Health Insurance

We dropped private health cover many years ago after copping big bills when having our children. Just not worth it.
Medicare prioritises urgent cases so the only advantage for private patients is a quicker surgery for non-urgent cases. I don't think it's worth it.
I see the trend is a steady fall in private health insurance numbers, which the funds try to make up for by raising their fees.
If you live in a country which doesn't have a Medicare public health system then private health insurance, often linked to your job, is a good idea. We had it in Thailand.
But in Australia Medicare is great and I strongly oppose those who want to dismantle it for ideological reasons.
My opinions, feel free to disagree.

That is interesting about the service bringing your wife home gratis Jonesfam and very different to here if the ambos take any one to a Melbourne hospital for urgent care. When discharged by the hospital the patient is left outside the door to find their own way home - 400 kms away - regardless of whether they have their street clothes or their wallet with them. No return home service - just left to their own devices.

We've been in NIB for 25 years and are currently paying $500+ a month for a family of 4. I would like to think we are ahead, or close to break even given births, ops, teeth, glasses and everything else. The main reason we stick with private insurance is choice, access to private hospitals and speed of service. Most recently SWMBO had to have some major plumbing maintenance done at great cost and a week in hospital. She was on the table being sliced and diced by the Dr of her choice within a week of diagnosis, got a private room in a private hospital. All around a good outcome.

We are in our late 50's and can see the time approaching for knee replacements and other fun things. My view is if you can afford it, do it. If you can't, don't.

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

But in Australia Medicare is great and I strongly oppose those who want to dismantle it for ideological reasons.
My opinions, feel free to disagree.

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I think the vast majority in Australia agree Mick, and those that want to abolish or severely curtail it tinker around the edges quietly trying to make it not work.
The public need to be vigilant.

I think it's telling that the US spends more on health care per capita than any other country in the world and yet has the most iniquitous health care system of all the first world countries.
I'd hate to get sick or need any sort of emergency dealt with without insurance in the US.

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Originally Posted by rick130

I think the vast majority in Australia agree Mick, and those that want to abolish or severely curtail it tinker around the edges quietly trying to make it not work.
The public need to be vigilant.

I think it's telling that the US spends more on health care per capita than any other country in the world and yet has the most iniquitous health care system of all the first world countries.
I'd hate to get sick or need any sort of emergency dealt with without insurance in the US.

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In 2011 I had to visit the Big Horn County Hospital in Harden, Montana with a severe respiratory infection. Saturday afternoon, no-one waiting, so got prompt and efficient attention. Also got a bill for US$387 for the consultation and US$86 for a prescription of antibiotic and a cough mixture. There are two GP's in this little town and both go off to their out of town ranches from Friday lunch to Monday lunch. There is one pharmacist who does the same. The lady doctor wanted to know about our health care scheme in Oz. I told her that all Australians are entitled to free treatment in a public hospital and subsidised pharmaceuticals. I told her that Australians are free to pay for private health insurance if they wish but my personal opinion is that this is not necessary. She said that such a system was desperately needed in the USA. She said she has patients who won't get better as they don't get their prescriptions filled as they can't afford to. Others, same reason, don't come back after their initial consultation.

Yes. Fortunately I have not had to have any medical attention while in the USA, but I strongly recommend that it you are visiting there you get insurance.

The US medical "system" costs more than anywhere else in the world, and produces health care that is dependent on how wealthy you are, with the average outcome the worst of any industrialised country, as can be seen from their life expectancy figures. Most personal bankruptcies in the USA are from medical bills.

If uninsured, the bill you got is low compared to what you probably would have got in a larger town, although apparently the methods used to decide the billing amount are completely non-transparent, with the amount billed being determined by your insurance status, your insurance provider, and which doctor attends to you. And it could vary by a factor of ten or even a hundred!

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Originally Posted by JDNSW

Yes. Fortunately I have not had to have any medical attention while in the USA, but I strongly recommend that it you are visiting there you get insurance.

The US medical "system" costs more than anywhere else in the world, and produces health care that is dependent on how wealthy you are, with the average outcome the worst of any industrialised country, as can be seen from their life expectancy figures. Most personal bankruptcies in the USA are from medical bills.

If uninsured, the bill you got is low compared to what you probably would have got in a larger town, although apparently the methods used to decide the billing amount are completely non-transparent, with the amount billed being determined by your insurance status, your insurance provider, and which doctor attends to you. And it could vary by a factor of ten or even a hundred!

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Yes, indeed. I was lucky to be in a place with a community not a for profit private hospital. Big Horn County Hospital is subsidised by the county, the service clubs, and the Crow Nation. Harden is slap bang in the middle of the Crow Reservation (shh! not allowed to call them that any more now they are sovereign nations) The Crow Nation owns a whopping big open cut coal mine and pays a generous monthly cheque to all who have Crow heritage. They can work in the mine or other Crow businesses if they wish. The non-workers drink a lot of grog.

Yes, if you want to know about the cost of health care in the US, just compare the cost of travel health insurance to the US compared with virtually any other country. Huge difference.

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Originally Posted by JDNSW

I have health insurance. From a financial point of view it probably is not worthwhile for most people.

But this will depend on your individual circumstances and health.

The main advantages I have found are rapid admission to hospital for non-emergency surgery. A couple of examples:-

1. Diagnosed with melanoma, on a Monday saw the surgeon for the first time - "You have private insurance, don't you? How about Wednesday this week, check in at 0600?"

2. Optometrist says cataract operation needed within four months "or you won't be able to drive". Waiting time at the public hospital nine months, at the private hospital, two weeks.

3. Diagnosed with hernia - surgeon offers private hospital operation in two weeks, or public hospital in six months.

Some operations have had nasty gap payments, particularly for anaesthetists, others have been no gap.

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I have also been diagnosed with a hernia, I saw the surgeon on a Tues and could've had the op that Thurs. but that was too soon to arrange for me. Surgical consult was $200 and have to pay $500 each to the surgeon and anaesthetist, as they both seem to be in some "Gap Minimisation Scheme" which is caped at $500 so I don't know what their actual charges are yet, I might get an invoice on the day, and $250 for the Pvt hospital for day surgery, would've been $500 for overnight also capped at $500 for however many nights, and I think I only pay for the 1st one each year. Mine should be keyhole although I think it has torn/bulged a bit more this week, my surgeon reckons I'll be out for 30 mins and will wake up with 3 band-aids!

Ditto.

Diagnosed last week, op scheduled next week. Hospital and surgeon of my choice. Expecting out of pocket to be around a grand.

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Originally Posted by RANDLOVER

I have also been diagnosed with a hernia, I saw the surgeon on a Tues and could've had the op that Thurs. but that was too soon to arrange for me. Surgical consult was $200 and have to pay $500 each to the surgeon and anaesthetist, as they both seem to be in some "Gap Minimisation Scheme" which is caped at $500 so I don't know what their actual charges are yet, I might get an invoice on the day, and $250 for the Pvt hospital for day surgery, would've been $500 for overnight also capped at $500 for however many nights, and I think I only pay for the 1st one each year. Mine should be keyhole although I think it has torn/bulged a bit more this week, my surgeon reckons I'll be out for 30 mins and will wake up with 3 band-aids!

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