A Private Health Fund That Offers Scheduled Health Checks as Preventive Diagnostic Measure?

uk3000 on 11/08/2018 - 21:38

A while ago I used to work overseas and one of the job perks was a private corporate health cover. As a part of the cover policy, we were offered an option to take semi-annual comprehensive health checks, like a set of blood/urine tests, some ultrasound scans and even MRI. The insurance company was paying for that, it was a part of their preventive medicine program.

I think it makes lots of sense for both parties but so far I'm unable to find a private health fund or any other program in Australia that would offer something like that. Does it exist? If not, why? I came across I-screen, but their offers are nowhere near as comprehensive as I wish they were.

Health & Beauty Health Insurance Insurance

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 11/08/2018 - 21:44
    +1

    Medical (Hospital) cover only covers inpatient treatments. There is no health fund that covers you for outpatient treatment such as Dr/specialist appointments as medicare covers this.

    You can see your GP under medicare and get a check-up but I doubt it will be in depth if the GP is bulk billing.

    Are you an Australian citizen eligible for medicare?

    • uk3000 on 11/08/2018 - 22:17

      Are you an Australian citizen eligible for medicare?

      I do use medicare when I get sick and need a treatment, and I don't mind paying a gap.
      I've however never asked my GP for (say) an MRI brain scan referral just because I want it, without any notable symptoms. I imagine he wouldn't give one.

      There is no health fund that covers you for outpatient treatment such as Dr/specialist appointments as medicare covers this.

      I know that, but at the same time, why do they cover optical and dental though? Also, wouldn't that be in their best financial interest to encourage their clients to undertake regular health checks, to detect early signs of a potentially complex decease, at the stage when it might be much easier and cheaper to cure?

      • buckster on 11/08/2018 - 23:18
        +1

        You would be able to get a referral for an MRI, but you would have to pay for it 100% privately if it was outside of Medicare guidelines.

        Most cover optical and dental because they generally charge you more for extras cover than the normal person could claim back in a given year

      • AusGP on 11/08/2018 - 23:44
        +10

        A scan for the sake of screening is not always recommended. There are plenty of "incidentalomas" that one might find by doing a scan that are probably irrelevant and may trigger further invasive investigations. Ditto for some blood tests.

        Yes some lucky few might have something picked up but statistically speaking you may be doing yourself more harm than good. This should be discussed with your regular GP as to what is useful and beneficial.

        • uk3000 on 12/08/2018 - 08:30

          Thanks wasn't aware of that.

        • Bunnyburger on 12/08/2018 - 13:42

          The fact that further invasive investigations may be triggered, it means that they may possibly be warranted right? After all it's the doctor that triggers it.

          I get it, some things like prostate cancer require a wait and see hands off approach.

        • AusGP on 12/08/2018 - 17:59
          +1

          @Bunnyburger:

          I think prostate cancer screening is a perfect example of where the risks and benefits of screening need to be explained because those further invasive investigations may he warranted but are associated with risks of harm. Plus the issue of whether to treat or not is another conundrum in certain age groups.

          Best to speak to a good GP who understands the statistics of it all!

  • buckster on 11/08/2018 - 22:07

    Which country did you work in?

    • uk3000 on 11/08/2018 - 22:30

      A few actually, all in Eastern Europe. Poland and Ukraine had that.

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