So in about 6 months, I'm going to need eye surgery, and it's not going to be cheap. I've just moved back to Australia, and am not currently with any health provider. My expected income means that it's going to be worth it for me to go private.
However, every provider I've looked at so far seems to have a 12-month wait for pre-existing conditions. Does anyone know of an insurer with less than that? No wait would be awesome, but realistically 6 months waiting time for pre-existing would do.
12 months is the standard waiting period for pre-existing conditions. You will not get less than this and you will not find a health fund that will waive this waiting period.
Anyone can rock up to the Eye and Ear hospital to have a visit; they have an emergency department. My suggestion is you go along and see them and ask them what they can do for you and what their waiting times are like. I have one dodgy eye that gets swollen every now and again and I have seen them a few times. (Mind you they haven't actually fixed the problem but they can tell me the issue is with the surrounding tissue and not the eye, so that is some reassurance I'm not going blind). Best of Luck.
Or have your GP refer you to the Eye & Ear Hospital.
http://www.eyeandear.org.au/page/Health_Professionals/Referr…
Yes, however I know someone who went through the same thing in the public system and he had a 3 year wait time…I'd rather pay and get it sorted faster.
the whole purpose of the waiting period is to avoid people in your situation, ie only take up insurance when it is required
Nothing stopping you leaving the company after the surgery
realistically you will not find any company with less than 12 months for pre-existing conditions
the only reason it isnt more is because the government mandates this to be the maximum
Did you have health insurance before you left Australia? Some providers allow a gap in coverage when you move OS and you can resume without waiting again.
If not I suggest you will have to wait 12 months or look at other options like paying it out of pocket privately.
the gap is generally a maximum of 2 months, otherwise waiting periods will be applied again
Good to know
Unfortunately I've been away been about 5 years, and it's been more like 8 since I had health insurance last…:)
Not likely, don't they all have similar waiting periods.