Newbie. Private Health Insurance Yes or No?

LCOVIDLALALA on 14/06/2020 - 19:43
Last edited 15/06/2020 - 21:56

Hello everyone, I was told about this AWESOME website from my Ozbargain addict friend

I am married, 26 years old, just got my first full-time job as a store member in a grocery store for about 8 months. Salary 60k + Occasional Uber Eats driver (earn about $200-300/week). Completely healthy
Partner is studying, works part-time earns about $500/week. Wife has a blood disorder - ITP, an autoimmune disease, her health's been stable and not dangerous so far since she still young. But could be very deadly and critical if something goes wrong.
We both have Medicare

  • I am wondering if I should join a private health insurance or not? If I should, then which one has the best value?
  • I've been always doing tax-return my self and never been to a tax accountant before (trying to save some money by doing it my self and also gaining experience). And since this is my 1st full-time job this year (Uber driving only started 2 months ago), any tips for claiming tax return?

Any advice is greatly appreciated and thanks in advance!

Thanks for everyone's advice. Have decided to skip PHI for now until more suited circumstance in the future. We've already had a emergency-fund account but maybe will put more to it every week.
I can see why this is such a great website not just for hunting bargains. You all giving good advice and positive inputs even to some strangers.

Poll Options

  • 47
    Yes buy private health insurance
  • 296
    No
Financial Health Insurance Insurance

Comments

  • dasher86 on 14/06/2020 - 21:46
    +2

    any tips for claiming tax return?

    Yes. Go see a tax accountant, after you have done your tax yourself.

    And see the value they can add.

    You will probably save more money this way.

    • COVIDLALALA on 14/06/2020 - 22:47

      thanks, I was thinking since our income is quite low and pretty straight forward, I was thinking to save up by doing that myself. But I also heard that you could claim the money you pay the accountant for doing your tax return, right?

      • 82norm on 15/06/2020 - 09:20

        Yes, but it just comes off your taxable income. But don’t think you’ll get back 100% what you paid, it’s just a tiny,tiny fraction.
        Make sure you goto the ATO website on things you can claim, work expenses etc. and make your you keep receipts.

      • andrek on 15/06/2020 - 10:47

        A good tax accountant will know more about what can and cannot be claimed as well as the current regulations to guide you on how to maximise your tax return. If you have spare hours to learn that yourself - no issues. But the accountant will save you a lot of time, and likely will do it more accurate. And I personally use my annual meetings with my accountant as an education session; in one hour I learn more than I could have learned by myself in months.

        Yes, you can claim accountant fees you pay to prepare your tax return. As other mentioned, you will never get 100% back; expect to get back your individual income's highest tax rate (https://www.ato.gov.au/rates/individual-income-tax-rates/).

  • UserNameAlreadyTaken on 14/06/2020 - 22:47
    +1

    I also have an auto immune disease… Have the talk with your GP… Most likely your wife can be treated the same under medicare… Albeit general waiting times unless deemed urgent.

    • COVIDLALALA on 14/06/2020 - 22:50
      +1

      luckily she's met a haematologist who had such care and devoted for my wife's health. There were multiple times he reached out to anyway he could for her treatments

    • COVIDLALALA on 14/06/2020 - 22:52

      also just curious, how are you going with your autoimmune disease? Have you had it treated completely?

      • UserNameAlreadyTaken on 14/06/2020 - 23:16

        Yes mine is managed under the public health system… Have the talk with her GP… In the end all emergency cases whether you have private health or not will be treated the same… Just comes down whether any other treatments etc not considered under public will be beneficial to your wife… No two auto immune disease are the same… Talk to her GP before you make the plunge into the private healthcare system… Wish you both the best whatever you choose… Sorry no one here can really decide this for you 🤗

  • 82norm on 15/06/2020 - 09:23
    +1

    Don’t forget PHI can cover things like dental, eye stuff (glasses) depending on policy, which Medicare doesn’t. PHI is one of those evils in life, personally I would get it, but I can understand your dilemma and your age group situation. Maybe bank some money away each week, even if it’s $20 and have it reserved purely for medical emergencies.

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 15/06/2020 - 09:25
    +6

    Private Health Insurance is a scam - the government is stupid to give taxes breaks which they just rip you off with junk policies

    • Dsquall on 17/06/2020 - 02:02

      It's to alleviate pressure off the public system. If you don't want wait lists to blow out even more (a category 3 to be seen by a sub-specialty was 1-2 years pre-covid, god knows what it will be after). You need part of the population to pay for their own healthcare in order to alleviate the cost burden to the 'taxpayer' and enable the public system to help those that can't comfortably pay out of pocket. Hence the medicare levy, it incentivises people in the upper tax brackets to not rely on public health.

      But yes, you need to find a good provider, some are unscrupulous and load you with crap.

      • Trying2SaveABuck on 17/06/2020 - 08:44

        IN theory

        In practice 99 out of 100 times the premiums you pay over your life are more expensive then what ever elective operations you need when you finally need them - not to mention the large gap that seems to always need to be paid even when you have top cover.

        The system is broken

        Get ambulance Cover esp if you are looking to have a baby otherwise the public system is where all the money should go and leave the private system to fend for itself

  • heycolombo on 15/06/2020 - 09:36
    +4

    Not really a scam , you get what you pay for.
    Anyone who can afford it should think about private health cover now.
    While it is correct that that life saving matters / itp complications are well treated in the public system under Medicare , private health fund is important to get access to private hospital for elective surgery.
    What young people usually forget , in particular if fit and healthy and engaging into sporting activities is the long waiting time to have elective surgery done at present.
    If you do your knee in and need a reconstruction you will wait 12-18 month to get it done in public hospital. With a year of rehab , that’s 2-3 years out of your “active lifestyle “ in total.
    Don’t get me wrong , public is good , but waiting times are long. And with Covid 19 and currently no elective surgery happening at public hospitals - the waitlist getting longer and longer.
    In the end everyone needs to know for themself how much convenience and timely access to elective surgery is worth

    • Hardly Normal on 16/06/2020 - 13:55
      +2

      Suprised it took this long to find a comment like this.

      PHI for elective surgery is great. If you end up having an injury/illness that degrades your quality of life but isn't deadly, you will end up on the operating table a lot sooner with private than public.

      Getting tonsils removed springs to mind as a good example. Long waits, hard to qualify and frequent sickness as a result.

    • Scantu on 16/06/2020 - 15:26

      Why? When I want elective surgery done I just pay for it out of pocket with the tens of thousands of dollars I've saved not paying for PHI.

  • AustriaBargain on 15/06/2020 - 10:30

    If you've got a chronic health condition and you don't trust your public health system, and you shouldn't trust them, then i'd get private health insurance.

  • THL on 15/06/2020 - 10:35

    Personally I would recommend getting at least basic hospital/ambulance insurance. Don't need to get the extras though as they are really not that useful. Yes you can always go to public hospital without hospital insurance, but it'll make a difference if the hospital knows that you have private health insurance.

  • netjock on 15/06/2020 - 10:39
    +4

    Bits and pieces to the above. But you need to look at it this way.

    How much is the medicare levy surcharge you will have to pay = $x

    How much is the cost of private health insurance gross = $y

    Benefits you will use from insurance such as dental / optical etc = $z

    So if you $x - $y + $z = $ means you are set to benefit.

    I also agree ambulance cover is worth the small change. Although private health insurance would cover one or two cases a year I believe.

    • Trying2SaveABuck on 15/06/2020 - 10:48
      +1

      This is great advice for almost all aspects of any type of insurance

      • YesPleaseThankYou on 15/06/2020 - 10:54

        Insurance isn't an investment with a known outcome. At the risk of stating the obvious, the benefits only arise if an insured event arises.

        For example, based on your support of the above formula, it would seem that home building insurance doesn't have any benefit. Of course, if your house burns down and you don't have insurance, I hope that you have $500,000 spare to rebuild.

        • JoJoker on 18/06/2020 - 08:18

          My extras only cover is $378 per year after the rebate and I got it to help cover events I knew were coming up. I still use it for dental at least once a year and physio now and then.

          Everyone is looking at this as either you have it or you don't but there is a third option – check claims and premiums every 6 months and forecast any insurable events coming up. If claims and premiums don't balance and you don't expect to have claims in the future, cancel the cover and pay your premiums into your own medical cost bank account.

      • netjock on 15/06/2020 - 10:54
        +3

        I would agree but except for those on OzB who posts "got into car accident, uninsured"

        $1k for car insurance to cover a potential $20k accident is money well spent.

        • Trying2SaveABuck on 15/06/2020 - 11:03

          In that equation one would always have to at least get thrid party insurance i mean you need to factor in the fact you could write off a farrier which essentially out weights any potential insurance premium…wouldnt it?

  • miles05 on 15/06/2020 - 10:50
    +1

    I have been in both private hospitals (working) and public hospitals (patient, appendectomy) and can say proudly that the standard of healthcare was amazing in both. The nurses and doctors in the public system were just as good if not better than in private, and this was in a semi regional hospital (Geelong). Obviously theres longer waiting times in emergency, no private rooms, and the food is inedible, but im happy to spend a portion of what I would pay for PHI on Uber Eats if I need to be admitted to a public hospital.

  • YesPleaseThankYou on 15/06/2020 - 10:51
    +1

    An option for you to consider is that you obtain health insurance for your partner only.

    Also, I suggest you read a policy booklet from one of the funds so you are informed of what private health insurance in Australia does and does not provide.

  • screensaver on 15/06/2020 - 11:14
    -6

    Mt friend died from Hep C in a public hospital. I saw patients neglected and a few of the nurses were horrible. I wouldnt put all my trust in them

      • JuryWheel on 15/06/2020 - 11:34

        not a great response there mate…

      • screensaver on 15/06/2020 - 12:17
        -2

        no he wasnt. He was an older man that was given injections for schizpphrenia by the PH and one was contaminated. I traced his files and found he complained once that there was blood in the syringe

    • JuryWheel on 15/06/2020 - 11:34

      often the higher quality care is actually in the public hospitals - particularly in the acute areas. Sure the food is worse, you may share a room and you may wait if it isnt urgent, but i would put my health faith in the PH system first….

    • screensaver on 15/06/2020 - 12:24

      they also hastened his death. A doctor at a PH suggested a procedure to divert blood supplu. On the day of the op she said this could kill him in 30 days. He died a horrible death 4 weeks later. Why did she even suggest it?

      • pao2x on 15/06/2020 - 13:07
        +2

        Sounds like end stage liver disease. A private hospital wouldn’t even touch your friend with those treatments

        • screensaver on 15/06/2020 - 14:25

          he would have been able to get palliative care, his end was awful

          • pao2x on 15/06/2020 - 16:34

            @screensaver: End stage liver disease death is always horrible. Best you can hope for is bleed out quickly

            • screensaver on 15/06/2020 - 17:09

              @pao2x: he was going okay until the prodedure. Just had to get fluid drained regularly from his abdomen but he was eating, walking, at home etc

      • Dsquall on 17/06/2020 - 02:19

        I'm sorry that you had such a poor experience with your friend at a public hospital. By the sounds of it, he had ESLD (end stage liver disease) and was recommended for a TIPS(transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) procedure. I imagine, he had significant issues with bleeding before this otherwise they would never have recommended a TIPS. Unfortunately, it is sometimes the only thing we can do, if nothing was done I imagine he would have had a significant bleed from varices in his oesophagus and that is never a pleasant way to go. Your surgeon/interventional radiologist should have explained it better but I'm sure if you did have any questions you can ask your GP or that surgeon and they'd be happy to explain.

  • JuryWheel on 15/06/2020 - 11:38
    +2

    i am married with 3 young kids and my wife and i have never had Private health…..just never seemed worth it. Sure, if i played local footy and her netball, and our jobs depended on our bodies being able, OR we were going to use the extras a lot (dental, optical, remedial etc) then MAYBE, but we had our kids via the public system, by choice, and we are rarely out of pocket anything crazy. The problem is, even if you have private, you dont get it all back anyway - for instance dental procedures for kids.

    Its a real worry for the country that many people like me don't get it…

  • Drakesy on 15/06/2020 - 12:19

    The only reason for the PHI loading is to ensure there are enough people in the system to support the pensioners who otherwise would inflate the premiums to such unfathomable levels that no one would take it out.

    Honestly unless you need instant treatment through subsidised specialists it's not worth it.

    Just another way for the government to ensure the generation who will struggle to buy a house and let alone have a greater standard of living than the generation preceeding it will be behind the 8 ball for longer.

    imho the loading should be scrapped, but then the private health industry with mates in government would have a cry.

    • YesPleaseThankYou on 15/06/2020 - 12:35

      Honestly unless you need instant treatment through subsidised specialists it's not worth it.

      You can't instant treatment (I presume you mean insurance cover) for most services anyway.

      PHI isn't a savings account. It's insurance.

      • Drakesy on 15/06/2020 - 15:20

        It's instant treatment by specialists for elective surgery that you're paying for. This allows you to effectively 'skip' the waiting period which you'd experience in the public health system.

        And yes the insurance cover is there in case something catastrophically expensive does happen.

        But even then you're covered by the public system most of the time. And the private insurance will only cover you so far…

        At the end of the day they're there to make money and the costs by far outweigh the benefits at the Op's age.

  • squashedfrog on 15/06/2020 - 12:45
    +8

    I've had PHI for a while as a single, and now family with 2 young children.

    Putting aside all the valid points made about financial tax benefits vs taxible income, it really depends on whether you will use any of the features of private health - hospital or general extras.

    I've used PHI for multiple major surgeries - multiple - knee reconstructions, wrist surgery - and every time I had to pay out of pocket. I also have $0 excess. However the waiting times for surgery are very short. For knee reco via public system, it would've been 12mths+. I've also paid fully out of pocket for a knee reco and it was $10k+, with PHI it was around $2K.

    We've used PHI for 2 pregnancies in a private hospital and everything was covered, including special care nursery stay. The public system is free however you may be sharing rooms with other ppl and probably sent home a bit earlier. The level of care is not any worse.

    For general extras, I claim specsavers 2 pairs every year, and go to the dentist every 6 months. ditto for family. Children are however covered by certain medicare subsidies every couple of years regardless. If I didn't have PHI, I wouldn't change glasses or go to the dentist as often.

    Does the cost of PHI premiums cover my yearly health fees? NO. I don't think it's the point, it's just there incase sh*t happens. The public system is fine until you need to have an elective procedure that is not deemed critical. It's a personal choice until you are actually better off getting basic hospital to avoid extra medicare levy.

    OP's situation is unique and if you can afford it, then I dont think it's a problem - otherwise just put aside the amount you would spend on PHI in an emergency bucket. Our public system is very good.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/06/2020 - 13:02
    -4

    Yes because you started this post with out using ya brain.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/06/2020 - 13:49

    As others have said, PHI is a scam. The sooner people stop supporting it, the sooner we can get rid of this cancer on society.

  • sy8718 on 15/06/2020 - 13:52

    extra only should be enough for now.

    I got extra only before 32 which is around 800 per year for family. Include ambulance (must have), 400 prescription glasses (200 for each. my wife and I both need it), 1300 general dental (650 for each. two cleaning per year will take 300, so it is 600 for two. And I spent around 300 to remove wisdom teeth)

    In total we claim more than we spent on extra. So I think extra is worth to buy.

  • lhou021 on 15/06/2020 - 14:03
    +2

    just ask yourself 2 questions
    1. are you 30+?
    2. is your salary 90k+?

  • plastererJazz on 15/06/2020 - 14:19

    Rule 1 - Only pay for what you need.

    Whatever regulation that charge you pay more premium or levy surcharge shouldn't influence your decision.

    I have put together a simple cost trajectory sheet taking factor such as age, premium, income, deduction, LHC loading, rebate, surcharge etc.

    The result is that it costs much more when you start paying when 30+ or $90k+ compared with start paying when you need it (including surcharge and LHC loading).

    Again, ask yourself, do you really need this service now?

    Cheers

  • trapper on 15/06/2020 - 14:33

    You need to realise that even with health insurance it will still cost a flipping fortune to go to a private hospital.

    • Drakesy on 15/06/2020 - 15:27
      -1

      Couldn't agree more.

      I think some Australian's need to take a leaf out of america's book in that it's mandatory to pay for private health. American's only take it out because there's no alternative. We 'pay' for it in our taxes so effectively doubling down on what is already a very good system.

      And yes no matter what coverage or country you live in, private health costs will still be ridiculous, businesses need to make money somehow

  • pippohippo on 15/06/2020 - 15:49
    +3

    Medibank has a basic one for about $27 per month ($324 annually)

    $150 glasses
    2 free dental clean which is about 80 -100 each time - $160-200

    even at the low end its $310.

    It also comes with Ambulance so it's not that bad. medibank also has discount in various stores. e.g.Double fly buy points at coles fresh food etc.

    • Hansi on 21/06/2020 - 17:53

      Which one is that? Cheapest hospital only cover for single 30 I could find was $90 a month, can't imagine that there would be one that mucn cheaper.

      • pippohippo on 21/06/2020 - 21:32

        Sorry, it was for extras only.

  • pongie on 15/06/2020 - 16:58
    +2

    My wife got diagnosed with colon cancer earlier this year. PHI helped secure a quick colonoscopy and surgery was booked in a couple of days later. If she was to wait on the public system, the colonoscopy would have been months away (leading to later confirmation and probably the cancer spreading even more). Not to mention the waiting time on the surgery as well. Just had to pay the hospital excess once (there’s a yearly cap). What’s a rort is the chemotherapy sessions she’s going through for 6 months. The hospital is covered but before the pharmacy is separate, we are being billed for that and cannot claim it back.

    • Eeples on 15/06/2020 - 20:10
      +1

      Are the drugs from the pharmacy on the PBS?
      If so, the safety net should kick in at about $1500. (way less if on concession card)

      If not, have you spoken to your GP (or clinic), about the possibility of them selecting the PBS box on prescriptions ?
      (You can check the diseases/conditions that drugs can be selected as PBS on the PBS website yourself)

      Good luck.

      PS. I am not a doctor/pharmacist; just my experience.

    • fredk1000 on 15/06/2020 - 21:20

      My mum just got diagnosed the same, she has been on chemo for a few weeks now, will be for 6 months too.

      All the best and good luck.

    • HN Professional on 16/06/2020 - 18:39

      This scenario terrifies me; am gonna ask a naive generic question directed to the rest of the board:

      say I don't have PHI, but get diagnosed with colon cancer. Can I ensure a quick colonoscopy by stating that I want it as soon as possible by paying cash?

      • bluesky on 16/06/2020 - 19:17
        +1

        You can pay for it.

        But from the anecdotes I gathered talking with others, some places do not feel comfortable asking you to pay cash upfront when they find out you do not have PHI. And they will come up with excuses not to take you in as a patient (e.g., the doc will be away, etc). To what degree (or whether) this is true is unclear, but seems plausible. (Or maybe they just prefer patients with PHI).

        So apparently what you need to do (to increase your chances) is volunteer to pay cash upfront.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/06/2020 - 17:19

    If you can afford it, yes.

    Edit: what is your partner studying? If she ends up working for a typical tech firm, top of the line family health insurance will be included. So would be worth getting your 12 months or so in now.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/06/2020 - 19:01

    You can afford it, go for it

  • Eeples on 15/06/2020 - 20:02

    Get private cover if you need glasses, many dental visits, physio ie. extras to offset the repayments.

    There is also the PHI tax rebate.

    Also, if you find a provider/plan that includes 'private room in public hospital when available'…. from experience it will nearly always be available.

  • fozzie on 15/06/2020 - 21:49
    +1

    I think it depends on your needs. We are a family of 4 and have only extras. I got insurance initially as my girls both needed braces. Now that those are out of the way I’m with the basic extra with teacher health fund. We pay $34.90 a fortnight. This gives us:
    Free ambo
    Free dental check ups (worth $1200 approximately)
    Free glasses (worth $800)
    Gym membership ($150 back each if doctor recommends it)
    $32 back for massages and acupuncture (let’s say $500 a year for that).

    As you can see for us is a no brainer. Just the ambulance, dental and gym makes up the $907.4 we pay annually.

    If I didn’t have it my kids would use the free kids check up and I would not get the glasses every year. However, I would rather have those thrown in for free and also the benefit to see a private dentist (not a burden on the government) and a big discount for my back.

  • bmerigan on 15/06/2020 - 22:08
    +1

    We have family cover and get our monies worth.
    Our provider is a not-for-profit, pretty unlikely to get cheaper than a not-for-profit.
    Some things that PHI can cover:
    - a pair of prescription glasses each year.
    - reimburse ambulance cover.
    - ours covers 100% of preventative dental and 50% of other work
    - the usual things you hear about choice of specialist
    - obstetrician (several thousand $)

  • Thatsgold on 16/06/2020 - 00:48

    i had private health insurance for 3 years and paid $111 every month.
    Only used it once to go to dentist…
    So yeah it was definitely worth it :/

  • ChampofAus on 16/06/2020 - 07:27

    My partner has ITP too ! Doctor advised to have PHI
    One advice - do not go for steroids

    • Kelvin0911 on 16/06/2020 - 08:20

      My friend also has ITP. She generally doesn't have to if her platelet is above 30. But on a few occasions she had to take prenisolone 25mg for a couple of weeks, by the instruction of the doctor of course.
      Ultimate solution maybe take out her spleen if it really needs to come to that

      • ChampofAus on 16/06/2020 - 12:02

        Partner also had an option to remove spleen.We decided not to.Since that creates other problems too.Advised to go gluten free and dairy free to improve gut health which will help.

        • Dsquall on 17/06/2020 - 01:56

          While I respect that dietary modifications may have worked for your partner, ITP presents in a spectrum and a platelet count of 30 probably isn't something you should try advising people to fix with a gluten and dairy free diet.

  • Oipjo on 16/06/2020 - 09:29
    -2

    Currently I'm on a plan thats about $100/month to include some dental I'd been paying for three years; hadn't had time for a general checkup in all that time, figured now would be the time - I just found out that it doesn't even cover what I want as they don't cover a general checkup, but will give a capped limit; like $20 towards it with the rest out of pocket.

    I just spoke to my Private Health Insurance and this is what they had to say..

    You've already elected the highest excess possible for your cover so we can't raise it to the requested $2,000,000.00 to reduce your premiums by the requested $0.50c a month. However; if you changed to Starter Basic Hospital only, the premium would change to $78.10 per month. Keep in mind, you are on income tier 2 and the rebate percentage for that is 8.352%.
    How does this sound Dennis?

    Sounds like I'll have a look around and see if I can get something cheaper; really it is the biggest rort to have to pay anything at all - but thats our government for you! If I can't find anything cheaper and more useless, I'll let you know and maybe go with that cover approach of hospitals only

    You're not wrong Dennis. No worries at all :) Was there anything else I can help you with today?

    No thanks, that should be all. Enjoy the rest of your day! :)

  • Hangryuman on 16/06/2020 - 09:50
    +1

    since seeing SBS TV Insight program about huge gap fees charged by specialists for patients with private health insurance, I'm thinking avoid if you're under 30yo

    and only take it out over 30yo if your income would have a big hit from the Medicare levy surcharge if you didn't take it out

    but beware of 'junk insurance' designed by health insurers simply to capture that market - costs you just under the tax rebate, but delivers you nothing in any benefit you're likely to use

    general principle of insurance - anything that's likely to happen to you, won't be covered …

    I've paid for PHI Top Hospital Cover for decades - probably at least $30K - and got sweet FA back - totally not worth - I could have self-insured and still had money in the bank

    oh - one operation for my partner - removing inherited faulty parathyroid affecting blood calcium levels risking osteoporosis - we paid around $2K for the surgeon after PHI - maybe 15 years ago - so she's probably only about $20K negative from having Top Hospital Cover for 20 years or so.

    Public hospitals are excellent for emergencies - you often get the same surgeon anyway - when my appendix emergency removal was done maybe 15 years ago - on exit the hospital asked if I wanted it charged public or private - I said public thanks …

  • chittaz on 16/06/2020 - 10:14

    Question - kind of on topic, I tore my ACL last year - NO private insurance. I luckily got in for an operation publically after a few months.

    I now want to go back to sport - what if I tear it again? - does it count as a "pre-existing' condition? I am under the impression that it should not count, as it has been fixed.

  • YesPleaseThankYou on 16/06/2020 - 11:40
    -1

    I don't think I've ever come across a thread with so much misinformation. What a doozey!

  • Acemeister on 16/06/2020 - 12:47

    No. 40 years old. Required heart surgery. Cost me more than $10,000 out of pocket. ($6000 surgeon, $4000 I found out about as I was being wheeled in by the anaesthesiologist. Then I had to pay $100 a day for every day in hospital (I was in hospital for 2 weeks). Received thousands of bills wanting immediate paymentsome who were refusing to wait for the Private insurance payment to come through (screw them, they had to wait). If I was in public I would have had surgery at the same time, I couldn't choose who my surgeon was (admitadely I had the best for a new procedure)and would have had to share a room. 4 of us went in for the same surgery, only 3 of us came out.

  • UFO on 16/06/2020 - 17:39
    +2

    Junk policies should be illegal.

    Some people have the wrong mentality in thinking that the medicare levy surcharge is wasted money, and you should get Private for the same money because at least you get something.

    That's wrong. You get virtually nothing, but more importantly you are diverting your money away from public resources directly into FOR PROFIT health funds.

    Everyone should pay in the public sector at the same flat %… and then if anyone wants private, they can buy that. NO TAX DEDUCTIONS.
    There shouldn't be a tax benefit to avoid paying in the public sphere and giving that money to a private company.
    If everyone paid for public we would have a gold class public system.

    • YesPleaseThankYou on 16/06/2020 - 17:42

      It is very important to point out that not-for-profit health funds exist, refer http://membershealth.com.au/

      Members Health is the peak industry body for an alliance of health insurance funds that are not-for-profit or part of a member-owned group, regional or community based, and who all share a common ethic of putting their members’ health before profit. The alliance of 27 health insurers represents the interests of more than 3 million Australians

    • 1mmy1mmy on 16/06/2020 - 19:48

      Completely agree with you! I pay the surcharge and hope the government overhauls this ridiculous system soon. Even though I love a(n Oz) bargain, I can't give money away to a business when it could be used to improve the country in some way through taxes/pay the government for healthcare I'll need in the future.

  • kaleidoscope on 16/06/2020 - 17:50

    Seeing you situation with pre existing condition, chances are your premiums are going to be higher and read the fine print carefully about what their policy is for claims on existing conditions.

    For the income figures you’ve stated; I would not get into phi.

  • Ughhh on 16/06/2020 - 17:58
    +1

    Depends on what you want. This is a luxury, time and convenience is also a luxury.

    Colleague has had 2 kids, one through public and other through private. She said she would go private for future pregnancies.

    • COVIDLALALA on 16/06/2020 - 19:41

      yea if we were planning to have kid, I would just get PHI so my wife can get the better care from private hospital (if it is true) no matter if it is a luxury from my salary.
      But for now we don't plan to have kids yet until our financial aspect is more secure and comfortable. Have decided to put more to our Emergency-fund instead for the time being.

      What are the comparisons better through private compare to public, in regards of pregnancies if you don't mind me asking?

  • HN Professional on 16/06/2020 - 18:29

    Question I have always wanted to ask but was too meek to (guess I'll piggyback on this thread):

    • I have always believed in being my own 'insurance' ie. building up an ark of self-sustainability (easier said than done! stupid self-sabotaging reptilian brain!). Therefore, I have no PHI nor any insurance of substance for that matter.

    • I assume issues of life & death would be adequately dealt with in the Accident & Emergency wards (thank the Donalds I do not live in the United States of Avarice!) but I am now getting to the age where I make old man noises as I get in and out of my chair.

    • Always sort of assumed I could rock up to eg. an oncologist, or an orthopaedic surgeon, or even somebody less serious such as an ophthalmologist and say, "Hi doc, I've been referred to you. <sheepishly> No, I don't have PHI… but I can pay cash…". Would I be accepted, or would they laugh in my face while cackling "Hahaha, this dumb bumpkin doesn't have PHI and wants our expertise!"

    TL:DR serious question: Can I get by in the (specialist) medical system by not having PHI but willing to pay cash? Can I pay for the privilege of 'jumping the queue'? (I REALLY don't want my knees to be grinding bone on bone before I get treatment).

    NB. Touch wood - relatively healthy but family history of diabetes (last time I checked, am not diabetic), both parents died from cancer (Eff you Cancer!). Am neurotic over-careful introvert: have only ever been sunburnt ~7 times in my life (due to gung-ho PE teachers and scout leaders). Have never broken any bones despite having been jumped/assaulted ~20 times: always had the Nerd Mantra rolling around in my brain, "Fists to guts, palms to head", "Keep your guard up, and always keep your jabs popping" (Okay…that last one was from Fight Night 2004).

    Have always viewed motorcycles ala Side-Eye Chloe (me mum was a trauma nurse: "..sad, but you know what we called motorbike riders? Organ-donors.").
    Fatal Weakness: Crackling, Haagen Dazs, and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (sucks to have developed a sweet tooth late in adult kiddult life :( )

    • bluesky on 16/06/2020 - 19:37
      +1

      See my comment above.

      No, I don't have PHI… but I can pay cash…"

      If you want to increase your chances of being accepted, don't just say you can pay cash, but ask to pay upfront. Just a pledge to pay cash is not enough because it could mean paying after the procedure. They are afraid people decide not to pay after the procedure.

      Places that are always busy may still prefer to give priority to those who have PHI though.

  • jason101 on 17/06/2020 - 07:46

    Taking advice from strangers about medical insurance on a bargain forum. Bad, Bad idea.

    • Mrgreenz on 17/06/2020 - 12:54

      Why is it? Its a pretty binary decision, and either option isn't the end of the world.

      Usually the "Taking advice from strangers …………………. from a bargain forum. Bad, Bad idea."

      Posts are limited to legal matters, which it makes more sense in.

      • jason101 on 17/06/2020 - 23:08

        Anyone who has spent any time trauling these forums already knows the bulk majority of vocal users on this website would not advocate for private health insurance in the majority of circumstances. It's a biased crowd of people here primarily to save money (nothing at all wrong with this, i'm here for that reason too) but in my view absolutely the wrong place (and cohort) to be asking for advice on health insurance.

        • Mrgreenz on 17/06/2020 - 23:31

          Fair enough,I guess looking at the poll results it does show a bit of bias.

          Where would you reccomend getting advice on the matter?

        • screensaver on 18/06/2020 - 00:17

          Your health is your wealth

  • screensaver on 17/06/2020 - 13:47

    Well I gave him/her a $16 a week option that covers blood plus a lot of other things and gives me lots of Qantas FF points without even having to download the app (500 per month) and that you get referral bonuses from

  • Tiffdawgz on 18/06/2020 - 13:26

    Wait till you earn >90k to avoid Medicare surcharge.
    In terms of an accountant/tax agent their fees will be taken off your tax the next day (see ATO site).
    Not to be morbid but generally superannuations come with insurance so if you do get hurt you get income protection + you usually go to public hospitals anyway.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join