Discount codes (if available) for Ambulance Victoria Membership?

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  oO0Dam0Oo on 16/10/2012 - 18:28

  Think of it as a donation it is well worth it. Discounts don't exist for emergency ambulance membership.

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  buzymum20 on 16/10/2012 - 18:38

  Some hospital benefits with 'extra' cover like your dental etc, refund the price of Ambulance renewal as a benefit.

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  Austin 316 on 17/10/2012 - 08:26

  Thanks for the replies. As I already said, I was not really expecting a discount code for this and I am happy to buy it at this price. I just took a chance. Anyways, I am still going to get it next week so I have few more days.

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  nismo on 17/10/2012 - 18:27

  Through Corporate Partnership, RMIT University Staff were entitled to a 10% discount but I think that ceased since the 50% price drop. Other Corporate Partnership type discounts may still exist, so if you work for a big company it may be worth asking around.

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  dr_ rusko on 18/10/2012 - 16:12

  get private insurance… you're mad not to have it! (even a basic hospital cover at least)

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    _Bruce_ on 19/10/2012 - 09:51

    Most private insurance does not fully cover ambulance. Main issues are for transfers between hospitals, or if an ambulance is called but you are not taken anywhere, common trap.

    Secondly, Unless you are on a high income there is a very good case not to have private health insurance - it costs lost of money! For emergencies the public system is very good. For non urgent or elective work it is not as good, but this is a luxury not everyone can afford.

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      dr_ rusko on 19/10/2012 - 15:32

      a luxury for high income earners - that is absolute bollocks! ( I apologise for being rude and abrupt but this is something I am very passionate about)

      I agree the public system is good for emergencies.
      (when I had a chest infection and was struggling to breath the alfred did a great job)

      I have seen too many people burned by not having it - a few examples
      - countless young athletes with aspirations of greatness tearing an ACL - without severe pain or locking the waitlist is disasterous

      • young kids with chronic ear infections who need grommets - ages in the public system

      • young adults with recurrent tonsillitis waiting for an appointment.

      the list goes on…..

      When I was married, a student, and my wife was working (nothing spectacular) we still put aside money for private insurance - it was painful, but I stand by my view….
      I acknowledge that not everyone can afford it, but I oppose the view that it is a luxury for high income earners.

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      dr_ rusko on 19/10/2012 - 15:34

      here is an example from medibank private (I accept they are expensive - just was easy to find this on their web page)

      What ambulance cover includes
      Where you need immediate professional attention and your medical condition is such that you couldn’t be transported any other way, you’re covered for services provided by an ambulance provider approved by Medibank in the following circumstances:

      ambulance transportation to a hospital to receive immediate professional attention
      when an ambulance is called to provide immediate professional attention but transport by ambulance is not needed
      when, as an admitted patient, the hospital requires you to be transferred from one hospital to another (excluding transfers between public hospitals)
      transport by air ambulance, where pre-approval has been obtained from Medibank by the air ambulance provider.

      What it does not include

      We don’t pay for benefits for any ambulance service that has not been defined under ‘What’s covered’. This includes the following circumstances:

      ambulance services where immediate professional attention is not required (general patient transportation)
      any ambulance transport required after discharge from hospital
      inter-hospital transfers when you’re transferred from one public hospital to another public hospital as an admitted patient
      any ambulance costs that are fully covered by a third party arrangement such as an ambulance subscription or federal/state/territory ambulance transportation scheme, WorkCover or the Transport Accident Commission
      any air ambulance services that are fully subsidised, such as South Care or NRMA Care Flight.

      (the italics and bold are my own)

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      _Bruce_ on 19/10/2012 - 15:58

      +1

      So medibank (which by your own admission is expensive) only cover one of the two cases I mentioned.

      To clarify, I am not apposed to private health insurance. Certainly with the tax allowances, it makes huge amounts of sense for those with reasonable incomes. I only have a problem with the concept that those who (for whatever reason) choose not to have it have made the wrong decision, it is heavily dependant on personal circumstance.

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        James101 on 21/10/2012 - 20:11

        I agree, highly dependent of personal situation. If your a high income earner that's a different story. I'd really hate to see private insurance become so common like the USA where insurance costs are driven up by business(hospitals) charging insane amounts, which again drive up premiums and there you have a situation were you NEED insurance, even if your poor, otherwise a broken arm = $40,000.

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        dr_ rusko on 22/10/2012 - 16:16

        could you clarify what you mean by "high income"

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        _Bruce_ on 22/10/2012 - 16:26

        I take it that was aimed at James, but I'll offer my opinion. If you earn over 84K it is a clear choice, due to the medicare levy. If under this you are paying for it at the cost of something else, so it really depends on your life situation, 80K as a sole income for a 6 person family is not the same as a single 25 year old living at home.

        Also note that the median income in Victoria for people with over over 20 years of work experience is still less than 84K, so if you are anywhere near this, you should be considering your income as high.

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        dr_ rusko on 22/10/2012 - 20:40

        I am not "aiming" - my passion is not personal.
        I just dont think basic hospital cover is as far out of reach as what is being portrayed.

        I acknowledge that there are people for whom it genuinely is too expensive - however the number of people who I see who can afford an iphone (randomly inserted expensive piece of technology) but for some reason "perceive" they cant afford insurance is increasing and in my opinion alarming.

        I don't like the term "high income earners" - for example - there are plenty of people on ozbargain who would not include themselves within that category on principle (but still earn > 84k per year) who would spend big bucks on big TV's / cameras / SSD's etc and yet fall into the category of "no private insurance" b/c of this "perception"
        (or because they dont realise how important it is)

        I can't give you raw data but I simple say again - I think the importance of basic private hospital cover is underestimated and not given the priority it deserves.

        It certainly is not a bargain, it certainly will not "save you money", it potentially will lead to further outlays (eg additional costs in hospital/specialist fees etc) however it will create the possibility of opening doors which may be needed when things are desperate.

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        _Bruce_ on 22/10/2012 - 22:29

        I think we are in agreement. If you are over 84K it is effectively free anyway. If you are near this then you can probably afford it (maintaining family of 6 aside). Half of Victorian households earn below 66K however, and at these levels you really have to prioritise. Sure it is less convenient not to have it, but food and housing comes first.

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  hsk on 19/10/2012 - 23:11

  +2

  hi just thought I would add my 5c I work in a public hospital and often get asked about health insurance, and from my knowledge when you use it it you often bet billed extra for the gap the doctor charges and also other specialists, extra for most things like xray and pathology. All these are covered by Medicare (which we also pay for) Often you get the same doctor if they are on call for the day or weekend as the patient who uses their health insurance same bed same nurses same medication etc and if you use Medicare you do not pay extra for anything. Just something to think about

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    dr_ rusko on 22/10/2012 - 20:55

    I hear your point - but it is not the point I have been trying to make.
    ( am not arguing now - just trying to clarify the point I am trying to make)

    I think the public health system is great - most of the time.
    - and it is for those times that private health insurance opens doors that would otherwise be outside of a person's reach.

    When I had tonsillitis - I went to the Alfred - and was managed promptly and appropriately (I can't understate how well I was managed) - I could have gone to a private ED and paid 300 bucks to walk through the door (ie before the tests/treatments etc) - but why would I when I can get great care in the public system?

    But if I needed to have my tonsils out (for non emergency reasons) - see how long it takes to get into the public ENT clinic, and then how long until you get an operation date, and how many times you get rescheduled because of resource issues…. (full credit to the staff though - they are working as hard as they can with the resources they have available) - this last paragraph does not specifically relate to the Alfred but rather to the public health system in general.
    - how many times will I miss work with recurrent tonsillitis until I get my operation, how will this affect my mood, my fitness, my general well being, how many course of antibiotics/steroids will I take during this wait, how many people will I infect….