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25-07-2011, 09:34 PM | #1 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Ipswich, Qld
Posts: 1,354
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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...
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25-07-2011, 09:39 PM | #2 | ||
Falcon RTV - FG G6ET
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: In Da Bush, QLD
Posts: 31,600
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Under 35, insane if you have no private health insurance; for around $10 to $15 a week your are quite well covered.
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We asked him if the engine had actually been called “Seagull” and how that came about. “Actually it was just call “Gull”, because I named it that. Because we knew it was going to poo on everything”. |
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25-07-2011, 09:40 PM | #3 | ||
3..2..1..
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Bellbird park
Posts: 7,218
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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. |
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25-07-2011, 09:43 PM | #4 | ||
Budget Racer
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 2,421
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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
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12.1@112Mph 285rwkw on n2o Cleveland Power |
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25-07-2011, 09:44 PM | #5 | |||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 49,433
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Quote:
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. |
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25-07-2011, 09:49 PM | #6 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,699
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Quote:
Private health is a scam, you'll still pay thousands, and in my case $20k for upper and lower jaw surgery, $2000 anesthetist costs.
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25-07-2011, 09:51 PM | #7 | |||||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Ipswich, Qld
Posts: 1,354
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Quote:
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25-07-2011, 09:57 PM | #8 | ||
Where to next??
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 8,893
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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. |
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25-07-2011, 09:58 PM | #9 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 10,838
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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 |
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25-07-2011, 10:01 PM | #10 | |||
3..2..1..
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Bellbird park
Posts: 7,218
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Quote:
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. |
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25-07-2011, 10:03 PM | #11 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Ipswich, Qld
Posts: 1,354
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Quote:
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26-07-2011, 06:31 AM | #12 | |||
LIFELONG DJR SUPPORTER
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: CENTRAL QUEENSLAND
Posts: 5,324
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Quote:
Be careful with that Damo, I am not sure he is really a health professional!
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26-07-2011, 07:20 AM | #13 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,224
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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. |
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26-07-2011, 07:36 AM | #14 | ||
Bring back Ambrose!
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Eau Rouge
Posts: 1,248
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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. |
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26-07-2011, 07:44 AM | #15 | ||
The 'Stihl' Man
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: TAS
Posts: 27,584
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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 |
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26-07-2011, 07:55 AM | #16 | |||
Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Kenthurst
Posts: 40,403
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Quote:
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.
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The Current Stable 2016 SZII TS Territory RWD Petrol The Evolution of the EGA54D utes AU Workshop Build thread of EGA54D B-Series Workshop Build thread of EGA54D 2004 SX TX Territory AWD - Gone but not forgotten 2010 FG XT "The ex-rental" - Moved onto a new home Mechan1k's Flickr Page |
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26-07-2011, 08:01 AM | #17 | ||
The 'Stihl' Man
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: TAS
Posts: 27,584
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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. |
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26-07-2011, 08:10 AM | #18 | ||
Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Kenthurst
Posts: 40,403
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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.
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The Current Stable 2016 SZII TS Territory RWD Petrol The Evolution of the EGA54D utes AU Workshop Build thread of EGA54D B-Series Workshop Build thread of EGA54D 2004 SX TX Territory AWD - Gone but not forgotten 2010 FG XT "The ex-rental" - Moved onto a new home Mechan1k's Flickr Page |
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26-07-2011, 08:23 AM | #19 | ||
Black 2006 XR8
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: SA
Posts: 177
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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 |
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26-07-2011, 08:51 AM | #20 | ||
All Ford Club Life Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Maryborough .......... All Ford Club of QLD
Posts: 1,590
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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.
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Worked AU XR8 Ute - Toy Std FG XR6T Ute - Daily Supercharged BA 6 Ute - Wife's daily 351W F150 93 XLT 4x4 Supercab |
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26-07-2011, 09:14 AM | #21 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 3,568
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Quote:
and thats a claim on tax Much better than waiting 23 weeks for public (meniscus) |
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26-07-2011, 10:06 AM | #22 | |||
Call me Spud
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 1,995
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Quote:
Last edited by Spudz27; 26-07-2011 at 10:11 AM. |
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26-07-2011, 10:38 AM | #23 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Salamander Bay
Posts: 5,427
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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
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Everyone starts off with a bag full of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to fill the experience bag before the luck bag is empty. "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." Start a new career as a bus driver Rides: FG2 XR6 stock at this stage but a very nice ride xc 4 DOOR X CHASER 5.8 UNDER RESTO |
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26-07-2011, 10:57 AM | #24 | |||
The 'Stihl' Man
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: TAS
Posts: 27,584
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Quote:
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. |
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26-07-2011, 12:23 PM | #25 | ||||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,021
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Quote:
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.
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26-07-2011, 12:37 PM | #26 | |||
Cane Farmer
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Tom Price, WA
Posts: 4,056
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This is something I've been meaning to get for a long time. Considering I ride downhill mountain bikes go to the gym, drink heaps, etc etc...
It's probably not a bad idea. But I just don't understand how it works, what's good cover, etc etc
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26-07-2011, 01:21 PM | #27 | ||
T3/Sprint8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 16,547
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Its a matter of choice isn't it ? and there's always the positive and negative comments/experiences.......
Whilst I was young wouldn't have bothered at all nor did I when I got married - but once the kids came along yes please very happy to in private health......have enjoyed the benefits my contributions pay for in advance especially for my kids. My assurance for my family nothing more nothing less..
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26-07-2011, 01:24 PM | #28 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Ipswich, Qld
Posts: 1,354
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There are certainly benefits to health care, I failed to see them when I did have the insurance...now I see the benefit, however, in saying that, I have found that private health insurance actually bumps up the price of actually getting surgery done anyway - day surgery's will charge about $130 more if you have private health insurance (well, that was the difference I was given...).
The CT scan that I had to have to find out exactly where the nerve is in relation to my wisdom teeth (apparently it looks like it's in the wrong spot from the x-ray) was completely free...and after spending my hard earned for ten minutes grace with a surgeon who got very uppity when I said I didn't like 'dentists', my bad, he's an oral surgeon...if I don't like dentists, why the hell would I like him? Turns out though there will be enough drugs to sink a battleship! On top of the general anesthetic, there will be local anesthetic pretty much left to right, top and bottom which will last for about 12-24 hours, antibiotics to make sure no infection occurs around the stitches and plenty of panadeine forte and neurofen in between if it causes any problems. Slight chance of nerve damage (about 0.1%) on the bottom jaw, and thankfully have been advised that I don't have to have my jaw broken to get them out! YAY! But, I guess we'll wait and see - total bill (excluding pain medication afterwards) $2935...could be worse - I could have to pay $5000 at a hospital (the cost of day surgery at the hospital was $1300-1400, as opposed to the $795 I have to pay)...
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26-07-2011, 01:58 PM | #29 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2006
Location: In my happy place
Posts: 5,432
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dont shoot your self down just yet
alot of basic health funds only cover upt to $500 on dental, but another thing to look at is some health funds offer no waiting periods of dental and optical if you sign a contract, (you might have issues as this is a pre known pre existing condition) but worth looking in to Ive been lucky and I never needed any thing until I got married, then we have bad family cover (costs a bomb) but that said both kids have been born in private rooms with our doctor, Ive had a few ambulance rides my self and a few sergerys so I think I'm not too far behind on the deal and as was said before theres alot of peice of mind as well
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26-07-2011, 02:17 PM | #30 | ||
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,290
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good old private heath insurance for the rich just like dental is for the rich if your poor suffer on the public system oh unless u want your teeth fixed then wait 12 months and ull get that appointment
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