Lets talk about... Private Health Insurance.

Private VS Public Health Insurance

  • Public Health Sytem all the way!

    Votes: 10 16.9%
  • i DO have Private Health Insurance

    Votes: 45 76.3%
  • i am thinking about getting Private Health Insurance

    Votes: 3 5.1%
  • I can't afford Private Health Insurance

    Votes: 2 3.4%

  • Total voters
    59

pink poodle

気が狂っている男
Another example - the surgeon I use (hypothetically)makes around $500k, he does 2 days public, 3 days private, he would only be paid 1/5th income for those 2 days. In my experience the vast majority of specialists do this sort of balance. They work the public system because that's just what you do, you train others, you do trauma etc - so is the private subsidising the public in that situation?
Its not quite that clear cut some times. Plenty of those doctors working between both systems use the public to access clients, providing primary care in the public setting and then referring the patient to their private practice for ongoing treatment. To make a long bow comparison, if I was working in the tax office (say conducting tax audits) and some of my clients needed extra assistance to understand the complexities of what was happening and I referred them to my own private taxation advisory firm...I'd be in a lot of trouble.

Sure our system is good, but that doesn't mean we should cease striving for a better system. How we define that is something our whole society should be deciding. While I personally agree with Haakon's sentiment that health should be free and equitable for all, I don't mind people choosing to pay more. I view education in a similar fashion. What I don't support is the bullshit that goes with it - private health companies not forking out the cash, the government coercing people to use private system at great cost while shunning the public system, and fear mongering the electorate come policy time that any change isn't an improvement but an attack on their freedoms or access to better health etc.

Add electricity, roads, trains, ports, and water supply/treatment to the list of shit that shouldn't be in private hands and I'll start to cheer up a little.
 

Shinigami

Likes Dirt
Another example - the surgeon I use (hypothetically)makes around $500k, he does 2 days public, 3 days private, he would only be paid 1/5th income for those 2 days. In my experience the vast majority of specialists do this sort of balance. They work the public system because that's just what you do, you train others, you do trauma etc - so is the private subsidising the public in that situation?
Docs in public hospital will be making more than 100k once fully qualified

also the bulk of doctors who do both tend to use public facilities to do a lot of their private consults.

I'd rather the canadian system insofar as doctors choose public or private and can't do both
 
Eg if you break your hand and you are a manual labour person who is self employed, you are more likely to get the operation that saves 4 weeks of recovery time than me, who is corporate employed, and does t need my hands to work. .
I work in corporate, I reckon my senior management would argue you aren't doing the job properly if the balls are neglected.
 

droenn

Fat Man's XC President
I don't have it. Seems its only worth it if you are having kids or really old. :noidea:

Fine to pay for dental and optical out of pocket, rather than monthly fees and gaps. So far.
Might have to rethink and get enough cover to avoid the surcharge.... What a ludicrous system.

Prefer to go with a not-for-profit, but then they seem to offer rebates for a whole lot of alternative medicine bullshit so you can't really win.
 

wesdadude

ウェスド アドゥーデ
I'm looking to sort my health insurance situation for next year. I currently don't have to worry as I'm covered as a dependent however my situation will be changing.

I'm currently single, with no dependents and living at home. After charity deductions I've always been under the tax exempt threshold, all I've had to do with regards to the medicare levy is fill in my folks' policy number. The only benefits I currently use are optical, which is an eye-test and a new pair of glasses each year.

Next year I will be 22 and going into full time work with pre-tax income in the range of 60k. I may move out depending on the availability of house mates. My new employer offers salary deduction on CBHS.

I need to determine whether I need private health or I can get by without it. Will I have extra tax without and how would this compare to policy costs?
 

TonyMax

Caviar tastes on a popcorn budget
"The Medicare levy surcharge (MLS) is levied on Australian taxpayers who do not have an appropriate level of private hospital insurance and who earn above a certain income."

"Lifetime health cover (LHC) is a government initiative designed to encourage you to purchase and maintain private patient hospital insurance cover earlier in life."

These are two ways the Government could screw you at some stage in your life based on your age, income and private health insurance status.

I've had cover with AHM (previously Government Employees Health Fund) since 1993 but my wife is a late bloomer so she has a loading for lifetime health cover meaning she pays more because she started late. Neither of us pay the medicare surcharge as we have cover that exempts us.
 

TonyMax

Caviar tastes on a popcorn budget
I need to determine whether I need private health or I can get by without it. Will I have extra tax without and how would this compare to policy costs?
Trying to compare this stuff is like trying to compare phone plans. You are most of the time comparing apples with fire trucks not just oranges.

Think of worst case scenarios, how much you can afford to pay and how much peace of mind you want.

If you are even a small risk taking MTBer then you may benefit from physio, chiro, skipping waiting lists for surgery, even ambulance cover that is part of all private policies.

I've had two bills sent to me for ambulance rides in the last few years, neither have been anything resembling cheap but I just post them to my health fund and they take care of it.

Use a website like iSelect, finder.com.au or Compare the Meerkat to find a policy premium and level of cover that's right for you. Make a judgement call on what you need and what you are prepared to pay Govco for the privilege. You can choose to take the Private Health Insurance Rebate as a reduced premium when you pay your subs or get it all back at tax time by paying full price each week/fortnight/month during the year.
 
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droenn

Fat Man's XC President
Trying to compare this stuff is like trying to compare phone plans. You are most of the time comparing apples with fire trucks not just oranges.

Think of worst case scenarios, how much you can afford to pay and how much peace of mind you want.

If you are even a small risk taking MTBer then you may benefit from physio, chiro, skipping waiting lists for surgery, even ambulance cover that is part of all private policies.
Good example of why the health system is screwed up when you can compare to phone plans (tip with phones: always buy the phone outright and go prepaid).

If you're in your 20s and fit and healthy, earning under 90K and single with no kids then I really wouldn't bother. Once you earn more and/or get slugged with the penalty for being over 30, then reconsider - even then its a hard choice (I'm still to take it up).
 

wesdadude

ウェスド アドゥーデ
Thanks for the links. Seems I'm fine until July 1 2027, provided I don't hit $90K pa. If I start approaching $90k, 31, start taking more risks or my situation drastically changes I'll have to reconsider.

What's an ambulance ride worth, ~$700? Seems like something that could be covered if I'm smart with my savings.
 

TonyMax

Caviar tastes on a popcorn budget
In Canberra:

Emergency ambulance service (treatment and transport) $936 (+$12/km for every km travelled outside the ACT)

Emergency ambulance service (treatment not including transport) $649

http://www.stjohnambulance.com.au/a.../metro-ambulance-service/metro-ambulance-fees

Fees for calling an ambulance in Perth vary, depending on the nature of the call out. Coverage can be obtained through private health insurers and is the individual patient’s responsibility.

Service Fee
Life threatening $949
Urgent $949
Non-urgent $510
Patient Transfer Vehicle $467
 
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pharmaboy

Eats Squid
In Canberra:

Emergency ambulance service (treatment and transport) $936 (+$12/km for every km travelled outside the ACT)

Emergency ambulance service (treatment not including transport) $649

http://www.stjohnambulance.com.au/a.../metro-ambulance-service/metro-ambulance-fees

Fees for calling an ambulance in Perth vary, depending on the nature of the call out. Coverage can be obtained through private health insurers and is the individual patient’s responsibility.

Service Fee
Life threatening $949 e
Urgent $949
Non-urgent $510
Patient Transfer Vehicle $467
So what happens if someone else rings an ambulance and you tell them to fuck off, I'll take a taxi thanks.

If you've got a broken leg, I'm sure they will insist in spite of you protesting.ive always wondered this especially when arse covering schools love to call ambulances for nearly anything
 

Ultra Lord

Hurts. Requires Money. And is nerdy.
My old man came off his mtb in the RNP, 400m in from the grays point access gate. Needed an ambulance, they sent 5. Would have charged him $8 grand. Getting saved isn't cheap, and all they did was put him on a bed (no neck brace) and drive him to kogarah.

His injury tally; 4 broken vertebrae (ambo's made him walk to the gurney even after I told them about his history of spinal injuries), 7 ribs, punctured right lung, concussion.

I pay $120 a month medibank, so when I break my back riding I too can walk myself into an ambulance without having to pay $8grand (upfront) for the privilege
 

indica

Serial flasher
QLD - no Ambulance charge, already paid.
No private Health in my house, fuck that no need.

If my income approaches the MLS I'll either dump more into Super or just wear it.

One of the great things about Aus was the free Uni and the free health care.
 

BLKFOZ

Likes Dirt
We have no health cover. Over 30 and over 90k. I cop the medicare levi + the surcharge which works out to be somewhere around 1300 maybe? much cheaper than any health fund. I've had a few surgeries through public and had no dramas. Our son was born through public and it was great, we were with our chosen specialist early on and just paid for the privilege (which was less than what friends paid through private with a top level fund anyway......).
Emergency stuff you'll go through public regardless, elective I figure we'll just cough up the coin. We have been strict and put the money aside though as we'll probably need to go through a specialist if we have another kid. We are truly lucky compared to the Americans.
 

Paulie_AU

Likes Dirt
Qld so covered with wambulance. Over the threshold.... just pay because private wont cover anything to do with my wifes hearing.

Interestingly have never been in an ambulance with a number of broken bones myself and my kids.
 

MasterOfReality

After forever
I'm looking at dumping my corporate health cover (poxy 5% discount woohoo) and getting basic hospital only. Works out cheaper than the MLS. We have both had wisdom teeth removed, braces and wifey popped out two kids through private health so that was good.

Will just wear the extra cost if need be.
 

Mr Crudley

Glock in your sock
Gee, I'm fortunate someways. I ditched private health cover long ago as I just didn't use it enough and when we did they they didn't provide what we expected. Current job pays for top cover along with the LHC loading since I bailed out years ago.

I have been doing the regular dental visits and Mr's gets new glasses etc but haven't used much else.
 

Zam

Likes Dirt
Yeah i am thinking about dumping private health and just paying the extra for medicare, its just getting so expensive these days for family private health, i reckon it could be cheaper to pay the extra and save then rest.
 
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