Health Insurance.

[Denali]

....Never use any of the alternative medicine stuff .....

I keep finding things to use. Physio, chiro and osteo (we have both so 2 x limits each), orthotics, podiatry, gym (swimming), laser eye surgery, TENS machine etc. Even get rebate for our oxygen bottle rental that hubby uses for his scuba rescue/1st aid.

I often dig through the extras to find new things, will be adding diet and health consults soon.

 

[love_the_life]

I keep finding things to use. Physio, chiro and osteo (we have both so 2 x limits each), orthotics, podiatry, gym (swimming), laser eye surgery, TENS machine etc. Even get rebate for our oxygen bottle rental that hubby uses for his scuba rescue/1st aid.

I often dig through the extras to find new things, will be adding diet and health consults soon.

You obviously do use the extras cover but we never use those things (or so rarely it is not worth it and we would rather just pay up). The occasional big things (like glasses, hearing aids, or major dentist) never had a good refund rate so not worth it we decided.

 

[docjames]

We did the sums a while ago and we would have been paying out more in premiums for extras than we would’ve got back. Never use any of the alternative medicine stuff and dental/optical are pitiful in what you get back. Don’t do gym or physio either. Suppose it might be different if had a bunch of kids needing orthodontics.
We have top hospital only.

Same. What we've saved on extras we've well offset even if the kids dental bills start rolling in.

 

[Pushka]

We did the sums a while ago and we would have been paying out more in premiums for extras than we would’ve got back. Never use any of the alternative medicine stuff and dental/optical are pitiful in what you get back. Don’t do gym or physio either. Suppose it might be different if had a bunch of kids needing orthodontics.
We have top hospital only.

Thanks love_the_life and I trust your judgement and it’s probably where we are too.
Re alternative therapy. There is an ad on TV where I think it’s Fleming is playing cricket and all the ‘extras’ are lined up on a bench waiting to see which one he picks. The Naturopath is blowing bubbles through a pipe. We thought there might be a bit of an outcry amongst that group but I haven’t heard anything. While never using naturopaths it is a little bit offensive to that profession.

 

[docjames]

Thanks love_the_life and I trust your judgement and it’s probably where we are too.
Re alternative therapy. There is an ad on TV where I think it’s Fleming is playing cricket and all the ‘extras’ are lined up on a bench waiting to see which one he picks. The Naturopath is blowing bubbles through a pipe. We thought there might be a bit of an outcry amongst that group but I haven’t heard anything. While never using naturopaths it is a little bit offensive to that profession.

This ad was the classic.

 

[Denali]

Oh, you just reminded me, we also claim massages as well!

We have a great little massage place in a local shopping centre and they are registered with our health fund so I get a receipt and claim.

 

[Princess Fiona]

https://ama.com.au/system/tdf/documents/AMA Private Health Insurance Report Card 2017 Final.pdf?file=1&type=node&id=46140

We are with NIB Top Cover and have been for years but they are shockingly poor value for money so will be switching towards the EOFY.

For anyone looking at comparing Heath Funds the attachment is a really good starting point.
Looks like Phoenix or Doctors Health Fund might be the way to go for me.

 

[get me outta here]

I am very happy with the Doctors Health Fund PF. Pay before 28 March I think the cut off is to lock in 2017 prices.

https://ama.com.au/system/tdf/documents/AMA Private Health Insurance Report Card 2017 Final.pdf?file=1&type=node&id=46140

We are with NIB Top Cover and have been for years but they are shockingly poor value for money so will be switching towards the EOFY.

For anyone looking at comparing Heath Funds the attachment s a really good starting point.
Looks like Phoenix or Doctors Health Fund might be the way to go for me.

 

[RB]

Oh, you just reminded me, we also claim massages as well!

We have a great little massage place in a local shopping centre and they are registered with our health fund so I get a receipt and claim.

This and the other instances you have noted earlier today are why I do not have the "extras" cover. To me I want to keep it simple & I don't want to be subsidising others for things I don't see as necessary for my health cover. Just as an example I am happy to buy my own shoes & go walking rather than have gym membership in my cover

 

[Pushka]

I’ve just called up Defence Health and I will save approx $76 a month although I am dropping extras so not quite equivalent. But I will be upgrading to the highest Hospital cover rather than the BUPA standard that I am currently on. Have found Dads service number that I will need so I am almost ready to hop off the BUPA boat!

This and the other instances you have noted earlier today are why I do not have the "extras" cover. To me I want to keep it simple & I don't want to be subsidising others for things I don't see as necessary for my health cover. Just as an example I am happy to buy my own shoes & go walking rather than have gym membership in my cover

Totally agree with that. Plus I’ve had a massage thinking I’d get some rebate and came away with nothing. Too many T&C’s. And with glasses, the rebates are pathetic but might get a sneaky pair in before I cancel.

Grrr. Just told my sister in law as they had been with BUPA. She changed to Defence a few months ago and didn’t tell me

 

[Strategic Aviation]

My premium goes up >5% every year and today's notice of the next increase was no exception (+6.33%).

And I'm one of the non-claimers who subsidises everyone else

 

[JohnM]

And I'm one of the non-claimers who subsidises everyone else

The tide turns when age sets in... If we don't continue to get the inter-generational transfer (aka 'subsidy') the system will be stuffed.

 

[docjames]

Emergency Services Health won it for us. Best premium vs cover and have been great to deal with so far (admittedly they are in the “sales” stage!).

Need to be/have relative in any of police/fire/ambulance/healthcare.

Compared to Doctors health fund who gave me canned responses to email query and didn’t answer the question I actually asked (what is your post-April 1 premium!). And the pre-Apr1 premium was more anyway.

 

[love_the_life]

I see BUPA has backed down on the changes it wanted to bring in. Suspect they will try again though and maybe in another way.

 

[Pushka]

I see BUPA has backed down on the changes it wanted to bring in. Suspect they will try again though and maybe in another way.

Good to hear. Shame on them. Too late. I’m changing anyway as a matter of principle and will let them know. I don’t have to as the new fund will deal with all that.

 

[Denali]

Yes, I was reading last night that "The fund's managing director Dwayne Crombie told Fairfax Media that "thoughtful" feedback, especially from those in regional areas, made him realise the change to the medical gap scheme was "catching the wrong thing" and he decided on Tuesday night to make re-adjustments."

 

[Pushka]

Yes, I was reading last night that "The fund's managing director Dwayne Crombie told Fairfax Media that "thoughtful" feedback, especially from those in regional areas, made him realise the change to the medical gap scheme was "catching the wrong thing" and he decided on Tuesday night to make re-adjustments."

Which means, “coughe, we didn’t think people actually read the emails”.

 

[LadyC]

For those who are moving or have moved to Defence Health, how easy or hard is the process of proofing a relative served? In my case, it is my grandfather so wondering if i will need to provide birth certificates etc

 

[love_the_life]

For those who are moving or have moved to Defence Health, how easy or hard is the process of proofing a relative served? In my case, it is my grandfather so wondering if i will need to provide birth certificates etc

I haven’t done it yet but I would think that you will need his service number and maybe also proof of relationship. Pushka has just moved and should be able to provide an answer.

 

[Pushka]

For those who are moving or have moved to Defence Health, how easy or hard is the process of proofing a relative served? In my case, it is my grandfather so wondering if i will need to provide birth certificates etc

So far I’ve just been asked for Dads service number. If you don’t have that, then search the Defence Government website that contains a wealth of information. My Grandfathers war records from WWI are there as are Dads. I think love_the_life might be right that I might also need my birth certificate proving the relationship. Gets a bit trickier with grandparents I’m thinking unless it’s paternal.