DeKlerks Posted March 3, 2008 Report Share Posted March 3, 2008 Anybody got an idea what medical aid is currently the best to use. We've landed with a permanent visa, is covered by medicare, but somehow people also get additional private health insurance like medibank, HBF, etcDoes anybody have an idea what medical insurance company is the best value for money?Your assistance would be highly apprecaitedLouis de Klerk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enrica Posted March 3, 2008 Report Share Posted March 3, 2008 LouiseCheck with Iseect , and pay for what you need. If you dont need pregnancy cover then dont take etc.It is advisable to have Private Health cover for those minor elective surgeries. If you dont have Private Health cover you could land up waiting for months for something like the kids needing their tonsils out etc etc. If its anything urgent and major, Medicare will cover you.Things like if you call an ambulance, is extremly expensive in Australia. 10min ambulance ride to the closest hospital - $570.00 , Medicare does not cover this.As for which Health Insurance Co. , they are pretty much of a muchness at the end of the day. You pay for what you get.Hope that helps some.RegardsEnrica Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noddy Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 HiEnrica's right - the best is to go to iselect.com - they give you comparisons between all the different medicals, or you can phone them.If you're over 30 and you don't have private medical, you get charged an additional 1.5% tax - so it's probably better to go the private route.Take CareNoddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarebear Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 Things like if you call an ambulance, is extremly expensive in Australia. 10min ambulance ride to the closest hospital - $570.00 , Medicare does not cover this.Oh my goodness, is it only in Queensland that we don't pay for ambulances? Its either part of our rates or our electricity bill, a regular (small) contribution to cover this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 (edited) In the good ol' days, before Feb 1984 when Medicare was introduced to Australia, there were two kinds of health insurance:Medical insurance which covered you for visits to your GP or specialist doctor& Hospital insurance which covered you for your stay in a hospital.The Labor Party brought Medicare into Australia in 1984, and wanted to abolish all forms of health insurance at the time. However, they didn't have the numbers to pass the appropriate legislation through the Senate (Australia's "upper" house or house of review) so, struck a deal with the Australian Democrats (who had the numbers in the Senate, together with the Australian Labor Party) which saw medical insurance being abolished for coverage for visits to your GP or specialist, but kept hospital insurance alive and well for Australians if they wanted it.so . . . . today, it is still illegal for a health insurance fund to cover you for visits to your GP (medical insurance)You can only insure for hospital insurance. Medicare is the only cover that Australians have for visits to GPs or specialists (although Medicare does also provide free health cover for PUBLIC hospitals around Australia)There are a number of health funds covering for hospital stays and it depends in which State or Territory in Australia you're dwelling as to whether they operate in that State or not.Google and find out what they are.Also, some people may want better dental coverage than others, or better hospital pay-outs, so it all depends on what your family needs are as to which health insurance fund is better for your own personal needs.Do your homework and get in touch with three or four funds and find out what they pay back, what they charge each week / month and how well they stack up in comparison to the others. Edited March 4, 2008 by Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Springbok Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 Anybody got an idea what medical aid is currently the best to use. We've landed with a permanent visa, is covered by medicare, but somehow people also get additional private health insurance like medibank, HBF, etcDoes anybody have an idea what medical insurance company is the best value for money?Your assistance would be highly apprecaitedLouis de KlerkYou should get PHI, otherwise you'll be hit with a 1% surcharge in addition to your regular Medicare levy of 1.5% at the end of the financial year.I'm with Australia's biggest PHI - Medibank Private. www.medibank.com.auMy plan includes a free check-up, scale and clean twice a year when I visit a Members’ Choice dentist. Also covers Medically Necessary Ambulance Transport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrea Posted March 14, 2008 Report Share Posted March 14, 2008 Not sure if this info is still valid, but when we applied for private health cover we were informed that to avoid the 'age related loading' we had to apply within one year of PR being granted. If we waited more than a year the loading would apply. Because we applied within the year, our premiums have no loading.Anyone else heard of this?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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