Lucas_Dad

Hey everyone, oh wise expats of the interwebs.

Well, my life has taken some interesting turns over the last couple of years. Right now I find myself out of work again and having to squeeze the budget extremely tightly.

My HCF cover is $160/month. It is a good plan,not just the usual dental, optical and hospital stuff, but cover for heart, spine, cancer treatments and joint replacements if necessary. I have a history of heart trouble personally and in my family; I have arthritis in my spine; my older brother has had a hip replacement. Seems like a no brainer to keep the policy, but $160/month is a lot.

What if I cancel it? Should I need attention for my heart, spine, ulcerative colitis, etc will I still get treatment via the public health system, should the need arise?

Cheers. Happy Easter/Oestre/Ishtar etc

Pollyana

You are eligible for Medicare so if the treatment is needed, Medicare will pay for it. Whether you cancel the policy or not, you are still covered by Medicare.

abner

Possibly after you've already died from the condition, yes.

Several years ago, I attended at the emergency department of a mixed public/private hospital, in severe pain for what proved to be kidney stones. Was sent home on some temporarily good drugs, with a recommendation that I follow up for rapid treatment.

I contacted my (public, bulk-billed) GP the next day, and he strongly recommended I see a private urology specialist that he knew from med school, even though he knew it would cost me extra. 1 week for that appointment, then 3 weeks more for a kidney-stone-removal procedure to be arranged, during which time I fluctuated from just about normal (with pain meds), to barely functional (with more pain meds).

Then the procedure happened, and all came good. Some $2500 out of pocket over all, net of some private health rebates, but at least it was over with.

Then the kicker: *6 months later*, I got a call from a specialist urologist's office, asking when I'd like to come in for a consultation for my kidney stone problem. This line of possible treatment had apparently been kicked off when I'd originally attended the emergency room, but from "the public" side. The lady on the phone seemed quite ticked off when I told her the matter had been dealt with months ago.

***

I do believe (despite all that), that Australia possesses a first-world health system. But not necessarily a first-rate one. Let alone a patient-centred one..

Lucas_Dad

Thanks.

So worst case scenario, I'd still get treatment, but not as quickly as if I'd gone private.

Medicare don't cover dental checkups & cleaning, do they?

Lucas_Dad

Yes, that would be sub-optimal!

Amazulu

Plenty of people get by without private health - increasingly so actually - and given that our taxpayer funded health system is so good, you can kind of see why

If you opt out now though, you'll have to pay a loading later on if you want back in

Amazulu

Correct. No dental cover for most

the troubadour

It most certainly is not a first rate system and even if insured does not exclude considerable extra costs.

the troubadour

Still likely come out better, fore going loading and opting out as I did, after being part of since it kicked off. There are instances where one may be better served staying in, but becoming less so
.Better to 'budget' for health care and go private in extreme cases or to cut across waiting lines . No wonder many go off shore for various procedures that can be done at a quarter or less the price.
I do recall your claim a few years back that Australia and UK possessed the best health systems in the world. Totally wrong of course, which I brought the error of your claim to your attention at the time.

the troubadour

No they do not include such things . Dental hygiene declined in Australia with the loss of dental practices (where they called hospitals, don't recall the title but the Lib's done away with them) years back (decades) run by the government to service low income and those not in a hurry to see a dentist, hence unwilling to pay a private consultation.
My partner experienced first class treatment at a very reasonable price in Malaysia ( UK trained dentist) when on holiday there years ago. Thailand another place heard good reports with regards to dental care.