The totally off-topic thread

[Denali]

Just checked, our AHM policy incs hip replacement.

 

[love_the_life]

A hip or knee replacement is just a matter of time and one would hope it can wait 12 months.

However, a fall and the need for emergency hip surgery (as happened to my aunt) may not wait. Or like my daughter, she needed surgery within a month of injuring herself.

 

[Hvr]

Slightly off topic, what is your position when guesting someone into a lounge and then finding out they spent the next 6 hours there “happily eating, working and chatting to other guests”.

I was politely reminded last week in a Qantas Lounge that my guests are meant to leave the lounge when I do.

I'd suggest that the guest has abused the privilege and especially your hospitality. I prefer to either guest a person I know (AFF meet ups included) or who has a flight of their own.

 

[Flying mermaid]

However, a fall and the need for emergency hip surgery (as happened to my aunt) may not wait. Or like my daughter, she needed surgery within a month of injuring herself.

exactly Ms FM needed 3 knee surgeries - the first when she was 15. Her school basket ball coach seemed to think it was a good idea to drag a table onto the basketball court and tell the girls to run as close to it as possible (I think it was supposed to be a member of the other team). She smashed her kneecap on the corner of the table. Initially she went into hospital as a public patient, but after 2 days when she couldn’t even get enough priority to get an MRI of her knee done, I asked them if I could get it done privately. They said the best thing to do after she was patched up enough to leave hospital was to go to a private orthopaedic surgeon. It took a month to get into one, but he operated the next week. She was in a lot of pain and incapacitated but would have waited months and months in the public system.

Her knee went again at Taikwando and both times I phoned up the surgeon and he operated the next day - he gave priority to young people.

This is the problem with young people - you don’t know when they are going to do something to themselves and you want it fixed immediately.

 

[straitman]

Why do I have to call to get a discount?

Latest AGL electricity bill $236 for 90 days and 475 kWh usage on a single meter so peak usage only. Used iSelect and CompareTheMarket and AGL is showing $207 with Alinta Energy and Red Energy around $195.

Called AGL and was asked if I pay on time. Yes direct debit from day 1 over 4 years ago. They offered 28% discount for paying on time. LOL. Why didn't you offer this to me without asking?

Loyalty obviously means nothing.

I signed with AGL recently. (did the comparison thing) Yesterday I got an email stating the quoted rates were incorrect and here are the amended rates.

Doesn't give me a lot of confidence in them.

 

[RooFlyer]

Exhibit A: There are worse views in the world to wake up to....
(snip)
Exhibit A: Absolutely stunning drive from southern Serbia (Novi Pazar) down to Kotor (Montenegro yesterday) too.
(Snip)

Well, I'm sorry, i'd like a bloody trip report ( please) @Flashback . This is on my schedule for next year, as MattG knows!

 

[RooFlyer]

Question for all to answer re health insurance. Does the conditions you don't have cover for involve pain? ( Such as developing joint problems).

If yes, by all means don't pay for coverage, but suck up that pain for a year while you wait, and then think if the new insurer will change T&Cs in the meantime to exclude 'exusting conditions'.

Me? I insure. Pain? Just fix it, now, please.

 

[Quickstatus]

My mum had her hip replaced last year, my mum in law last month and shes still in hospital.

If you "need" a hip replacement, you WANT that private health cover to get it done asap.

Some rambling thoughts:

No one ever needs an elective hip or knee replacement. Such surgery is primarily performed to relieve pain.
Often better to delay it for as long as possible until pain is too bad or too limiting on lifestyle

Health funds may differentiate between emergency hip replacement and elective hip replacement.
May be able to get a lower tier that covers emergency hip replacement rather than elective.
Though if you break a hip you probably will end up in a public hospital anyway.

Trainee Doctors are most junior in February because they move UP roles in February.

Then there is the Cosmetic exclusions. Sounds simple right?
The health fund will probably exclude anything done by a Plastic surgeon. Even if the plastic surgery is a skin graft for a damaged part of the body or breast reconstruction after breast cancer. Hardly cosmetic. Normally they come around after some phone calls.

People often equate the price of health insurance with other insurance
Next time go check whether there is an agreed value on the health insurance.
Recently came across a patient who was on his 80th admission since 1 January 2018. Still covered by his fund. I think the fund premium covered for the first 1-2 admissions for the year.

Currently some people buy extras/ancillaries from one private health fund and the main medical from another health fund. You don't have to get both from one insurer.

Question: How much of the public health budget is covered by the medicare levy?

....

Question for all to answer re health insurance. Does the conditions you don't have cover for involve pain? ( Such as developing joint problems).

If yes, by all means don't pay for coverage, but suck up that pain for a year while you wait, and then think if the new insurer will change T&Cs in the meantime to exclude 'exusting conditions'.

Me? I insure. Pain? Just fix it, now, please.

Maybe
There are other debilitations apart from pain.
One such debilitation is breathlessness.
Most Cancers don't present with pain.

 

[Milboo]

I’m weighing up the benefit of my PHI. Minor day surgery procedure coming up Friday. Have to pay $500 excess for theatre fees (would be $900 otherwise). Doctor (and nurse) fee is $950. Apparently I’ll be lucky to get back just over $300 of that between Medicare and Medibank. Premium is $280 a month.

 

[rogerkambah]

I’m weighing up the benefit of my PHI. Minor day surgery procedure coming up Friday. Have to pay $500 excess for theatre fees (would be $900 otherwise). Doctor (and nurse) fee is $950. Apparently I’ll be lucky to get back just over $300 of that between Medicare and Medibank. Premium is $280 a month.

And the anaesthetist? For my most recent operation the anaesthetist cost was more than the surgeon.

 

[RooFlyer]

( Snip)
Maybe
There are other debilitations apart from pain.
One such debilitation is breathlessness.
Most Cancers don't present with pain.

Sure, but that doesn't negate the point I was making, does it? I insure myself to get medical issues fixed as they present. Not wanting to wait a year until I can claim under new policy.

And the anaesthetist? For my most recent operation the anaesthetist cost was more than the surgeon.

Sorry to hear that, I'm sort of aware of your situation. I've had 2 minor procedures this year and had no bills ( Anaesthetist both times) except for policy excess for Hospital.

 

[JohnK]

However, a fall and the need for emergency hip surgery (as happened to my aunt) may not wait. Or like my daughter, she needed surgery within a month of injuring herself.

If you had a fall and needed emergency surgery wouldn't that be done in the public system? I know you get don't get choice of doctor/hospital but at least you're still looked after.

 

[Denali]

If you had a fall and needed emergency surgery wouldn't that be done in the public system? I know you get don't get choice of doctor/hospital but at least you're still looked after.

Depends.

My mum had a fall but wasn't a complete break but was able to shuffle walk but she was in a lot of pain, waiting for her spot for surgery. And she has a high threshold for pain. Eventually she had to use wheelchair, walker, shower chair ect just to manage and on high dose of meds

Mum in law fell at home and had surgery a couple of days later but a month later, still in hospital and doing rehab.

I suggested to mum that she lie on the ground and call the ambulance until they did surgery. It took a lot of phone calls following up on her "spot" on the list, even paid $$$ to see surgeon outside hospital/in his office to jump her place. She regretted not keeping her private insurance snd now has it.

Edit. My mum had a hip replacement many many years. The fall broke it in part and she could feel it clinking and was in pain and it deteriorated while waiting for surgery.

 

[love_the_life]

That’s a great photo (and article) of the AFF team.
They’re a good lookin’ bunch.

 

[love_the_life]

Actually I forgot emergency surgery would be covered by public, so the example of the fall isn’t valid. Long wait times for what is deemed elective surgery is an issue though I know of people where it was quicker to go public than with the surgeon they wanted.
Yes, the gaps can be horrendous with PHI but I still woukd prefer some control over where I am treated and who by.

 

[cove]

Never underestimate the true value of your anaesthetist specialist. They know what to do when an operation does not go to plan.

 

[Denali]

Can't make this poop up.

Sitting in my car, waiting for my chiro appointment, I do this every 10-14 days, and a guy knocks on my window, I crack it open slightly.

Him. You going to park here long? Note, I'm in a visitor spot, 3hr parking.

Me. I have an appointment in the building.

Him. I need to park my car.

Me. *crickets*

Him. *crickets*

Me. I'll be here until approx 8.20 (currently 7.35).

Him. I need to park my car and get to work.

Me. And I'll be here until approximately 8.20.

Him. cough you (and he walks off).

This is why I nag my husband about locking his car doors, crazies everywhere.

 

[Denali]

This is gelato in Dublin somewhere. Why it exists, no idea!

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

This is gelato. Why it exists, no idea!

View attachment 126080

You have got to be kidding ! Tomato sauce gelato !!! O M G !

 

[Denali]

The mind boggles. So many good things in the world, why this?

Mind you, I love a very tarty lemon gelato. There use to be a wonderful small market brand at Coles but they took it off the market. It was awesome.