Thread: Why you need health insurance

The last I heard was that the 1.5% medicare levy covered less than 25% of the cost of running the public health system the rest come from the states and general fed revenue. In an emergency situation every body gets treated the same you dont usally get to tell them you have private insurance untill a couple of days latter

That is true. But if, essentially you didnt pay the 1.5% and didnt have a Medicare card or were not eligible... you would be responsibile for 100% of the M/C amount which adds up mighty quick.

If you are non-resident / from a non-reciprocal country and you are taken to emergency... you will of course receive the same service. Someone will ask you how you are gonna pay though!

S

Originally Posted by THE BOOGER

In an emergency situation every body gets treated the same

True. The problem is with what is considered elective surgery or, for some, non-urgent (in the eyes of the health system) surgery.

I believe (I may be wrong) that cataract surgery is elective so one can be on a long waiting list to get one's vision restored. To me that is wrong. A sighted person is less of a drain on the system than one who can't see.

NSW is particularly bad for waiting times.

See Spin doctors cut surgery waiting lists | The Daily Telegraph

Elective surgery patients are divided into three categories. Category 1 includes those deemed to be the most critical, with a surgery waiting time set for 30 days, while category 2 have 90 days and category 3 have a 365-day time frame.

When I had the shoulder surgery, the surgeon told me I'd have the most success if it was done within 3 months of the injury. Had I waited for the public health system, I'd still be waiting - more than 12 months later.

Yeh the only op I have had wait for was cateract surgery 12 months wait to go on the waiting list then I think 8 months on the list

My doc sent me to the Opthalmoligist? at liverpool hospital eye clinic both said i needed both eyes done they made another appt with the same doc at liverpool for 6 months I was given the impression that I was on the list, the appt ws put back by the clinic when I got there 12 months had passed I asked how long untill I went in they told me that the second appt would get me on the list and up to 12 monthe waitBecuase i only waited 8 months it makes the books look good but they dont count the wait to get on the listthen only did one eye and told me to start again from the begining for the other eye The system has problems but its one of the better ones in the world so what do you do

Crikey!

At least I only need one eye to be done when it needs to be done (it's not too bad at the moment). The other eye was fixed with the artificial lens (although I was without a lens in that eye for over 6 months)!

They took the cateract off and put the plastic lens in at the same time now I am only blind in one eye

Originally Posted by p38arover

Being over 30, aren't you required to have insurance or to pay a tax (levy) instead?

My dental work in the past couple of years has hit the health fund pretty hard, too.

Yes Ron, I'm over 30 (closer to 60 actually) and I pay the levy. As said, my rotator cuff was done on compo. I visit the doc once a year for a checkup etc and have 3 yearly medicals (mandatory) paid for through work. Dental bills I cover myself along with anything that I "might" require to have done.

I had medical insurance when the kids were young, but discontinued it when it was felt it was no longer necessary.

Things may change in the future, who knows. At this time it's a risk I choose and am prepared to take.