Bermudashorts

We got it because it is cheaper than the additional tax levy if we did not have it.

We have not been to a doctor or required any other healthcare since we got here, but if we did for something relatively routine, I would not even mention that I have private health cover. That I am disadvantaged for having insurance is something I still have trouble comprehending.

furbacchione

As you can see by what is unfolding in this discussion there are many different stories being told... Where does one draw the line on how many surgeons they visit in an attempt to find a first rate surgeon at a reasonable price. Like I just said above this is the sort of garbage I expect when I go to Mexico or Indonesia not a country like Australia where they brag about being the best country on the planet.

This thread was started to to get some opinions on whether I even want to continue with private health care insurance as it's starting to look like it's not worth it. Or at least have the absolute cheapest available simply to avoid being gouged by the government.

furbacchione

Then I stand corrected. It was on a whim that I asked out of curiosity and can only say what I was told by the medicare rep.

fish.01

GP's are not not public they are private. Country wide though almost 80% of GP services are bulk billed (free) so always find one if you need it in most places. And as said anyone on low income is mostly bulk billed even by the ones who normally charge a gap.

fish.01

They were wrong.

fish.01

You can go to a free public specialist and get the surgeon allocated to you (same as NHS) or you can choose a private surgeon based on friends recommendations. It is a choice.

If you go the public route it is free, if you go private you pay. If you have private hospital insurance and ask to be treated as a No Gap patient it is their choice to accept you with no gap fees as they are running a private practice. None have refused us ever so we have never paid a gap. It is listed on the insurers website which specialists usually accept No Gap patients. If they did we could decide how much we value them (was it a very strong recommendation) or ring up another private practice.

Because we asked to be No Gap patients the private aneathistist automatically charged us a low gap as well. First baby we had the aneathistist charged $100. Second one this year charged nothing. Both c-sections.

furbacchione

Bugger me! I've been knocked back a couple times now so maybe I'll try dressing up as Oliver Twist and see if that garners me any sympathy.

RenShen

Wouldn't it be possible to get the insurance to lower the tax bill, but not tell anybody that you had it? Then get your health care via Medicare with no gap.

Amazulu

It would.

renth

I've just spent 5 nights in Joondalup Hospital, brand new room (mine was a double but nearly all of them are single rooms) - fantastic staff. Cost to me - zero.

However I do have private health. There's not many scenarios I'd use it. One of them would be to avoid waiting years for shoulder or knee surgery. The other would be to have keyhole surgery instead of the old style surgery if it wasn't available on Medicare.

furbacchione

the question know seems to be which are the better health funds if one were to keep with one... I just go off the phone with a private hospital that seemed to indicate they do gap cover but with only a select few insurance companies. Anyone got any idea how one could find out which are the better and or more respected insurance companies with doctors and surgeons...

TiddlyPom

Keyhole is standard on Medicare. Had hernia and appendicitis sorted in same op using keyhole. Didn't pay a cent.

moneypenny20

Had my Hysterectomy through Medicare for which I am extremely grateful. Only waited 5 months as well.

furbacchione

Some time back a site was posted that gave a mathematical break down on the time vs cost of owning a house... Gave a great deal of insight to at what point they're not worth buying...

Wondering if there is a site similar that someone has come across.

At present I'm questioning the point of having anything other than enough to avoid the tax surcharge.

Today I thought I'd try to claim the drugs I have had to buy for my knee and shoulder... The total cost for pain killers and anti inflammatories... was over $150. But! because each item was less than 30$ there is no claim on medibank private.

Also I have a hinged knee brace that I bought to support the knee till I get into the operating room that is well over a year away... It would have been claimable if I had bought it in aus. I bought it in the US for a total of $120; whereas here it would have been well over $250 when shipping was added. The total I could have been refunded by medibank was $80.

I'm truly left thinking what's the point. In the time I've been here I've spent $22,000 on insurance premiums and haven't been able to claimed anything.

I see there being a market for a medical advocate. Someone you pay to wade through the mess of having to make claims and set up medical procedures and do the the fee negotiations with doctors (which is ****ing stupid in any society that claims to be civilized).

itigo

Having another endoscopy next week, paying no gap as gastro is linked to my health fund. Anaesthetist bill is minor, about the same as a GP visit - the worst thing is the excess I'll have to pay but had we not had any we'd have paid more over the year.

I think it's horses for courses as I've said before. I have no doubt that I would have been left longer in ER had I only been Medicare, rather than rushed through to the private hospital and given an emergency procedure the other year. Could have been a far worse outcome with a much longer recovery/lasting damage.......