Health Insurance

[fatoxious]

Hey legends,

i know it's been discussed before, and i've browsed through some old threads but have figured i'd start a new one as i don't think my questions were answered.

so i've had super basic HBF cover since the government started to tax you for not having it (2013 maybe?), i'm 35 now and got married recently, we're looking at buying a house and all this very adult stuff has made me think maybe i should get off tarnished-pewter level of health insurance and get something that will actually help me when i need it.

got the classic family history of various cancers, a bit of diabetes, no heart trouble but my asthma is pretty bad. so figure i need solid hospital cover. i was accepted into the St John Vollies at the start of the year (though, yet to start because of this virus) so i get ambo cover free. i want all the regular goodies: dental, optical, chiro.

but as i'm sure you all know. there's so much goddamn choice out there, it's blinding. even just looking at a single provider, there's dozens of choices...

so i guess the real question i'm asking is: has anyone ever used an insurance broker? i have 2 cars and looked at one when i was renewing, but i actually got a better deal just calling RAC myself. so that kinda scared me off them a little... but i'd bloody love to just talk to someone on the phone and have them tell me the 3 best options.

sidebar. if you're on something fantastic, lemme know.

i have RAC for my car and house contents, so don't mind the idea of keeping with one company. but if you've had a fucking great time (or a shit time) with someone recently, lemme know!

for reference, i pay like $40 a month, which, appears to be absolutely nothing. a quick browse about looking at things i want sees me paying at least double that i think.

[Para045]

Not really what you are asking about but we dropped all our private health back in the late 90's and haven't looked back
We have just made a point of meticulously putting aside money that we would have paid to PH to use for any needed medical issues

We did a lot of research and came to the conclusion we were paying way more in fees even back then compared to the piddling amount we got back on claims

We did consider taking it back up when our son was going to be born in 02 and going to Glengarry Hospital as a private patient but we still would have been out of pocket and as it turned out there were a couple of minor complications that meant she had to go to KEMH anyway so didn't take it up, all we have is Ambulance cover with HBF as most things can be done through Medicare it just takes a bit longer

[Halo_2]

Not really what you are asking about but we dropped all our private health back in the late 90's and haven't looked back

I don't have it either, believe it's the biggest con going.
So many clauses and you don't get better doctors.....just less waiting period.

[fatoxious]

i've thought about that, but i'm shite at saving, and know i'd bone myself. also we have a pretty (un)healthy history of diabetes, cancer and mental illness and i'm pretty unco... i had to get a (sort of) cancer removed a few year ago, https://forum.perthstreetbikes.com/f...rash-your-bike (it's a funny story about losing a nut) and cause i've got some doctors in the extended family, was able to find out who the top person was and get them. which was pretty handy. i feel as i get into the age where my body starts breaking down a bit, that'll still be handy.

also i feel like i need stuff like chiro and podiatrists... they get wicked expensive fast...

[R6800]

Firstly, just get the highest level of hospital cover you can afford with the biggest excess you think you'd be able to cover if you needed to go to hospital. Next is do not get any of extras, they are not worth having, the extra fees you pay to have them over time will far outweigh any claims you make. Health insurance should be like any other insurance i.e it is there for when things turn bad and you need to go to hospital, just like if you write off your car or your house burns down. Don't fall for the clever marketing that if you purchase the extras you will get "free" dental, chiro, optical etc. It is not free, you pay for it with your premium and over time will cost you way more than if you just paid for those "free" extras your self when you need them.

[fatoxious]

Firstly, just get the highest level of hospital cover you can afford with the biggest excess you think you'd be able to cover if you needed to go to hospital. Next is do not get any of extras, they are not worth having, the extra fees you pay to have them over time will far outweigh any claims you make. Health insurance should be like any other insurance i.e it is there for when things turn bad and you need to go to hospital, just like if you write off your car or your house burns down. Don't fall for the clever marketing that if you purchase the extras you will get "free" dental, chiro, optical etc. It is not free, you pay for it with your premium and over time will cost you way more than if you just paid for those "free" extras your self when you need them.

that's a real good tip. thanks!

[datsikk]

all we have is Ambulance cover with HBF as most things can be done through Medicare it just takes a bit longer

Ambo cover is cheap vs cost of paying for an Ambo. Definitely worth it. Also agree Medicare covers most things and if its really urgent, you will get attended to relatively quickly. How people justify private is beyond me.

[Halo_2]

Ambo cover is cheap vs cost of paying for an Ambo. Definitely worth it. Also agree Medicare covers most things and if its really urgent, you will get attended to relatively quickly. How people justify private is beyond me.

Mainly to dodge medicare levy surcharge, yet with so many clauses in private its not worth it and you don't get better care.

[Crim]

Private health insurance is a bit of a scam, promoted by the current Government so their mates in insurance are kept afloat. We have one of the best public health care systems in the world.

I'd rather pay the Medicare levy rather than paying for some almost non-existent health insurance to a company that just wants to make money from me.

I understand it's different for everyone, depends on your personal circumstances.

[Para045]

Private health insurance is a bit of a scam, promoted by the current Government so their mates in insurance are kept afloat. We have one of the best public health care systems in the world.

I'd rather pay the Medicare levy rather than paying for some almost non-existent health insurance to a company that just wants to make money from me.

I understand it's different for everyone, depends on your personal circumstances.

You pay the 2% "Medicare Levy" no matter what, the "Medicare Levy Surcharge" is if your/and spouses income is over $90,000 for singles/$180,000 for families.
If you have a way of dropping your taxable income below that point ie investment property/Novated Vehicle Lease etc you don't pay the MLS

+1 on our hospital system being top-notch, a few months back I had Bariatric Sleeve surgery and while it meant I had to wait ~3 years, the actual surgery/anaesthetist cost nothing
Probably about $400 out of pocket for various specialist appointments like Dietician/GP/Psychologist but given several people I work with had it done privately and had top cover and it still meant they were still out of pocket ~$6000 the wait was worth it Would have been a few months quicker but for Covid as well