Realising the importance of health insurance...a little too late.

SEZ213 · 25-07-2011, 09:34 PM

Just a heads up for anyone who might think health insurance is a 'luxury you can't afford'...turns out not having it is a necessity I really could have used... :(

I got a rather rude shock today. Turns out my wisdom teeth need to be surgically removed - I'm okay with that, I'd rather be knocked out...what did knock me out what the cost of it.

Two wisdom teeth surgically extracted

$110.00 for surgical consult ($70 medicare rebate - cool)
$795.00 for the surgical suite booking - no rebate
$550.00 for the anesthetist (about $140 back on medicare - maybe)
$880.00 for removal of two teeth (four is $1400) - no rebate

So after all expenses - $2335.00, or $2935 for all four...and maybe $210 back on the whole caper.

To be honest, I'm a little ****y that the cost is not claimable, particularly given it's not elective surgery, but compulsory...but you live and learn.

I had private health insurance at one stage and got rid of it because I didn't use it. Having had this sneak up on me...I'm thinking perhaps I should get it again...

**Burnout** · 25-07-2011, 09:39 PM

Under 35, insane if you have no private health insurance; for around $10 to $15 a week your are quite well covered.

nstg8a · 25-07-2011, 09:40 PM

yeah im currently dealing with issues with my ears, and im wishing i had health insurance.
specialists are like lawyers, they charge for every tiny little thing.

SEZ213 · 25-07-2011, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nstg8a

yeah im currently dealing with issues with my ears, and im wishing i had health insurance.
specialists are like lawyers, they charge for every tiny little thing.

There's an ENT specialist over Wynnum way that bulk bills...good bloke too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burnout

Under 35, insane if you have no private health insurance; for around $10 to $15 a week your are quite well covered.

I was forking out $120 a month (with rebate) for private health for two years...I never used it, not even once...it was a tax dodge...I guess now I'm getting 'older' reconsidering is a good option!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Work Horse

Why not rejoin a private health fund?

Tell them what you want done, ask how long the wait is, get the best quote.

You could use all that money you have saved being self insured

Unfortunately, it has very quickly gotten to the point where I need it done...well, yesterday...early onset infection, a swollen face and incredibly tender teeth from all the pushing from the wisdom's growing sideways...all in less than two weeks...for the last two days I've been known as 'mumbles'...

waiting is no longer an option...otherwise I would put it off, but I'm pretty sure if comes under 'pre-existing' which given I've had x-rays, etc. is considered 'pre-existing' as far as private health is concerned (and they don't generally cover for that do they?). If they do and I can somehow bypass the six month waiting period for major dental...I'm there...but surgery is booked for next Wednesday...

nstg8a · 25-07-2011, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sezzy

There's an ENT specialist over Wynnum way that bulk bills...good bloke too.

yup, and unfortunately a waiting list so long theyre not taking new patients.

i see the specialist next week, and ive already been waiting nearly two onths for that appointment.
luckily so far ive been able to claim back pretty much 50% of all costs through medicare. just a shock to the system after being used to nz's free healthcare.

Work Horse · 25-07-2011, 09:43 PM

Why not rejoin a private health fund?

Tell them what you want done, ask how long the wait is, get the best quote.

You could use all that money you have saved being self insured

Franco Cozzo · 25-07-2011, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sezzy

Just a heads up for anyone who might think health insurance is a 'luxury you can't afford'...turns out not having it is a necessity I really could have used... :(

I got a rather rude shock today. Turns out my wisdom teeth need to be surgically removed - I'm okay with that, I'd rather be knocked out...what did knock me out what the cost of it.

Two wisdom teeth surgically extracted

$110.00 for surgical consult ($70 medicare rebate - cool)
$795.00 for the surgical suite booking - no rebate
$550.00 for the anesthetist (about $140 back on medicare - maybe)
$880.00 for removal of two teeth (four is $1400) - no rebate

So after all expenses - $2335.00, or $2935 for all four...and maybe $210 back on the whole caper.

To be honest, I'm a little ****y that the cost is not claimable, particularly given it's not elective surgery, but compulsory...but you live and learn.

I had private health insurance at one stage and got rid of it because I didn't use it. Having had this sneak up on me...I'm thinking perhaps I should get it again...

I'll do it with my long nosed pliers for $15, you supply your own alcohol though.

I don't understand why dentists are so expensive for, sure its important but you think other things which keep you alive would be worth more than 32 pieces of bone.

Deco28 · 27-07-2011, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I'll do it with my long nosed pliers for $15, you supply your own alcohol though.

I don't understand why dentists are so expensive for, sure its important but you think other things which keep you alive would be worth more than 32 pieces of bone.

32 pieces of bone LOL! Go extract a wisdom tooth yourself and see what happens. ONJ anyone?

Costs aren't exactly cheap for dentists themselves, and they've still got too make a good living, so you can't be charged just above cost. School fee's (another 60-80k for specialists), staff, rent, instruments (would you guess one good drill costs $1500+?), time and expertise all add up.

Dentist's make a good living, but it's not like they are ripping you off. That said, some can be a bit shoddy.

Franco Cozzo · 27-07-2011, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deco28

32 pieces of bone LOL! Go extract a wisdom tooth yourself and see what happens. ONJ anyone?

Costs aren't exactly cheap for dentists themselves, and they've still got too make a good living, so you can't be charged just above cost. School fee's (another 60-80k for specialists), staff, rent, instruments (would you guess one good drill costs $1500+?), time and expertise all add up.

Dentist's make a good living, but it's not like they are ripping you off. That said, some can be a bit shoddy.

Why does this make them worth more than other types of doctors? I can live without a set of teeth or dodgy ones in my mouth, how much does it cost for a full new set? Upwards of $20K?

I've got holes in 4 or 5 of my teeth, some are chipped, stripped the enamel off them after damaging them from stripping the lining on my bowels, stomach and throat during a public hospital stay (got my own room too, stuck in isolation ward).

It doesn't bother me enough to spend stupid amounts of money getting my teeth "fixed" or removed. Which still work, albiet a bit painfully, at a dentist, they're worse than car dealerships.

gtfpv · 27-07-2011, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Why does this make them worth more than other types of doctors? I can live without a set of teeth or dodgy ones in my mouth, how much does it cost for a full new set? Upwards of $20K?

I've got holes in 4 or 5 of my teeth, some are chipped, stripped the enamel off them after damaging them from stripping the lining on my bowels, stomach and throat during a public hospital stay (got my own room too, stuck in isolation ward).

It doesn't bother me enough to spend stupid amounts of money getting my teeth "fixed" or removed. Which still work, albiet a bit painfully, at a dentist, they're worse than car dealerships.

DAMO . seriously mate , one day on a saturday night , your mouth will explode like it has a falme in it that cannot be put out , and you'll be in a chair begging for a dentist to pull your tooth or fix it .
or worse might have a heart attack , and an emergency doc will call you a far can idiot for getting a heart attack from an infected tooth . seriously mate , sometimes we need to be educated .

ILLaViTaR · 25-07-2011, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sezzy

Just a heads up for anyone who might think health insurance is a 'luxury you can't afford'...turns out not having it is a necessity I really could have used... :(

I got a rather rude shock today. Turns out my wisdom teeth need to be surgically removed - I'm okay with that, I'd rather be knocked out...what did knock me out what the cost of it.

Two wisdom teeth surgically extracted

$110.00 for surgical consult ($70 medicare rebate - cool)
$795.00 for the surgical suite booking - no rebate
$550.00 for the anesthetist (about $140 back on medicare - maybe)
$880.00 for removal of two teeth (four is $1400) - no rebate

So after all expenses - $2335.00, or $2935 for all four...and maybe $210 back on the whole caper.

To be honest, I'm a little ****y that the cost is not claimable, particularly given it's not elective surgery, but compulsory...but you live and learn.

I had private health insurance at one stage and got rid of it because I didn't use it. Having had this sneak up on me...I'm thinking perhaps I should get it again...

LOL I'm with private health and that's no more expensive.

Private health is a scam, you'll still pay thousands, and in my case $20k for upper and lower jaw surgery, $2000 anesthetist costs.

Spudz27 · 26-07-2011, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILLaViTaR

LOL I'm with private health and that's no more expensive.

Private health is a scam, you'll still pay thousands, and in my case $20k for upper and lower jaw surgery, $2000 anesthetist costs.

Private health is a scam is it? I have been with HBF since birth and including my upcoming heart op, they would have shelled out near on half a mill in costs to pay for my operations etc. I am a low income earner and I wouldn't dare stop my top cover, sure I pay 116pf but that is top hospital with extras and it covers my whole family. My daughter needed glasses and they cost me nothing. So I do not see the scam you refer to. If they paid for every little thing you wanted, your premiums would be so high you would need to be a millionaire. Every fortnight HBF pay 100's of millions out in costs for procedures etc, I know because my mum works in the it section that deals with keeping the information of all the claims etc running smoothly. My jaw dropped at the amount that is paid out every night to hospitals, specialists etc.

Yellow_Festiva · 25-07-2011, 09:57 PM

I'm with private insurance because I'll pay around the same in tax levy if I didn't have it. Hardly claim anything.

What price do you pay for your health and comfort? I paid 7 grand to get braces and remove all 4 wisdom teeth when I was 21. At the time I believed it was a small price to pay for the long term benefits and I still believe it today.

gcg2503 · 25-07-2011, 09:58 PM

Dont forget to claim the net amount of your outgoings in next years tax return

The Medical Expenses rebate is often overlooked by many people

20% of amount greater than $2000. Sure it isnt much , but something to think about

http://calculators.ato.gov.au/script...Off1.xr4&go=ok

SEZ213 · 25-07-2011, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcg2503

Dont forget to claim the net amount of your outgoings in next years tax return

The Medical Expenses rebate is often overlooked by many people

20% of amount greater than $2000. Sure it isnt much , but something to think about

http://calculators.ato.gov.au/script...Off1.xr4&go=ok

I have that one locked in already! Thanks for the link - turns out...about 25 bucks, but...it's better than Damo's offer of taking them out with a pair of pointy nose pliers!

MNM96 · 26-07-2011, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sezzy

I have that one locked in already! Thanks for the link - turns out...about 25 bucks, but...it's better than Damo's offer of taking them out with a pair of pointy nose pliers!

Be careful with that Damo, I am not sure he is really a health professional!

jimmyxr6t04 · 26-07-2011, 07:20 AM

I'm still in two minds about private health insurance. We have it for the family, and it costs 2-3k per year... I thought i was exempt from the medicare levy, so it was worth it for that alone. Wrong! Only exempt from the surcharge.

We've only had to make one claim, and on a $300-400 item we still had to come up with about $150.

It really annoys me that i fork out so much for it, yet i still have to cover the 'gap'...

Hypothetically speaking, if i had insurance for the past 10 years, and was paying 3k per year, that's 30k. I could have put away 3-4k per year and have had 40k sitting in the offset account.

I guess it's worth it for the major things, and i suppose that's why i keep paying it! You just never know what's around the corner. $50,000 doesn't go far if you need major surgery.

BA GT-HO · 26-07-2011, 07:36 AM

Just be very careful with your level of cover. I had to go to hospital and found out I was not covered at all in that area! $750 please sir!

Now I have the appropriate cover next time I should be ok.

Had my teeth out (4) and thanks to private health it cost me bugger all and done in a private hospital, it is worth having.

**Polyal** · 26-07-2011, 07:44 AM

Yeah its one of those things, like car insurance, a ***** because you typically dont use it but when you do your glad.

I was the same, healthy, young etc but when we started having kids that was it. I think its about $120 a fortnight but we had one birth under the insurance and we paid some tiny fee, couple of hundred when the bill was in the thousands...oh and we stayed at the Hilton after it too..LOL

**Mechan1k** · 26-07-2011, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

Yeah its one of those things, like car insurance, a ***** because you typically dont use it but when you do your glad.

I was the same, healthy, young etc but when we started having kids that was it. I think its about $120 a fortnight but we had one birth under the insurance and we paid some tiny fee, couple of hundred when the bill was in the thousands...oh and we stayed at the Hilton after it too..LOL

But when needed though ... car insurance covers you.

When needed ... private health doesn't cover you at all ... and there's still a massive GAP that you have to pay out of your own pocket ... no matter what ... no use being covered ... you pay sooo much for the premium ... and you still have to cough up the $$$.

After looking at it ... and doing the sums ... private health just bleeds you dry. You could have saved the money you have spent on the insurance ... and used it for that "rainy day" when it is needed ... and still be ahead.

Bucknaked · 31-07-2011, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

But when needed though ... car insurance covers you.

When needed ... private health doesn't cover you at all ... and there's still a massive GAP that you have to pay out of your own pocket ... no matter what ... no use being covered ... you pay sooo much for the premium ... and you still have to cough up the $$$.

After looking at it ... and doing the sums ... private health just bleeds you dry. You could have saved the money you have spent on the insurance ... and used it for that "rainy day" when it is needed ... and still be ahead.

Health Insurance is the biggest rort in the world. They take, take and take money from you, increasing premiums and when you make a claim, they give you back SFA. I hate private health insurance. It's dead money.

**Polyal** · 26-07-2011, 08:01 AM

Im not 100% sure..but I know we are up a few thousand easy over the 3 years we have had it for 2 births (one was under my wives before we got family cover). Not to mention we got private care which is way better than "normal" public.

Surely it would cover you, in most part, for the really serious stuff.

I have heard of people doing what you say, putting the same amount into an account and waiting until its needed. Which is all well and good but if you d a good job of hurting yourself then it can skyrocket..thats the worry for me.

Even with health cover, we get our dental check ups etc, I had a filling the other day that was 100% covered as we had no claim bonuses etc.

I am happy to pay, even if we are down, to cover something that I cant afford down the track. And if I never use it then so be it, cant complain with being healthy.

**Mechan1k** · 26-07-2011, 08:10 AM

Don't go in as a private patient for having a baby delivered. You get absolutely cained. sister-in-law went in with her first child as a private patient ... smooth labour ... nothing too wrong with it .. and out fairly early. They have full cover.
It cost them over $2K in GAP fees ... and the hospital facilities were below average and nursing staff were crap.

Family friend went in as a private patient ... baby had to be airlifted to Sydney due to heart issues and needed surgery ... Full private cover as well (well they thought so anyway) ... $10,000k in GAP fees (god knows why .... they pay through the nose for insurance). They are still paying it off.

After seeing this ... my wife went in as a public patient for the birth of our son ... complications during delivery ... needed and emergency C-section ... extended stay in hospital. Excellent specialists on-hand and nursing staff were really helpful. Cost to us ... $0

I can see the benefit in ambulance cover ... that's a given ... but everything else is a rip-off ... you may get a rude shock thinking you are covered at a later date ... until you get that GAP bill. Then you will really think twice about good your private health insurance is.

**Polyal** · 26-07-2011, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

Don't go in as a private patient for having a baby delivered. You get absolutely cained. sister-in-law went in with her first child as a private patient ... smooth labour ... nothing too wrong with it .. and out fairly early. They have full cover.
It cost them over $2K in GAP fees ... and the hospital facilities were below average and nursing staff were crap.

Family friend went in as a private patient ... baby had to be airlifted to Sydney due to heart issues and needed surgery ... Full private cover as well (well they thought so anyway) ... $10,000k in GAP fees (god knows why .... they pay through the nose for insurance). They are still paying it off.

After seeing this ... my wife went in as a public patient for the birth of our son ... complications during delivery ... needed and emergency C-section ... extended stay in hospital. Excellent specialists on-hand and nursing staff were really helpful. Cost to us ... $0

I can see the benefit in ambulance cover ... that's a given ... but everything else is a rip-off ... you may get a rude shock thinking you are covered at a later date ... until you get that GAP bill. Then you will really think twice about good your private health insurance is.

Well I guess everyones experiences can be different. Note I am not having a go at the public system, for what it is we are lucky.

But, and ill have to look through the bills, for two births at the best Hospitals in Melb and Hobart (Hobart was a womens only thingy) we paid easily less than $1k out of pocket (not including the monthly premium that I would be paying anyway). So at the moment like i said, we are up and Im finding coming from no care to a family care as a good thing.

gtfpv · 27-07-2011, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

Don't go in as a private patient for having a baby delivered. You get absolutely cained. sister-in-law went in with her first child as a private patient ... smooth labour ... nothing too wrong with it .. and out fairly early. They have full cover.
It cost them over $2K in GAP fees ... and the hospital facilities were below average and nursing staff were crap.

Family friend went in as a private patient ... baby had to be airlifted to Sydney due to heart issues and needed surgery ... Full private cover as well (well they thought so anyway) ... $10,000k in GAP fees (god knows why .... they pay through the nose for insurance). They are still paying it off.

After seeing this ... my wife went in as a public patient for the birth of our son ... complications during delivery ... needed and emergency C-section ... extended stay in hospital. Excellent specialists on-hand and nursing staff were really helpful. Cost to us ... $0

I can see the benefit in ambulance cover ... that's a given ... but everything else is a rip-off ... you may get a rude shock thinking you are covered at a later date ... until you get that GAP bill. Then you will really think twice about good your private health insurance is.

have to reply to this one mate . you had a completely different experience to me . going back 13 years ago . we went to a public hospital as a private patient for our birth delivery . the midwife said no need to call our obstetrician unless things get ugly and it is 2 am , ok so fully dialated wife could not push baby out , midwife says , somethings wrong . i say thats it , get our obstitrician here NOW , midwife leaves room , calls private obsterician 30 min to 1 hr away , meanwhile emergency obstitrician comes in panics , says nothing , cannot decide what to do , thinking c/ section . 40 minutes passes , our obstitician arrives , emergency obstitrician says thank god , i'm outa here , our obstitician performs perfect forcepts delivery .
2nd baby same cover same doctor , same hospital , wife wakes up at full term and says somethings wrong , babies movements have slowed , we go staight to hospital , doctor says everythings fine , your not in labour , go homeand dont worry , no we say and please call our obstitrician , the doc does , and advises we are just worried for no reason , and should go home , our obstetrician says , put here in a bed , i will be there in 2 hours . i want here induced for arvo delivery , hospital doc . ok if you insist . that afternoon our 2nd baby is born , the afterbirth placenta then comes out , the doc says ahah , your wife was right , the placenta had less then a day left and if you went home , possible still born , the next day .
my friend went public as a public patient for birth delivery , only 1 hospital doctor was on duty , 2 called in sick , and many were in labour , complications arose , and the baby died due to doctor not being available .
sorry but i had to share , what being private did for us . and i cannot advise anyone to go public , when there is no gaurantee , there will be a doctor available under the public system .

dags41v · 26-07-2011, 08:23 AM

We didnt have it for either of our kids births and the public system was fine. We recently got back into private health insurance and at over $3K per year for a family (and thats with the rebate), I think you are better off to be self insured if you have the discipline to save the cash. So many of the benefits in private health have limits, like $1000 per year for dental etc so you often find you are not covered for the entire amount anyway.
In my case I would have to get 1 wisdom tooth done per year

**Bundy** · 26-07-2011, 08:51 AM

For that type of money you'll get you teeth pulled professionally, flights, accomodation, meals and holiday on Thailand....Oz Health care is a rip off since the govt got involved no two ways about it.

atec77 · 26-07-2011, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bundy

For that type of money you'll get you teeth pulled professionally, flights, accomodation, meals and holiday on Thailand....Oz Health care is a rip off since the govt got involved no two ways about it.

I carry very light private cover just enough to not pay the levy and claim it back , had a major knee surgery recently and went intermediate . Had the surgery in 3 weeks by the surgeon of choice and for 5k coverage paid after rebates 490$
and thats a claim on tax

Much better than waiting 23 weeks for public (meniscus)

Gobes32 · 26-07-2011, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bundy

For that type of money you'll get you teeth pulled professionally, flights, accomodation, meals and holiday on Thailand....Oz Health care is a rip off since the govt got involved no two ways about it.

Funny you should mention that, we seem to have a shortage of health care professionals in Australia and yet other countries pump them out of uni like it's a production line. It's only a matter of time before they are allowed to practice in Australia.

FGII-XR6 · 26-07-2011, 10:38 AM

at the end of the day it is a gamble you are basing your decision to insure or not on what amounts to a bet
if you aren't insured you are betting you will stay healthy , you get sick and you loose and have to pay up
if you are insured you are betting against the insurance company that you will get sick if you stay healthy you loose, if you get sick and have big medical bills you win