All Topics / Opinionated! / private health insurance

Viewing 9 posts - 21 through 29 (of 29 total)
  • Profile photo of gatsbygatsby
    Member
    @gatsby
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 708

    Hi all,
    I apologize for chainging the thread from private health insurance but does anyone know or can recommend the best ‘income protection’ insurance? I’d be most gratefule for any replies.
    Cheers,
    Gatsby.

    Profile photo of melbearmelbear
    Member
    @melbear
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 2,429

    I’ve had two major eye surgeries in the past eight years, and I think that’s the only reason I’ve used private health cover.

    If I was public, the waiting list would probably have been the same, but the actual surgery would have been performed by the registrar, with my Dr ‘observing’. I think I was more than happy to pay the extra $1500 or so that Medibank didn’t cover to have my guy do the op, with the registrar ‘assisting’.

    I didn’t realise that you could ‘pay per use’ and get the doctor of your choice – or have I read that wrong Sue?

    Cheers
    Mel

    Profile photo of diclemdiclem
    Member
    @diclem
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 537

    Hi Mel,
    Haven’t spoken to you for a while….[glum]
    Yes you can “pay per use”, as you put it.[biggrin]
    Cash still is the best bargaining tool, even for medical procedures.
    Typically, when you need a procedure your specialist will ask you if you have private health insurance, you say no, then he/she says “there’s quite a wait at the publc hospital”, and you say “that’s ok I’ll pay cash”
    Then “No problem”
    The secretary works out what all your costs are likely to be. You’re booked in, in the same time as if you had private insurance.
    Pay for your hospital bed , in full, on admittance. Pay the doctors later, by invoice.
    Private hospital bed not claimable on medicare.
    All procedures, (doctors, pathology, etc.) are claimable on medicare. And the doc usually charges you less for cash.
    Sorry, I’m rambling again……
    Cheers,
    Sue [party]

    “Be careful not to step on the flowers when you’re reaching for the stars”

    Profile photo of BEAR1964BEAR1964
    Participant
    @bear1964
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 702

    Yes Mel, we have used cash upfront for Dr’s services and to be honest if u, do we have found its about the same as the gap would have been with private insurance.

    Cash always talks!

    Regards Bear

    POSITVE CASHFLOW properties and Joint Ventures available!
    For the BEST deals register via E-mail [email protected]
    DONT MISS OUT!!!!!

    Profile photo of melbearmelbear
    Member
    @melbear
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 2,429

    Awesome, thanks Bear and Sue, I’ll definitely look into that further…[aacool]

    Sue, we must both be finding it a bit harder to get to the forums these days?[hmm][ohno]

    Cheers
    Mel

    Profile photo of BEAR1964BEAR1964
    Participant
    @bear1964
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 702

    If insurance is so great why then do all the big comapnies self-insuer?

    Some say is it worth taking the risk not to have insurance? I say is it worth paying some one thousands of $ if they are just going to give u grief when it comes time to make a claim? worst of all Refuse your claim?

    Self insurance gives you an apportunity to take more control of your life with alot less grief.

    Regards Bear

    Profile photo of SuperTedSuperTed
    Member
    @superted
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 205
    Originally posted by PurpleKiss:

    Shirley,

    Back to the tax breaks, you claim 30% of the amount paid, however I think it relates to the hospital cover and not the ancillaries. Also, you have a choice of claiming it as reduced payments during the year or on your tax return. Your insurer would be able to tell you whether you are already paying the reduced payments, they also send you a statement at the end of the finacial year that has all the information you need for your tax return.

    The second part is the increased medicare levy if you earn over a certian amount and don’t have private health cover. It’s a fairly high amount before you are charged and doesn’t affect the average income earner, but if you are on high salaries then give your insurer a call and check it out with them.

    Regards
    PK

    Once your income is above the $62k bracket it is beneficial to have private cover.

    Profile photo of PurpleKissPurpleKiss
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    @purplekiss
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 580

    So Ken, did you make up your mind or did all this information make it more confusing?[blush2]

    Profile photo of MyydralMyydral
    Member
    @myydral
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 259
    Originally posted by PurpleKiss:

    So Ken, did you make up your mind or did all this information make it more confusing?[blush2]

    PurpleKiss – I have just read the whole thread and agree totally [confused2].

    Superted – would that $62,000 bracket be gross or nett? For the first time, I think I will probably make it.

    Cheers

    “Looking forward to the day when I can tell the boss where to go”

Viewing 9 posts - 21 through 29 (of 29 total)

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