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#1 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 2,343
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I now have a young family and am looking into hospital cover, but I must be stupid because I dont see the benifits. Now I have and have always had extras cover, but as far as I see it if you are going to a public hospital (no private hospitals in my area anyway) as a private patient the only benifit is choosing your own doctor/surgeon.. Like I know any surgeons anyway!
Also, as is often the case if you are a private patient in a public hospital you may end up being charged for what ever outstanding amount your fund doesnt cover for your stay in hospital whereas the public patient gets it all for free anyway! As a public patient, if you are life threateningly ill you will be seen to (and operated on if needed) asap and your treatment will be free. So why pay for hospital cover? and if its elective/non urgent then why not wait a few months Is it purely to get inside a fancier hospital with your own room? becuase then I still dont see the point because you will probably be so out of it on drugs you wont know where you are anyway! I undertsand the eldery may need it (hip replacments etc) but they can probably least afford it anyway. Also the over 30's levy may change the situation also. Am I crazy.....? Am I on the wrong forum....? yes probably. ![]() |
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#2 | ||
Tribal Elder
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Yarrambat
Posts: 2,278
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Ive had it for 25 years, never had to use it. I could have bought my own hospital.
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#3 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Adelaide Hills
Posts: 541
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Im 40 and dont even have health cover. I dont care about having to pay the extra medicare levy cause i use the public health system when ever i need it and have never had any issues with the service i have had.
My Mum has private cover and has never had her own room when in hospital and she also could probably bought a hospital with the cash she has squandered.
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HendrixHC ![]() --------------------------------------------------- 1966 Mk1 Cortina 1982 XE Falcon 1978 XCGS Falcon 1993 XG Ute 2015 FGX XR8 |
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#4 | ||
I am Batman
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central Coast
Posts: 1,764
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Since moving over here, I have thought exactly the same!
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#5 | ||
Rob
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Woodcroft S.A.
Posts: 21,488
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i thought exactly the same (and still do) and up until 18mnths ago, we only had extras cover also.
the thing that made us join private health, is my daughter is type 1 diabetic (has been since 5yrs old, now 11). she was having insulin injections twice a day, but 12mnths ago we went to pump therapy. its a little device about the size of a mobile phone and controls her insulin. the thing is, these little devices are $8000 a pop and only good for 4yrs. under private health, they are seen as a prosthesis and are free. its still costing me about $8000 every 4yrs, but at least there are other benefits there if we need (dental etc). sorry for the long story, but if my daughter wasn't in that situation, i wouldn't have private health. as you've discovered, it seems to defy all logic. i also get slugged extra due to signing up when over 30. another 'tax' to thank the govt for. another story, my folks always had private health. my dad got appendicitis and went to flinders (hospital) and because it was an emergency he went to the public hospital anyway and then thanks to a lack of beds, ended up on a gurney in a corridor. all that money for private health..... |
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#6 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 184
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I've been asking the same question in another forum. I think it's one of those things everyone thinks they should have, we are told to have it through various advertisements and tax incentives, but is it really worth it. For my family of 4, basic cover with a few extras is $180pm. This covers very little that you can't just get from a public hospital anyway. Even for dental, it only covers like $500 per person. I've decided to save the $180pm instead, then if I need some dental work etc, just pay for it. I'm also considering just extras cover which is much cheaper. It might be worth it if you earn over the levy threshold or you or your kids have specific health issues, not that you can predict this in the future.
I'd be a bit pee'd off if I paid all that money just to find my condition wasn't covered, or there was a massive gap etc.
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#7 | ||
Adapt or perish...
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dip!@#$
Posts: 7,954
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Only have extras cover but even then you get some providers that say No Gap and you still get slugged a gap. Bloody rort I tells ya.
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#8 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2006
Location: In my happy place
Posts: 5,432
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Got full cover wouldnt be with out it
I my self have needed it twice, and my daughter has needed it I tried once to be a tight wad and go public (to save the excess) never again. I got stuck in a ward full of old guys that wouldnt shut up, if I had to go back a couple of hungy to have my own room would be money well spent
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#9 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Newcastle
Posts: 62
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My mum had heart surgery 3 weeks ago today (mechanical valve). She has been told her payable gap will be $3500-$4500. She has been with MBF for ever.When she got the the above letter prior to surgery she nearly didn't need it !! Wasn't gonna have it. I told her she was even if I had to sell Rosie.
Lucky she did cuz when they got in there it was way worse than thought and they said she prob wouldn't have seen Xmas. We are with NIB and my thoughts are it's a bonus not having to wait for surgery when needed.
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#10 | ||
XD Sundowner
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: moranbah
Posts: 1,078
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Top cover as you gotta pay the same amount at tax time ( with my salary) anyway,used for ivf and other ops and have received 15 -20 thou back off them ....so yes when you need it its well worth it .plus dental and many other included items .medibank private corporate gold cover
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#11 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Adelaide Hills
Posts: 541
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Quote:
I guess cause i havent had a negative public health sytem experience i dont see the need for private health. Must point out the only thing i have decided to pay for is ambulance cover, $120 a year for the family. Worth it because we live in the country - snakes!
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#12 | ||
RIP...
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 15,524
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All insurance is a bit of a rort, health insurance is by far the biggest.
Dig deep, and it's amazing what Medicare covers. Dig deep, and it's even more amazing what health insurance doesn't cover. It's simply not needed in this country where we actually have a very good public health system.
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#13 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,421
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I have always had private health, will always.
My mate's mum - riddled with cancer, and just broke her hip - was in public hospital (as public patient) waiting for 3 days for an operation on the weekend. she was fasting the WHOLE time because they made her. NO WAY I AM EVER GOING THROUGH THAT. Private all the way. I am happy to pay the couple of grand a year for it. |
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#14 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,021
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I would much rather pay a 5% medicare levy and a have a world class health system rather than pay insurers. It is essentially gambling as to whether or not you will need it. Heads they win, tails you lose.
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#15 | ||
Giddy up!
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 2,126
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Having had one child through the public system and my twins through private the level and continuity of care in the private sector was unbelievable. It was like trying to compare a cricket bat to a bit of cheese.
We had the same obsetrictian, met all the doctors who were going to do the Caesar and with the twins in a special care nursery still, I would rather pay it. We've used it for dental and glasses previously and that's it. My father in law with bowel and prostate cancer is having a hard time in the public system, and if he was private his stays in Geelong would have been a lot better. But each to their own.
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Current: June 11 built Titanium TDCi Territory, Edge, side steps, mud spats, bonnet protector, tow pack, full tint. Nov 10 built XR6 Sensation. Previous: Oct 07 built Mondeo TDCi hatch, Stardust Silver, bluetooth, leather, tow pack, sunroof. |
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#16 | |||
Virtuous Bogan (TM)
![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: TAS
Posts: 27,557
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I think there has been a thread about this not long ago
Quote:
Since having kids I got it, otherwise I dont think I would bother. But in saying that, two births later I am glad we did. As it stands I am in front at the moment. But like I said, Ill be happy to pay insurance if thats the only thing I have to complain about in 50 years time. |
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#17 | ||
they call me Tibbo
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 6,163
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I have it, biased view but all I ever read is time is money,
I don't make enough, someone stooged me, everything is too expensive.... Even if you are a hopeless one armed monkey getting $20 per hour, the time you sit in a public hospital before the system has the time to 'have a look' even @ 20 bucks an hour makes the private health system and monthly contributions look extremely healthy..... I'd 'touching wood' hate to be of such health that mine or my family needed anything major performed relying only on public... The anguish of the time for diagnosis would be enough to validate the levy to go private before the proceedure even came into the equation.
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#18 | ||
GT
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SYDNEY
Posts: 9,205
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BE INSURED , TO THE MAX YOU CAN AFFORD .
just to show anyone who thinks it isn't worth it . a friends wife came down with breast cancer . 80 grands worth of treatment for a few grand , because they were privately covered , the alternative was to wait on the public system till they fit you in . a lesser example , you walk outside twist your knee !!! cannot walk without a real struggle . your options are , wait for elective surgery , as it's not life threatening , and not anyones problem that you cannot work , could take 3 to 6 months wait , but the good news is it may get a little better while you wait . or cash could be 15 to 20k upfront thanks , we can do it next week sir . or i'm in a private health fund can you do it next week ? sure we can , but just give us $500 so we can pass it on to your health fund . Last edited by geckoGT; 27-09-2011 at 08:56 AM. Reason: Toned it down because those with a differing opinion took offence to being called stupid and crazy |
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#19 | ||
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 598
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If you put the $3-4k a year in premiums into a bank term deposit, statistically you will be miles ahead.
It's a numbers game that the funds play, and they make huge profits...all from us suckers. Let's not pretend that if you need urgent surgery for a broken something or another that the only way they will treat you is if you have health insurance. I can walk into any medical facility in the world...slap the Visa card on the front desk and get attended to straight away. Cash is the universal health insurance system....100% cover. |
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#20 | |||
RIP...
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 15,524
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Quote:
I wouldn't call anyone a sucker who has it though, I think it's jest being led into a false sense of security, as we're led to believe that our public system is crap. Nothing could be further from the truth as we probably have the best public system in the world. From my experience only a couple months ago with my father, the system worked exceptionally well, from the ambos, to the ICU, to the ward. My father had a brain aneurysm, was in ICU for 2 weeks and a ward for a week, didn't cost them a penny. I talked them out of health insurance a few years back. I also had a nose job many years ago, elective surgery, and I opened my wallet. I had to wait the same time an insured person did, had the same care, choice of Dr, hospital, etc, and the majority of it was covered by Medicare. In fact I paid less than someone who would have been insured at the time, plus the insured person is paying ongoing. There really is no need for health insurance in OZ, make no mistake, you will pay more with it.
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#21 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 504
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I look at it this way, 90% of us don't think twice about insuring the immaterial things in our lives (cars etc etc) why not do the same for you and your family ?
We have full private cover, life insurance and income protection and wouldn't be without it. |
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#22 | |||
RIP...
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 15,524
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Quote:
Without insurance for our material possessions, we lose them in the event of theft, accident, fire, etc. In the event of you or your family having sickness or serious accident, you are covered by way of Medicare. We are all already 'insured' so to speak.
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#23 | ||
Ich bin ein auslander
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Loving the Endorphine Machine
Posts: 7,453
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Yep, until everyone, no matter how much they earn cancel their health insurance because we all have the Medicare "health cover". Then everyone turns up at hospitals, delays get longer, waiting lists get longer and everyone on this "health cover" complains that the health system is crap.
A lot of the problem is everyone wants first class health care but most people don't want to pay for it. Simple fact is quality health care costs a lot more than covered by the Medicare levy if everyone was to rely on it. If everyone was to just use Medicare, the Medicare levy will have to go through a massive increase. Yes we have a good health care system but it is crumbling under the pressure because less and less people have health insurance, causing less use of GP's and more presentations to public emergency departments.
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Growing old is compulsory, growing up is optional! |
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#24 | ||
It's not an FG MKI.......
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Northern Territory
Posts: 7,426
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I look at private health insurance like a condom.
I'd rather have it and not need it than not have it and need it. And if the company you work for subsidises the cost, why wouldn't you.
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#25 | ||||||
RIP...
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 15,524
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Quote:
The waiting lists are already longer than they need to be, but it's because of private cover and too many people having premature elective procedures. People are also already claiming the public system is crap, because unfortunately our society today is too demanding. Quote:
Our current public health care system may not be first class, and it certainly has flaws, but by world standards it is excellent. Quote:
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The system will need adjusting as more and more people go out of private cover, but that's a good thing IMO. As I said, the system is good, but there's always room for improvement. I think one of the first things which should be introduced is paid GP visits. It might stop frivolous weekly check ups by perfectly healthy but paranoid people.
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#26 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,683
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We have had private health (hospital) cover since I started my first full time job back in 1974, HBA it was then, then when I married in 1977 we changed over to Medibank, I am now with Teachers Federation Health, a bloody good insurer, we have used it heaps and it is bloody worth it. I can pick when I want to go into hospital even for voluntary stuff.
As you get older the benefits of having it become obvious. Quote:
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#27 | |||
GT
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SYDNEY
Posts: 9,205
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Quote:
ohhhhh come on guys . i really dont like hearing peoples assumptions . our public system is the only way for emergency care ,and it is great . it is there to save your life , or help you recover enough to go home , once home , and believe me they dont keep you in hospital for a day longer than necessary . your on your own , then you go to the GP for recovery , if you need further specialist follow ups treatment . that when you are up the creek without private insurance or cash . remember your public hospital is there to keep you alive , after that its up to you and specialists, or you and your wallet . when you come out of hospital after an emergency be thankfull your alive , it doesnt gaurantee youll stay that way though , it is then up to you to keep yourself recovering , not the public system . in all other cases (not emergency life treatments) the private system is way way way better than public . the public sytem is for life threatening emergencies, the private system is for recovery and repair . thats my take . i have had that drummed into me from doctors and everyone i know who has been there , and i have . i needed a hernia operation years agoi . the GP said to me when dont be a fool , get it fixed , dont wait . make the necessary appointments now privately and get it done in a staged planned manner by a great doctor under a planned circumstance . OR wait till it ruptures , and hope it isnt in the middle of a saturday night an a bad night , when the public sytem is under stress ,and a junior doctor repairs it as one of several operations he/she performs that night . it is important for me to drum the realities of what happens here . ohh by the way if your appendix suddenly ruptures it is a life threatening emergency . the hospital will keep you alive , the private system wont be there for you under that scenario . . then it becomes an emergency operation or death . i hope i have made the point i'm trying too . cheers . |
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#28 | ||||||||||
RIP...
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 15,524
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Quote:
Quote:
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In any case, only the specialist costs money, the GP does not. Quote:
Yes, the hospital will keep you alive and patch you up. Once out of hospital, you continue to see a GP (free), and if necessary you see a specialist, which may or may not be covered. Much of the time you'll find it is. When it isn't, once again, you'd simply be using the the cash which otherwise would be spent on the insurance. Again, so what. Quote:
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Many advise not to go private, even when you are insured. That speaks volumes. Quote:
If I had of been privately insured it was going to be a lot more, the Dr's assured me of that. The OP was going to be up to double, and then the gap payable was similar to what I paid (plus of course the ongoing monthly fee) In hindsight, I should have waited anyway (it wasn't life threatening, just very uncomfortable), and it would have not cost me anything at all. Quote:
Same as myself. We all have choices. Anyway, each to their own, but to compare health insurance to motor vehicle or house insurance (as someone else did) is fundamentally flawed.
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#29 | |||
GT
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SYDNEY
Posts: 9,205
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Quote:
mate i've had my experiences , and heard many of friends experiences on how good private health can be . your not going to change my mind . keep saving your 3.5 k/pa , and i'll keep pooring mine int a private fund ok . . i'll use the public system as you will if and when required , and also the health fund if and when required . hopefully we wont need to use either . cheers . |
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#30 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central Q..10kms west of Rocky...
Posts: 8,307
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I am a nurse and I don't have health insurance. If anything major happens, you will be in a public hospital. Private hospitals only want elective surgery cases, easy money ,quick turnover. They don't have emergency cases. An ambulance will always take you to a public hospital. Plus, public hospitals have DRs 24/7, private hospitals don't. Then America health insurance !!
A growing number of uninsured and underinsured Americans means the "deductible is constantly rising for the privately insured," said Quentin Young, national coordinator for Physicians for a National Health Program. That group advocates for a single-payer health system. Kaiser's survey found that annual insurance premiums to cover people through their employers average $5,429 for single people and $15,073 for a family of four in 2011. Those rates rose 8% for single people and 9% for families. In 2010, premiums rose just 3% for families from the previous year. Kaiser Family Foundation also found premiums were lower for families at small firms than for those at large firms.
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