HEALTH INSURANCE EXTRAS

Ma · Guru

HEALTH INSURANCE EXTRAS

Cruising Granny · Guru

I'm sorry to hear about the shock factor of private health on top of the surgery and recovery.
While the public health system is a shambles, at the end of the day if the surgery is necessary you don't have to wait very long, BUT you don't pay a bean.
If the so-called elective surgery, which is a misnomer in itself, can wait for a few months then someone worse off than you gets a bed first. No one chooses to have surgery. We have surgery because it's necessary for our health and wellbeing, or life.
Anyway, even if you are booked in, there's no guarantee your bed is made and ready for you. As I found out on my recent trip to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane. Even country patients transferring to the city have to wait for an empty bed. To do that they have to kick someone out. Hopefully they are "recovered" enough to cope at home. Sometimes home nursing is requested.
Like I said, the system across this "LUCKY COUNTRY" is a mess.
A big portion of the money goes to the administration and the staff who do the admin. Non-medical management takes a big percentage.
Unless someone wiser gets to manage health from Canberra and each state combined, it will remain top heavy, and the actual patients will continue to suffer. Cheers Chris

JRH · Guru

Doesn't matter how much cover one has the medical profession will always have their hand in one's hip pocket.

Gary and Kerry · Guru

I have top private with all the extra's added and my trip to hospital last week cost me all up, just over $900.

JRH · Guru

Gary and Kerry wrote:

I have top private with all the extra's added and my trip to hospital last week cost me all up, just over $900.

Ouch!!!!

hotrodbus · Senior Member

Hi Ma makes you wonder if it is worth having health insurance and having to pay out extra when we need to go to hospital.A classic case when little grandson had to have minor procedure. Had to wait twelve months on the public system but if went private was done same week and procedure was done by same doctor.As daughter wanted the problem fixed she was around $1500 out of pocket by going private but if she waited the 12 months would have costed nothing.Hope your surgery goes well
Chris and Robbie

ibbo · Guru

Hello Ma.Your worries are over,I am doing work experience at the hospital,no fee will be charged.Dont you worry, my hands will have stopped shaking and my new bifocal hearing glasses are just the ants pants,not had one prang this week.The only thing that you will need to top up will be my rum glass.Hope that you feel much better now Cheers.Ibbo. smile

Ma · Guru

Couldn't be any worse than the real deal people though could it???????

ibbo · Guru

I hope that you will be well for Temora,looking forward to meeting you both.Cheers Ibbo. wink

Ma · Guru

I certainly will be. Just might need a bit of help for Guru with the things that I usually help with. Looking forward to meeting you too. Have you booked?

suenami · Senior Member

That would be about right Ma. I signed up with MBF in 1967. Top cover, top everything, still out of pocket three years ago after a double spinal fusion at Canberra Private (food was crap). But at least I can stand upright. and drive a bit. (walking's out) so i do.
It's not all the funds' fault either. Prior to 1975 A doctor's visit cost me nothing being in a private fund.....but then Govts change etc..decided "it's time"...(hope this isn't too provocative). But I am in awe of anaethestists do.....

Ma · Guru

Hi Sue,

Calvary John Hunter in Canberra a month ago for Guru and the same venue for me too.

They must get their food the same place as Canberra Private.

"It's time" the Government had a very hard look at things re: private health funds. They encourage us to be in them but there are very little concessions for trying to "look after ourselves" I think.

MikeMin · Veteran Member

We have full cover including all extras. Hubby had minor surgery on his shoulder in Melbourne at the begining of the year. Apart from an out of pocket payment to the surgeon of $150, we received an account from his "assistant" for $200. Mind you we had never even seen this "assistant" who was paid by Medicare anyway. We did not feel we had to pay and told him so! Never received another account! Funnily enough, he happened to be the GP round the corner from our house.

Vic41 · Senior Member

Good luck with the surgery Ma? Guru?, I am sure it will go great and the only pain is the bill.

I don't have private insurance and have had to wait on occasions for major surgery but on the whole things have worked out in my favour. In my case I am willing to take the risk etc.

I did have private insurance years ago but ditched it.

Vic

Ma · Guru

Thanks Vic.

Guru had his surgery a month ago and now it's my turn. Not looking forward to it but figure it's better to have things seen to now before we start the big lap as the cost of a helicopter ride somewhere in the middle of the Nullabour or somewhere in the middle will be more expensive than what it will cost here at home.

If I didn't have private insurance I would have had to wait for an indefinite period and would have had to go to Sydney. This way it is down now rather than later and Canberra is much easier for us to get to than Sydney and who wants to spend time in the rat race of Sydney anyway.

Ma

dave06 · Guru

when our son was born, about 28 years ago he had to spend his first 8 months of life in the adelaide childrens hospital in "rose ward", it was an extremely complex situation for him to even survive, he was in intensive care for 6 months and then moved to high dependency for the remainder

all up he spent the first two years off and on in hospital, touch and go every day

all this time he was under the care of a proffesor Maxwell and other specialists

I seen one bill of $32,000 remembering this was the 80's, many of the bills were in excess of $20,000

I was very glad that I was in nhsa with first rate cover, absolutely first class service and very little extra to pay, without it we would have been in the paupers house, as it was it broke us anyway

Ma you look after yourself and come out smiling, we will miss you while you are away and await your return with baited breath, good luck and take care, everything will of course be fine

Ma · Guru

Thanks Dave. Good to have your wishes but more importantly it is VERY GOOD to have friends who mean what they say.

Thanks

Ma

suenami · Senior Member

Hi Ma, Mine was "elective" because I knew so far in advance, had the cover, and knew eventually surgery would be necessary. So decided to have it done before I became really ill.
p.s. Canberra Private is in the grounds of Canberra Public Hospital. Same food source....

Speedy recovery Ma, (although ibbo's idea is not bad confuse )....Sue

Wombat 280 · Guru

Sorry to hear you aren't well get, well soon and get out on the road to recoup.

Over the years Private health care has refunded less but charged more
Wife had a toe joint repalce a few months back . Doctor cost nothing Gas passer sent bill for $500 health fund gave back $150 figure that out .

Then I got a bill for some bloody trainee doctor/ surgeon for $400 who assisted the primary surgeon . That went back to the primary surgeon with a note, if you need to train a doctor to take over your practice then maybe he should be assisting in paying the patients bill for the surgical experience they have provided. As a tax payer I've already paid for his / her initial training so be grateful for that . Never heard back

Ma · Guru

Just because you have full private health insurance they seem to think that you have a licence to print money.

Do they ever stop to think that you forego something else to pay the premiums just so that you don't have to join the queue and wait. I know that in the public system you very rarely have to pay any out of pocket expenses so why in tarnation should it be any different under the private health system. At least we aren't a drain on the public purse.

Under private health why should we have to have "trainee" surgeons practicing on us. I know they have to learn somewhere and somehow but as I see it I am paying for the best so should have just that. You very rarely even see the "trainee" that you are paying for anyway.

Get off the soapbox Ma and stop whinging, nobody listens.

Sorry people, having a gripe here.

Ma

Cruising Granny · Guru

I have been the patient of a wonderful Endocronlogy Registrar here in Cairns in the public system. The surgeon in Brissy is a Professor.
I don't feel I'm a drain on the system because I worked and paid my share of tax.
I believe all health services should be available to everyone including dental, optical etc.
If the matter is critical or urgent you will be treated immediately.
If you have been on the "waiting list" for more than 2 months phone your specialist or the relevant hospital department and ask where you are on the list. Tell them you want it done quickly because of the distress or discomfort and pain and you'd be surprised how quickly you will have a bed.
If you are content to take their word for it and do nothing, nothing will be done, and you could be waiting for years - I kid you not.
Take action, speak up, express yourself, unless you're content to sit and wait in pain and take their word for it. But don't complain about it if you're not prepared to take action to remedy the situation. Cheers Chris

Ma · Guru

I'm sorry I didn't express myself properly Chris.

I wasn't actually inferring that all people on the public health list are draining it.

What I probably should have said is that those who can afford private insurance and don't are a drain on the public purse. It is after all our choice which way we go, but if you can afford it or are, as in my case ,prepared to forego something else for that insurance then so be it.

The public system is supposed to be there for those that really can't afford private insurance and that in itself is a good thing.

It appears that QLD has a lot different system than NSW. I actually know of a woman that desperately needs a knee replacement and believe me this woman's pain threshold is way up there, and she has been waiting for over two years.

The pain is that acute now that they have her on a morphine based pain killer and even after numereous calls to the specialist by both herself and her GP, is still nowhere near the top of the surgical list.

I think I better refrain from any more posts on this topic or I might get a reoccurrence of that dreaded disease "Foot In Mouth"

Sorry if I offended any one on either side of the fence.

Ma

dave06 · Guru

is there a difference between public and private, even the "public" medicare one here in s.a. is run by a private organisation

I for one was glad to be "private" and in the top bracket when our son was born, but I dont think the coverage is the same now, anyway, doesnt matter if it cost a couple of bob we must do it, they have us by the short and curlies

I am in "public" at the moment and I didnt receive a bill or have a waiting list when I was admitted just recently, I did have fantastic care though from all doctors and nurses, knew most of them so I guess that helps

dont worry about the foot in mouth Ma, I have that job well and truly under control, I have the mouth to prove it

all the best Ma, we are thinking of you!!

-- Edited by dave06 on Saturday 15th of August 2009 10:56:45 AM

Cruising Granny · Guru

I actually didn't take "the drain" comment as a shot.
I was trying to stress the fact that all health services should be available to everyone.
Especially if you've paid private health insurance, there should be nothing to pay at the end of the procedure. The "gap" has to be a con job by the medical profession. They get paid whatever happens publicly or privately. And then theyput their hand out for more? Not fair.
In the 60's I had my appendix out. I had full private health insurance, and actually recieved a cheque for the "left overs" when I left hospital. Now that dates me.
It's odd how things have turned around. You pay thousands of dollars a year to INSURE your self to ensure you are covered if the case of specialist care and surgery. And you still have to pay at the end of the procedure.
Yet we who are in the public health system don't have to pay a bean. I'm a disability pensioner, but I do still have private health extas, which is valuable to me for optical, dental, physiotherapy and many other therapies outside of the mainstream system.
Where's that level playing field? Cheers Chris

Basil Faulty · Guru

suenami wrote:

Hi Ma, Mine was "elective" because I knew so far in advance, had the cover, and knew eventually surgery would be necessary. So decided to have it done before I became really ill.
p.s. Canberra Private is in the grounds of Canberra Public Hospital. Same food source....
Speedy recovery Ma, (although ibbo's idea is not bad )....Sue

Indeed it is, they even wheel you across the aerial walkway to the theatres so you get the same theatre as the local drug runners, bit of a scam in my opinion.

Basil Faulty · Guru

Wombat 280 wrote:

Sorry to hear you aren't well get, well soon and get out on the road to recoup.

Over the years Private health care has refunded less but charged more
Wife had a toe joint repalce a few months back . Doctor cost nothing Gas passer sent bill for $500 health fund gave back $150 figure that out .

Then I got a bill for some bloody trainee doctor/ surgeon for $400 who assisted the primary surgeon . That went back to the primary surgeon with a note, if you need to train a doctor to take over your practice then maybe he should be assisting in paying the patients bill for the surgical experience they have provided. As a tax payer I've already paid for his / her initial training so be grateful for that . Never heard back

So you must have ticked the "box" that allowed that to happen, don't worry they do it using deceptive means.....
Always a good move to insist that the surgeon you have chosen is the one doing the job (only disadvantage of going public - you do not get the choice). I learnt that lesson the hard way when I had some minor surgery that went wrong and the trainee had stuffed it up and I discovered that I had agreed to an amateur doing the job so could not do anything about it.
YEP IT'S A REAL PAIN but READ the paperwork before you sign it. Don't assume they have your interests at heart, they are there to make money!!!! Quizz them extensivley these people are not Gods though many put them on a pedestal beyond reproach and you don't have to look far to see there are charlatains in their ranks.