Private health insurance in Australia

virjmm25 · October 2012

Hi to all good day!

Tanong lang po kung ano ang pwede nyong marecommend na private health insurance in Austarlia. It is one of the requirements we need to comply. Please free to post if you have an idea. Thanks a lot :-) God bless us all.

LokiJr · October 2012

This site may help you po...may comparison at rankings bawat provider
http://www.privatehealth.gov.au/

tita_vech · October 2012

@virjmm25 - compare mo lang mabuti yung products kasi you can customize the cover most of the time. Consider mo needs ng family, age, hilig sa extreme sports, etc.

Been with Medibank, NIB, MBF, HCF and so far madali naman mag claim sa kanila nang extras.

Sana may mag-send ng feedback about hospital cover, lucky for me hindi pa ako na ospital. Experience ng friends bago mag pa ospital they discuss first sa insurance provider to make sure that the procedure they will be undergoing is actually covered.

Advice sa mga paalis pa lang, mag eye at dental check-up muna kasi sobrang mahal yan sa Oz.

johnandjosh · October 2012

@virjmm25 medibank ang gamit namin for almost a year na rin. Once pa lang namin nagamit when wife and I bought eye glasses. This is part of the extras, bale $200 per year per person. $55 lang binayaran namin for wife and sa akin wala akong binayaran. We haven't tried this sa hospital. If you decide to get Medibank, meron ako pwede ma-refer sa iyo na Pinay based in Adelaide. Just let me know.

virjmm25 · October 2012

thanks a lot po sa inyong lahat... :-) i let you know johnandjosh the moment na magdecide kami... thanks a lot tita_vech sa input.. thanks LokiJr sa site :-)

virjmm25 · October 2012

thanks a lot po sa inyong lahat... i let you know @johnandjosh the moment na magdecide kami... thanks a lot @tita_vech sa input.. thanks @LokiJr sa site

stolich18 · October 2012

@tita_vech
oh noh, pano n lng kmi ni hubby na parehong mataas ang grado ng mata? heheheh

LokiJr · October 2012

Good thing about Australia is that it pays to buy your own insurance...Mas mataas tax sayo pag wala kang private health insurance hehe

raycel · October 2012

Hi May visa 475 dito? Anung private insurance nyo since d pa tayo entitled sa medicare and how much? we have a 2 years old kid too. thanks

TasBurrfoot · October 2012

An ignorant question but I would want to know why is there a need for private insurance when there is medicate?

lock_code2004 · October 2012

An ignorant question but I would want to know why is there a need for private insurance when there is medicate?

for Temporary Visa like 475 or 489, they don't have access to Medicare..

TasBurrfoot · October 2012

An ignorant question but I would want to know why is there a need for private insurance when there is medicate?
for Temporary Visa like 475 or 489, they don't have access to Medicare..

so basically, mga 189 and 190 visa holders (or the 175/176) - as they have medicare, di na kailangan mag private insurance?

lock_code2004 · October 2012

tama sir.. pero sabi nga nila pwede din naman kumbaga additional na ung private insurance...
kung malaki sweldo or kung mataas ang health risks ng family..

li_i_ren · October 2012

for new migrants to oz, not all are entitled to medicare. not all visa classes are entitled to medicare or public funded healthcare, to simplify let's just think of it this way if you're not a permanent resident/visa holder there is a possibility that you will not be legible for medicare or the waiting time to get a medicare number is LONG.

public funded healthcare works this way... if you need a scan like ultrasound/ mri/ ct scan but it is not urgent of life threatening..they will make you wait for 3-6 months whereas if you have private insurance you can have it done privately fast.

but say you had an accident or acute illness (appendicitis maybe), you can be treated in the emergency room even if you have not provided for private insurance. the problem will then be once you are admitted and had surgery.. what if you are not yet legible for medicare? what if you do not have your medicare number yet even if you have applied?? then how will you pay?

..kasi sometimes may waiting period to claim for medicare so there are instance specially if work visa holder ka na medyo complicated ang entitlements then you will have to pay from your own pocket for all treatment received then if you are entitled naman to medicare, you can claim all those expenses you have paid BUT DIBA YOU PAID NA FROM YOUR OWN POCKET first.. if you have private insurance then the hospital can directly claim from the private insurance without asking you to pay from your own pockets first.

clear lang ang entitlement to medicare for citizenships and permanent residents... but for work visa holder kahit anung number series yan there are lots of waiting periods/ loop holes.
so it is safer to have private insurance.

anyway most will not be granted visa naman if you do not have private insurance FROM australia.. so philippines insurance IS not recognized (note philhealth is NOT an insurance company) what you do is go online, google what insurance providers there are and give them a call long distance.. they are quite well verse naman on what insurance you will need. get a quote..don't settle for one that you will not be able to afford.

also remember there are clauses in your private insurance that says they will not shoulder expenses like pregnancy for at least 1 year..so make sure you DON'T get pregnant for 1 year muna kasi the insurance might not pay for that.

in the hospital i work, it's a public hospital, most australian citizens really have insurance. the hospital also gives you a note saying if you have private insurance please make a claim with them for this stay because it will help the hospital with operation costs. the good thing with insurance is that you can choose your own doctor. even if you are paying on a private insurance, it doesn't mean you will get a private room. public hospitals here have an open ward setting and single rooms are given to infectious/ immunocompromised patients only.

my other friends work in a private hospital, private hospitals here can look like hotels so if you are legible to give birth na based on the length of time you had your private insurance..it would be nice to do it in a private hospital kasi you will have your own room and good amenities. if you paid for it from your own pocket, normal delivery can apparently cost about 2000-3000 aud at least if you have private insurance and not sure of medicare entitlement you don't have to worry about such costs.

kahit na super malaki sweldo mu.. would you risk it? let's say you had a car accident and needed spine surgery, the cost for spinal rods is about 70,000 aud.. just for spinal rods. so if you do not have private insurance and your medicare entitlement is not yet active kasi let's say you have only been in australia for 3 months... where would you get 70,000 aud to get your spine done?? do you think in 1 year in oz or less, you will save 70,000 aud right away?

for 50-100 aud a month sa insurance..i think i'll get private insurance and when i have a medicare number on hand and well-versed with what i can be entitled then saka na ako mag decide if private insurance is on top off medicare or a must pa rin to have. think about it that way...

icebreaker1928 · October 2012

@li_i_ren very well said mam...

check nyo rin po mga ka-forum dito for further details

http://www.privatehealth.gov.au/healthinsurance/whatiscovered/

LokiJr · October 2012

Mas mataas tax payable niyo pag wala kayong private health insurance hehe...may dinagdag sila sa 1.5% medicare levy so in the end, mas praktikal na ring kumuha hehe

johnandjosh · October 2012

Very good explanation @li_i_ren

I have also heard about this (though I am not 100% sure) - that for a PR visa holder, you have 1 year from the date of arrival in Aus to get a private health insurance. Otherwise, kapag after 1 year pa kayo kumuha, meron ng penalty or "loading" na tinatawag nila. I am not sure about this but better kung may magko-confirm nito or inquire kayo sa medicare or private health insurance provider.

LokiJr · October 2012

This should help

http://www.privatehealth.gov.au/healthinsurance/incentivessurcharges/mls.htm

+1% tax if you do not have private health insurance...parang Php27,000 nawala sayo...they also offer rebates if you buy a private health insurance so win-win

TasBurrfoot · October 2012

but how much really is the cost of insurance per year? i know this depends on the level of coverage you want but on the average, how much will it hit the pocket?

TotoyOZresident · October 2012

but how much really is the cost of insurance per year? i know this depends on the level of coverage you want but on the average, how much will it hit the pocket?

Usually AUD1100+ dipende the cover health insurance, kung kinuha mo lahat ng cover baka aabot ng AUD2000 annual. Most health cover, you must wait at least 12 months bago mo magamit ang health insurance mo. Goodluck

TasBurrfoot · October 2012

but how much really is the cost of insurance per year? i know this depends on the level of coverage you want but on the average, how much will it hit the pocket?
Usually AUD1100+ dipende the cover health insurance, kung kinuha mo lahat ng cover baka aabot ng AUD2000 annual. Most health cover, you must wait at least 12 months bago mo magamit ang health insurance mo. Goodluck

Oo nga, nakita ko yung waiting period na clause...

LokiJr · October 2012

Whatever you decide to take, always go with the policy with Hospital + Treatment + Pharmaceutical cover.

Kadalasan hiwa-hiwalay kasi yan so kung may mahanap kayong comprehensive, that would be so much more useful

spykes78 · October 2012

Comprehensive or top cover cost $300+/month but of course you are paying for peace of mind. If you are young and healthy hindi kailangan ang top cover kasi masayang lang ang pera. Tapos yung 1% extra tax as medicare levy surcharge ay mangyari lang if you earn over $84k for single & $168k for couple.

TasBurrfoot · October 2012

Out of Topic but I want to know - sa medicare ba, kasama mga gamot?

Supposing may lagnat or ubo?

LokiJr · October 2012

@spykes78, considering most of us who aspire to migrate to Australia (or are already there) are sending off money to their loved ones in the Philippines. It's actually prudent to get a good cover...not over the top of course...yung suwak sa budget lang hehe

johnandjosh · October 2012

I agree @LokiJr Why do you have to get the top cover? May option ka naman to get a lower coverage na tama lang sa inyo. You are young and healthy sa ngayon, pero who knows baka bukas hindi na. Get a health coverage that is within your needs and budget.

li_i_ren · October 2012

@psychoboy no, medication is partially subsidized lang po meaning po nyan let's say ung hubby ko may diabetes po sya.. 1 bottle ng gamot nya is about 3 dollars lang instead of paying market price. but he will only get the subsidy if he goes to our GP and get a script or a prescription.

so for over the counter meds like strepsils/ paracetamol/ robitussin...if wala po kayong prescription then you will pay the full market price instead of the subsidized price.

you need a script or prescription kasi the medicare number is there.. that is how the pharmacy will know if you are eligible for subsidy or not...meron po silang mga coding.

but if you are admitted naman sa hospital, you do not have to pay for the medication kasi part and parcel na po yan sa either medicare or insurance.

TasBurrfoot · October 2012

@psychoboy no, medication is partially subsidized lang po meaning po nyan let's say ung hubby ko may diabetes po sya.. 1 bottle ng gamot nya is about 3 dollars lang instead of paying market price. but he will only get the subsidy if he goes to our GP and get a script or a prescription.

so for over the counter meds like strepsils/ paracetamol/ robitussin...if wala po kayong prescription then you will pay the full market price instead of the subsidized price.

you need a script or prescription kasi the medicare number is there.. that is how the pharmacy will know if you are eligible for subsidy or not...meron po silang mga coding.

but if you are admitted naman sa hospital, you do not have to pay for the medication kasi part and parcel na po yan sa either medicare or insurance.

ah clearer now! got it... thanks!

LokiJr · October 2012

^ ang galing ng sistema nila o

I think we're headed towards that direction as well, hinaharangan lang ng mga pharma companies hehe

kmp · October 2012

Sir may question lang ako sa inyo. I just found out that I am pregnant and we are bound for Adelaide on November. Question ko lang po kung how much would it cost for a public hospital para magchild birth? Or would you suggest na mas okay ang private hospital for child birth? My insurance company will not cover my pregnancy kasi may waiting period sila na 12 months.

li_i_ren · October 2012

private hospital is about 3000 aud..for normal delivery and about 5000-6000 for cesarean section.

and no insurance company will cover that unless you have been in oz for 1 year.

best bet is to go sa public.. unless money isn't an issue.

remember either anyway.. midwives will be the one to assist you in the delivery. there is no ob-gyne present. you will only get a doctor if there are complications..the GP will be the one who will do your prenatal checks but he will not be there when you deliver either, just the midwives.