Private Health Cover

[Deluxe]

Ok people, Just wondering if there is anyone on here that works for a Private health company that can help me out, Obviously looking at getting it soon and just want to know the ins and outs better

OR

If other people have it and who they are with, and what benifits you get with yours..........

Cheers

Darren

Edited March 6, 2008 by Deluxe

[SLED]

Ok people, Just wondering if there is anyone on here that works for a Private health company that can help me out, Obviously looking at getting it soon and just want to know the ins and outs better

OR

If other people have it and who they are with, and what benifits you get with yours..........

Cheers

Darren

dude thats a tuffie..depends if you want full hospital as well, or just the extras cover for things like dentist, physio, glasses etc.

If your reasonably healthy and don't do anything too dangerous in life (like ride fat bikes), maybe just extras are the way to go.

In an emergency you'll always get treated at either Flinders or Royal anyway.

I have Medibank Super Extras, dont know how that cover compares to others though.

[Deluxe]

^^^ Yeh i pretty much just want the Extras cover for now, I'm a soft option and prob wont break anything, In saying that i am at a race track 1-2 times a month, and things can turn bad there!! But nah just the extras........

Single 28yo

Been thinking of Mutual Community, bet keen to see the benifits of others!!

[infamous_t]

wanted: 26 yr old with death wish, insurance for fast car... willing to mortgage soul - got rofl?

[Cubes]

Defence Health here..

Pro's cheaper than the others.

Cons.

Absolutely crap website.

[Hotwire]

My wife and I have couples cover with SGIC - been good to us so far. Brooke gets new glasses every year, and has had physio etc. and we always seem to get reasonable refunds/minimal gaps. Pending what you think you'll use extras for try contacting some places, i.e. ring your dentist, ask them who gives the biggest rebates. Then compare this to their cost/month and work it out from there

[Deluxe]

My wife and I have couples cover with SGIC - been good to us so far. Brooke gets new glasses every year, and has had physio etc. and we always seem to get reasonable refunds/minimal gaps. Pending what you think you'll use extras for try contacting some places, i.e. ring your dentist, ask them who gives the biggest rebates. Then compare this to their cost/month and work it out from there

Yeh i just went to the dentist this arvo and need some fillings, didn't realise they cost more than some mods to my car damit, They are partners with Mutual Community and QBF and they give 60% return if with them or 40% with another!! I figure if i go see them a few times a year for check ups and cleaning then i'll have my money back as well as a few extras along the way with doctors and physio and so on!! I think Mutual Comm were like $6 a week or something, but really need to go in and have a talk with them i think!!

Why does our stupid body need to have issues that cost us freakin sooooooo much money!!!

[pkblade]

Yeah going to the dentist with no cover wouldn't be cheap . I need to have one of my fillings re-filled in the next month or two.

Just carefully read the policies as to what exactly you'll be covered for & the waiting periods (normally ~1yr for extras). Another thing to be aware of is the benefit amounts you'll receive & the yearly cap $amount for each extras' services.

[ISC-Performance]

Iam with Medibank but havnt used it at all yet...touches wood. If you have time its best to go in and talk to them about the options/benifits etc...you'll be better off in the long run.

Ryan

[Dohmar]

Iam with Medibank but havnt used it at all yet...touches wood. If you have time its best to go in and talk to them about the options/benifits etc...you'll be better off in the long run.

Ryan

Was with medibank for 2 years, paying around $130 for complete cover. Come time that I need a septoplasty to fix a broken nose (from pre-cover times, but undiagnosed), they say I hadn't been a member long enough to get cover on pre-existing conditions. Operation cost me $4500 out of pocket because of them being anal.

Its worth having if you have kids, if theres two of you, if you're into taking risks, or if you have enough cash to pump in, on the odd occasion u might get a $10k med bill.... it's helped a couple of my siblings on occasions, but I ended up cancelling mine. I saw it as a waste of money considering I lead a pretty sedentiary life. If I get a payrise at work, I'd consider renewing, but it sure as hell wouldn't be with medibank. Just add up the costs... $130 a month over 2 years is over $3k.... if I hadnt put the money into the fund, I wouldnt have been as burnt when it came time to get the septoplasty...

True enough, it was my own fault for not reading the fine print, but for that sort of money and the definition 'comprehensive', one would easily think that it covers any hospitals from that point onwards.... or maybe not? *shrug* If you're on a low income tho, dont even bother with private health cover...

-D

[Hotwire]

Also dont forget that if you earn over $50k per year ($100k couple) that the goverment then adds onto your tax bill the Medicar Surcharge (not just the levy). This can quickly add up to almost as much as private health, so you may as well have private health cover rather than just public for the same $$

[Tangles]

SGIC health here, got onto a cover / table years ago that now isnt offered, so I get a few extras that you cant get today

but its $1500 for me, and again for the wife. $3k a year. ouch

mind you they have paid out 40k on knee ops etc. so I guess Im ahead.

[HOSTILE]

IF you are turning 30 and want to get cover so you get the lowest price you HAVE to get hospital cover not just extras!!

I have just had to do the same.

Ended up going with AHM and so far so good.

[Howie]

What's the deal with getting cover before turning 30? My accountant said it's probably a good idea for tax reasons.. but i've forgotten why that was.

[Dohmar]

What's the deal with getting cover before turning 30? My accountant said it's probably a good idea for tax reasons.. but i've forgotten why that was.

Probably the 30% rebate I'd imagine

-D

[Hotwire]

To achieve maximum government rebate (30%) you have to join a healt fund with hospital cover before you turn 30. For every year after you turn 30, the rebate reduces - giving you a higher premium. However if you join after 30, and remain a member for 5 years (I think its 5) the rebate increases back to the maximum 30% at the 5 year mark. Only prob with that is you pay extra for that 5 years!

Also, it may be the tax issue I outlined above, that if you are earning over 50k per year, you are paying Medicare Excess (not just the levy) which you may as well be paying to a private health fund and getting coverage for.

[Howie]

Thanks for clearing that up guys. It's something i'll definately consider this year as i'm turning 29.

[Richie33]

Also dont forget that if you earn over $50k per year ($100k couple) that the goverment then adds onto your tax bill the Medicar Surcharge (not just the levy). This can quickly add up to almost as much as private health, so you may as well have private health cover rather than just public for the same $$

I signed up for health insurance at the end of the last financial year because of this very reason... I was basically paying around the same amount in extra tax as the cover would cost. I'm with NIB hospital & extras... it's almost payed for itself already, went to the dentist for the first time in more than 5 years had some fillings done. They also randomly sent me a $100 gift voucher at athletes foot.

[Deluxe]

Cheers guys, this is really helping me out........

Sure seems best to do it soon, as im 28 and single..........

[Nightcrawler]

.... I think Mutual Comm were like $6 a week or something, but really need to go in and have a talk with them i think!!

Why does our stupid body need to have issues that cost us freakin sooooooo much money!!!

lol Darren - the missus and I are with Police Health (her old man is a retired cop) and pay nearly $3k a year between us. I wish we were paying $6 a week. But in saying that we each have like $500 for optical, $500+ for dental, $500 for physio, etc etc per year.

Oh and when Carolyn had Tyler a few months back at a private hospital, we had NO out of pocket expenses - finally getting some of our outlay back.

Same if either of us got seriously injured we would be FULLY covered.

At the end of the day I think full cover is worth it in the long run.