250 per month for a family of three and just recently my wife had her remaining wisdom teeth extracted and our private cover provided us with just about nothing, when we added up the overall cost.

Going private also invariably means seeing a private consultant which, in our experience, is never covered by the private health scheme.

They do seem like a ripoff to me (thus far).

northernbird

When we were temporary residents we didn't have it but now we have PR we pay $97 a fortnight. We used to pay the extra medicare levy and the health insurance is cheaper than the levy we were paying so we figured we may as well have something for the money we are forking out.

DunRoaminTheUK

Yeah, that was our reasoning before they changed the threshold to $150,000 and now I'm beginning to think it would be better to at the very least offload the 'extras' cover, if not the lot?

Thing is, Sod's Law always dictates that the moment we relinquish it is when we will really need it?

goldchoccycoin

I'm with www.cdhbf.com.au - not for profit (there are a few around). I am very, very happy with their service, prices etc. All claims have been dealt with promptly - usually get a cheque within 3 days. Dental and Physio etc excluded for 2 months (except dentures etc).

Only (small) downside is they don't have HICAPS eligibility - which means I pay upfront and then claim rather than swiping my card at the dentist or physio and only paying the difference. Not much of an issue really.

I recommend comparing their policy SIS to others - they have fairly high limits and no excess or co-payment and a long list of hospitals that they are associated with.

And no, I don't work for them! Just happy with their product and the dealings I've had.

Best search - http://www.privatehealth.gov.au/dyna...yfeatures.aspx - not associated with any proft making so includes EVERY fund in Australia.

ABCDiamond

Some stats from some years ago:

Reasons for not being insured
66% Can’t afford it/too expensive
15% In good health/have no dependents
14% Medicare cover sufficient
13% Lack of value for money/not worth it
11% Have health care card
Some people ticked more than one option


Reasons for being insured
47% Security/protection/peace of mind
25% Choice of doctor
23% Shorter waiting times/concern over hospital waiting lists
20% Allows treatment as a private patient
22% Always had it/parents had it/condition of job
18% To obtain ancillary benefits
Some people ticked more than one option


The proportion of the population covered by hospital insurance:
1980 before Medicare it was about 60%
1998 it was 30%
2000 it was 32%
2005 it was 43.1%
Today ?? Pretty sure it was higher than 45%, but it may have dropped again due to the threshold being raised.

Deutschmaster

One thing to point out here - if you come over on a 457 temporary visa your employer could write it into your contract that you must have private insurance.

sparkley23

Don't be so sure you can go private for Emergency Dept care, most hospital cover only covers you once you have actually been admitted. E.g. if you go to a private Emergency dept with a broken leg, they take a few xrays, put a cast on it and discharge you, my you generally will have to pay the full cost, your private health cover won't cover it. However, if you are admitted onto a ward with the broken leg because you need an operation or something, you will be covered for that treatment.

goldchoccycoin

I've already checked this out with my provider and I can go straight to Private Emergency - and whether I am discharged or admitted makes no difference.

Worth pointing out though - I should have included it in my thread!

Thanks.

jayr

I guess they could. I think the obligation is actually on the employer to cover medical costs but I suspect this doesn;t happen in practice very often and that instead the emplyer will encourage the employee to take out cover.

My employers (while on 457) neither provided nor forced me to get private insurance.

Deutschmaster

The obligation is on the employer which is why they make the employee pay the insurance. My employer forces me to take the private insurance by deducting the premium from my salary

Deutschmaster

Still, this place is a joke so it wouldn't surprise me if it doesn't happen in practice very much!

quoll

We have it and have had it for years. A couple of times I have been very grateful for it, having what were termed "elective" surgeries and for which I would have been waiting (at that time) nearly 2 years to be seen. Both of them were very debilitating conditions which needed surgery and I didnt grudge a cent. Also got a nice whack back on the orthodontics.

ozzieeagle

Sometimes it seems PHI doesnt cover the things that are the most expensive IE: Orthodontics on kids. However when it comes to things like Hernias and other middle aged ailments, then it's great for being able to schedule into your life when and where you want the OP.

Personally at my age, just starting our 50's with two youngsters I think it's very necessary... unfortunately... I'd love not to have it.

Our family cover costs us 187 bucks per month with HCF and covers most extras, with limits of course.

imanaussie

Im pretty sure if an ambulance takes you to the Emergency Dept. though they will only take you to the nearest public hospital and not a private one......

Wol

I see that the OP is going to be based in Sydney: he should be aware that the NSW health system is - to put it bluntly - a shambles. Years of underfunding, government cuts in the number of beds etc make the NHS look like utopia.

At least with private treatment you can often choose which hospital gives you the MRSA <g>.