which health insurance i should get? as I feel it better to get one as i currently paying
medicare levy surcharge.
Medibank with basic extra cover?
or should use something else?
Which health insurance should I get?
adpaholic on 17/01/2014 - 13:06
Comments
Any particular reason for not sticking with HCF? Just price?
hcf is great but health.com.au is also meant to be good :)
Nothing. If you are dying and its an emergency they will fix you up for free. If you are not dying and its still irritating and you are on a long ass waiting list go overseas and get it done for half the price of here. Rather than spending on pointless premiums put a $100 aside a week just for sudden medical expenses. That is $5K a year and is a start if you need medical care asap.
Rather than spending on pointless premiums put a $100 aside a week just for sudden medical expenses.
and still pay the medicare levy surcharge? :)
Pay the surcharge. That is why its free and your ass doesn't end up in the cemetery.
Pay the surcharge.
why when it can be avoided?
this is ozbargain :)
That is why its free
what's free?
I was with MBF then BUPA and now CUA.
Could not be happier with CUA - getting the same benefits as I was with BUPA but for $30 a month less.
Plus, the mob that organised the switcheroo for me are giving me $251 cash back - i.e splitting half what they get for organising the switcheroo.
Goes to show you how much money the health funds really make, and they still want to sqeeze a bit more blood out of you each year.
Who did the switch for you? BetterBills?
Have a look at St Lukes Health http://www.stlukes.com.au/Healthcover/Coverselector.aspx
I found that they are cheaper than most but they have higher claimable allowances than most. For example they have $1000 for general dental whereas the best in that prices range i could find was $750 elsewhere.
Having said that, if you don't use the limit then something that offer 85% back like the Health.com.au option might work out better.In general, I have found that the funds that pay out the most on allied health are the industry funds. Teachers, Police and Defence health come to mind.
Many people are actually eligible for cover under Defence health - If you, your partner, a parent or a grandparent is or was a member of the ADF at one stage, you are eligible. (Comparable cover under MBP or MBF would cost my partner and I about $30-50 more per month I believe)As someone who works in the hospital, I wouldn't ever go without Health Insurance it is just too much of a risk to be without if you can afford it.
Lots of examples , but lets say your young and the chances of being sick is low but not nil.
Say in this example one day you find blood in your stool. And the doctor recommends a colonoscopy.
That's 500$ if you have private its fully covered.
If your on the public waiting list, for anyone under 30 without family history that's really not going to happen for at least 6months - 24months
If you really had something wrong like bowel cancer, thats 24months you cannot wait. Otherwise your in stage 4
BAM too late.The odds are low but I aint playing to be a statistic.
Yes you can save money per year and go overseas , but for simple screening tests it's actually cheaper staying in the country.So all in all I know what I would chooose.
- corporate rates for alot of companies see if they offer no matter which health insurance u go with.
If your main purpose is to avoid paying the surcharge. then just find the cheapest hospital cover (which can do so).
(assuming you do not need/want to have the extra cover which does cost you more directly or indirectly through a package)Also, speak to your Dr(s); they will know the good funds that won't stiff the patient or provider when it comes time to cough up for services…surprisingly, not all funds are equal when it's time to actually pay up.
I have it on good authority that NIB is notorious in the health industry for leaving Drs & patients in the lurch! ;)
+1 for NIB Extra's cover which i found to be the most value for money and comprehensive, great if you use it for dental and have regular massage/chiropracter/physio appointments.
Im also with NIB on the most basic level of hospital cover for around $50/month, only to avoid the levi. (Luckily) i havent had to use this yet, so can't comment.
IN either case, basic level of hospital cover gives you for jack and is there mainly so you avoid the surcharge. They're priced at $50/m with most providers. Medium hospital cover is where you start to get a benefit over public cover, but will cost you. I'm moving to NIB medium health cover plan shortly because if covers the things i want and i've had nothing but good experience with NIB.
Best advice to you: compare. Check what you want to have covered, e.g. dental, optical, gastro if you have a family history of coeliac (like me), and make sure that you get cover for those things.
As someone who works for a health fund the best advice I can give is never try and compare funds, they are all different. Even if iselect try and tell you it's easy, rubbish….at the end of the day you get what you pay for, like with everything in life. You might try and save $20 a month now, but I can guarantee you will pay for it eventually when you really need your cover. Dig deep when asking your health fund questions, for example are you fully contracted with all private hospitals? Some funds won't tell you this info and when you go in you have to pay an additional copayment every day you're in hospital…could end up costing you thousands extra.
i'm with hcf but would also consider health.com.au :)
http://www.techworld.com.au/article/525166/australian_startu…