Health Insurance.

[VPS]

I'd imagine you'd reinstate it very quickly

 

[love_the_life]

I'd imagine you'd reinstate it very quickly

Or would your insurance company try to cry foul?

 

[VPS]

Or would your insurance company try to cry foul?

I might ask the question next time I do that. Just realised I could have done that for the six weeks I'm in New Zealand - damn it

 

[kamchatsky]

I see you are in in Sydney. The situation may be different there. Son has a long history of mental illness so he and we have been round the traps a lot.
The Canberra Hospital has a new psych area now which may be better but in the past in the public system son has:
shared a room with a very agitated and confrontational patient
shared bathrooms/toilets with other patients
had a security guy with a gun sit outside another patient's room
had no regular doctor; whoever is one does the rounds
not been able to use mobile phone or have anything of value (like iPad etc) as it could be stolen or cause a fight
been not allowed anything in a plastic bag, so if we took clothes in etc they had to be unpacked before entering
not had any long term planning for treatment - more a matter of doping up and then out the door
and in one case actually came out worse than when he was admitted.

When public staff suggest that if at possible he should go into the private hospital (and actually the dr went out of her way to get him into there which meant arranging for him to have a private psychiatrist which he hadn't had until that time), you feel that something is not right in the public system. I do thank her in my mind every time he has had to go to hospital. It was the best move he made.


Hyson Green is the private psych hospital attached to Calvary Hospital (which has both private and public beds). Whenever he has been admitted (a few times over the years) he has:
been able to have his own psychiatrist treat him (this is the biggest advantage)
has had group sessions on a variety of topics during the day
gone on bush walks with groups/ staff
had his own room/ensuite
had freedom have a coffee/snack whenever he wants in a common dining area
can have visitors throughout the day
been able to sign out and go out of the hospital for an hour or two (when deemed OK by staff)
had a 'sleep at home' night to see how he manages before discharge

The difference is huge. Hyson Green is a very caring environment and he knows that if he does need to go into hospital that he will be well looked after there. Hasn't been in for over 2 years (and then it was to move his medication to Clozapine over several weeks).

Hope that answers your question.

Wow, thank you for the feedback. I didn't know that the difference between private and public is so huge in mental facilities. Great to see that Calvary Hyson Green is treating your son well. It does make a huge difference when the doctors and nurses cares about their patients.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Q...

What happens if you suspend membership and suffer an event where you are medivaced back to OZ?

Would your suspended health insurance auto kick-in?

Yes it should.

I suspended my cover for a little over 2 years when I moved to the UK. Basically I was covered from the moment landed back in Australia, as long as I contacted the fund with copies of boarding passes within 30 days of my arrival, and paid the premium within the usual period.

 

[straitman]

I took the Qantas health insurance bait last year, as I was looking to compare new options. Clicked the box, and waited for a call.

Nothing happened.

It's interesting. It seems that I can pay an extra $160/month for 61 days then return to my real insurer (Defence Health) and I can get 120,000 QF points.

 

[amaroo]

FWIW, those interested in DF - our premium just increased by 9.42% ... How appropriate, kicks in April fools day!

 

[DC3]

FWIW, those interested in DF - our premium just increased by 9.42% ... How appropriate, kicks in April fools day!

But "Health Minister Greg Hunt signed off on an average premium rise of 4.84 per cent ..... ". Something sounds a bit fishy.

Private health insurance premiums to rise by nearly 5 per cent

 

[amaroo]

But "Health Minister Greg Hunt signed off on an average premium rise of 4.84 per cent ..... ". Something sounds a bit fishy.

Private health insurance premiums to rise by nearly 5 per cent

"Average" is the key....

 

[DC3]

"Average" is the key....

So, some got (near) reductions in premiums?

Edit: And I thought that Defence Health was not-for-profit. I would be eligible, and wanting to get out of Medibank, so am looking around. So your post caught my attention.

 

[amaroo]

So, some got (near) reductions in premiums?

Average is a political tool.

 

[Milboo]

I think my increase is sub 4% - equates to $9 a month more.

 

[straitman]

So, some got (near) reductions in premiums?

Edit: And I thought that Defence Health was not-for-profit. I would be eligible, and wanting to get out of Medibank, so am looking around. So your post caught my attention.

Last couple of years DH was below average with their rises so I guess they are catching up this year.

 

[Pushka]

There has been collusion amongst the funds I think because every one I’ve checked out no longer covers knee and hip replacements. Our BUPA has risen 5.8% but has removed some previously given benefits.

 

[amaroo]

Still have full cover for K&H replacement.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

There has been collusion amongst the funds I think because every one I’ve checked out no longer covers knee and hip replacements. Our BUPA has risen 5.8% but has removed some previously given benefits.

Perhaps this discussion needs to be moved to the “Scams Like These” thread...

 

[amaroo]

So, some got (near) reductions in premiums?

Edit: And I thought that Defence Health was not-for-profit. I would be eligible, and wanting to get out of Medibank, so am looking around. So your post caught my attention.

You've got to take into account the membership numbers .... DH has a very low market share, less than 2%

 

[Pushka]

Still have full cover for K&H replacement.

Yes we can get it but it was previously covered under our existing level but now we have to upgrade policy to get it. And that is the common thread. Be great to have a business where you can increase the price, above inflation, reduce the benefits, and provide minimal funds on claiming meaning a large gap.

 

[amaroo]

As stated up thread, some funds are different. We had a grandfathered MBP policy from the 90's that they couldn't touch ... they lobbied and lobbied for me to change.

 

[Pushka]

As stated up thread, some funds are different. We had a grandfathered MBP policy from the 90's that they couldn't touch ... they lobbied and lobbied for me to change.

I’ve had the same policy since 2006. You’d think that would be grandfathered. Because while we signed up for price increases we didn’t sign up for change in benefits. Now I think about it we were on a grandfathered policy several years ago. Then we changed our plans due to change in family ( needed to cover a Uni student) so that meant we couldn’t keep it anymore.