meauxna

If you are in the US on an employment based visa, it's a moot question, isn't it?
When you no longer have the job, you have to leave the US, so you won't have to worry about continuing coverage.

E3only

I am telling you right now, $70 a month is a sh*t house plan. Wait (and I hope you don’t have to) to make a claim on any major dental and you will know.

So let’s say you are earning 70k which is 1,050 a year for medicare. Add to that $100 a month (PRE TAX dollars using 30% tax rate) comes to around $190.

So you are paying $190 for your health insurance. Health plans here (agree with previous poster are subsidized due to employer contribution) for a single person is around $150. Sure not a dollar to dollar comparison but I am just trying to make a point.

Downside, as you point out, is if one were to lose one's job, one would be severely screwed vs. Australia being better. That’s how it roles though.

Deutschmaster

The government pays for 30% of my medical insurance here, since I'm a permanent resident, perhaps that's why it's cheaper than yours was. Tax is progressive so it's not 30% tax rate on $70k - it would only be $15k on the amount you give according to the ATO - although this ignores the 1.5% medicare levy and medical insurance. Ok my limit on dental is $600 a year but it's done the job so far. Some people here have been known to fly to Asia and have major dental done there to escape the high prices.

In the US I've been told my personal contribution will be around the mid $200s per month based on an 80/20 split.

From a very quick glance of US income tax it looked sort of similar to here - of course though ignoring anything that can be deducted.

Deutschmaster

They mumbled something about helping me get a green card. That's PR right?

E3only

Dude, you are mixing all the issues. As one of the posters said it’s not strictly one on one comparison.

I mean, you can elect NOT to have medical insurance here. No insurance whatsoever and fly to Mexico but do you want to take a chance?

Another thing, I had a root canal in Sydney and didn’t have appropriate cover. I ended up paying 1,600 out of pocket. I had the worst pain in my tooth ever so clearly I wouldn’t have waited to fly out to Asia. If I had an accident, I need coverage then and there. Going to Asia is not an option. You got where I am going? $600 limit is nothing and you are lucky you have not used it up. Insurance is a killer - you realize the worth when you have to access it

You got me on the 30% tax bracket. I will give you that.

Deutschmaster

I suppose I'm more used to the UK way where one has leeway on salary but not really on anything else - you get what you are given. In the US it really does seem that every little thing has to be negotiated.

Bob

Depends on the state...you can't not have insurance in MA.

augigi

Many of the things you said are unusual to me, and I'm an aussie born and bred, who has always had private health cover by choice. There is a copay for common illnesses, in that most places now charge rather than completely bulk-billing for GP clinics.

I can't see how you were paying $500/month for "basic hospital" cover - as a single I am paying $130/month for top hospital and extras in Victoria (generally expensive for insurance). I know my parents were paying around $250-300/month for both of them and they have top top blue ribbon everything.

It's not that "the government think you're rich" so you pay more - it's that you can afford more, and that's how our society works. If you have no income, you get free medicare coverage. If you do, pay a copay for the GP. If you have lots, get private cover. I think that's fair.

I have used both Medicare and my private cover in Australia for elective surgery in a private hospital and while of course there are things you get charged for that I think are crap, overall it was a great experience compared to when I have claimed in the US and keep getting bills for all sorts of rubbish.
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Back to the OP:

My US employer-sponsored PPO plan is around $30/month, and dental is around $15/month. I have excellent coverage, altho adult orthodontics is not covered. The years I selected HMO, it was about $70/month medical + $15/month dental insurance.

scrubbedexpat099

MA may well be the the exception that proves the rule.

Deutschmaster

Curious - what about those who either don't have jobs or have a low paying job that doesn't provide it?

E3only

Many of the things you said are unusual to me, and I'm an aussie born and bred, who has always had private health cover by choice. There is a copay for common illnesses, in that most places now charge rather than completely bulk-billing for GP clinics.

Never heard about the copay thing and even if I am not born and bred it Australia, I have lived there 10 years + so I have seen a few seasons. Not suggesting you are wrong but I have never heard of that. Until 6 months ago, I have always seen a GP that bulk bills are there are plenty of GP’s in every suburb so no reason for me to visit someone who takes co pay.

I can't see how you were paying $500/month for "basic hospital" cover - as a single I am paying $130/month for top hospital and extras in Victoria (generally expensive for insurance). I know my parents were paying around $250-300/month for both of them and they have top top blue ribbon everything.

If you read back my post, I was using a proxy tax rate to convert the medical insurance premiums in Australia to “PRE TAX” basis. The insurance premiums here in US (via employer who meets certain criteria and most of the employers meet that in US) are pre tax dollars. So if your parents are paying $300 and using a 30% tax bracket – it comes to $425 pre tax. Add to that 1.5% Medicare. That will make it $500 easy. I am also saying that, my wife and I were paying $220 for basic hospital cover. Add to that 1.5% medicare and covert the pvt medical insurance pre tax = $500.

It's not that "the government think you're rich" so you pay more - it's that you can afford more, and that's how our society works. If you have no income, you get free medicare coverage. If you do, pay a copay for the GP. If you have lots, get private cover. I think that's fair.

Don’t even get me started on that. Let’s just say I am a Liberal and I believe in – who uses, should pay. Labor came in power and reduced the limit to 144k. Tell you what 144K after tax with 2 kids and a mortgage in Sydney is average money. But that’s a whole another discussion. And yes, that how Socialistic society works – not “our” society. Talking about fairness – well I agree non income earners deserve access to medicare as much as anyone else.

I have used both Medicare and my private cover in Australia for elective surgery in a private hospital and while of course there are things you get charged for that I think are crap, overall it was a great experience compared to when I have claimed in the US and keep getting bills for all sorts of rubbish.

I was trying to make a point there. I will give you an example. I have a friend who lives in country side in Bundaberg. He has a dodgy knee and requires surgery. He does not have pvt health cover – simply can not afford it. He lives in government DOL. But he would love to work. He has worked all his live but since his knee injury at work (some 10 years ago) he can not stand up extended period of times. Anyway, long story short – he has been on the freaking waiting list for 8 years now to get the knee surgery done. Moral of the story is – 1.5% medicare won’t cover you for much more than common stuff.

Another example. I cut my finger at home and rushed to hospital near by in Sydney. What I am about to share is not over exaggeration. I reached the hospital (public) at around 1030 pm went straight to emergency. I was asked what was wrong and by that time I had some heavy bandage around the two fingers. The reception asked me to take a seat and I was looked at 4.5 hours later. Phucing joke if you ask me. It says more about the shortage of doctors than anything butt he moral of the story is - I pay 1.5% medicare and ever use it may be 2-3 times a year. One of the was above and it takes 4.5 hours to get it looked at? I can not remember why the heck I didn’t go and see private insurance but anyway.
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So again, I am not trying to say Australia is better than US or visa versa. I am not making a dollar to dollar comparison. I am not trying to compare an unemployed AU citizen to a job driven US individual. I am merely responding to the OP’s original statement “I'm surprised about medical insurance, it seems a f**k load compared to Australia.” That makes me think OP is saying 1. Australia is much better 2. It’s cheap……both of the things to be are not correct, well atleast the 2nd point more so.

Bob

You've got to provide proof you have insurance or cover from someone else, or they'll take it out of your tax refund...if work offers it, you've got to take it or show you're covered, if it isn't offered the state has a pool of coverage, which generally isn't cheap but the rate is on a sliding scale.

It's a way for the state to make people move to neighbouring states

meauxna

Or the self-employed?

All of the above buy their own insurance, or they pay their own medical expenses out of pocket.
Most providers offer a discount to patients paying cash.

Yes, a green card = Permanent Residence. Normally you would initially be on some sort of employment based visa. If the job goes away, the visa (and a future green card application) goes away with it.
Once you are a PR, you will have more permanent concerns in the US; what the health insurance situation will be at that time is anyone's guess.

E3only

And don’t even compare the PR process in Australia to GC process here.

Depending on category in which the GC is applied, it could be several years before you get GC.

augigi

That has absolutely nothing to do with your insurance, or medicare levy etc. It's called "triage" and is a medical consideration of "worst first". I am not sure why you would "rush to hospital" for a cut finger but you definitely can expect to wait hours in any ER in the universe if that's your chief complaint.