Private health insurance in Australia

TasBurrfoot · July 2013

@TasBurrfoot ... roughly po how much per week including na yunplan pregnancy ni Mrs?

Plan pregnancy? Ahahaha!! You mean the insurance coverage ata...

It is roughly $35/wk

meehmooh · July 2013

@TasBurrfoot ..yes private insurance including hospitalisation + pregnancy package...

floradanica · July 2013

Anybody here who had an eye surgery in Aussie?
Please share your story. ;;)

And ano mga health insurance companies kayo bumili ng policy?

lezgomelbourne · July 2013

May mga kakilala ako na they have medicare and private health insurance. May mga extras kasi that they can avail with private health insurance.

staycool · July 2013

So basically it would be better to get a private health insurance to add up sa medicare... the problem lies nalang which insurance would offer the BEST in terms of rate vs. service...???

stolich18 · August 2013

Hmm so ang private insurance ay pdeng from 150-300++ AUD per month? Hindi ba pag nicompute yun, halos same na lang din ng tax levy? hehe ay kaso meron ngapalang LHC...

Ang mahirap ata sa private, after a year, tataas din ang babayaran? Every year ba nagiincrease? Tapos hindi automatic na marrefund lahat, tama ba? Pdeng may mga out-of-the pocket (gap) expenses pa rin...

Hmm ang hirap magdecide! ung mga kilala ko kaseng matagal na dito sa Australia, naka-medicare sila, then nagprivate then bumalik ulit sa medicare.. hehehe

peach17 · October 2013

Hello guys, mag ask lang ako about Private Health Insurance.
1. Advisable po ba na kumuha na agad nito pagdating na pagdating pa lang sa Australia?
2. May nabasa po ako sa link na ito.. Nakastate dyan na ang Medicare Tax Levy Surchareg ay 0% if ang sweldo ng individual ay $88,000 or below. Ang ibig sabihin po ba nito eh, kung ang sweldo mo annually ay below $88,000, okay lang na hindi na kumuha ng Private Health Insurance?

http://www.medibank.com.au/healthcover/benefits/medicare-levy-surcharge.aspx

The Medicare Levy Surcharge works like an additional tax and applies to Australian residents for taxation purposes who are high income earners and don't have an appropriate level of hospital cover.

Recently the Government introduced new legislation which changes the income thresholds and the amount added to your tax bill. The tables below outline the new income thresholds and the surcharge that will apply as of 1 July 2013.*
Singles
Income Medicare Levy Surcharge
$88,000 or less 0.0%
$88,001 - $102,000 1.0%
$102,001 - $136,000 1.25%
$136,001 or more 1.5%

JCsantos · October 2013

Hello guys, mag ask lang ako about Private Health Insurance.
1. Advisable po ba na kumuha na agad nito pagdating na pagdating pa lang sa Australia?

No for me ...

peach17 · October 2013

Hello guys, mag ask lang ako about Private Health Insurance.
1. Advisable po ba na kumuha na agad nito pagdating na pagdating pa lang sa Australia?
No for me ...

Thanks @JCsantos, may I know po bakit di nyo inaadvise na kumuha agad ng Private Health Insurance ang mga bagong dating sa AU?

And when po ung advisable na kumuha na nito?

lock_code2004 · October 2013

@peach17 - if you are 30yrs old and above..
you have atleast 1 year (from your date of entry) to avail private insurance..
i think may nag post na ng explanation kung anung benefit nyan.

pag hindi ka kumuha, tataas ang price nya every year..

multitasking · October 2013

@peach17

Hello guys, mag ask lang ako about Private Health Insurance.
1. Advisable po ba na kumuha na agad nito pagdating na pagdating pa lang sa Australia?

HI.. for me.. may dalawang kids ako (8 and 13).. mas gusto ko ng meron kaming Private Insurance...to play safe...

JCsantos · October 2013

Hello guys, mag ask lang ako about Private Health Insurance. Iii
1. Advisable po ba na kumuha na agad nito pagdating na pagdating pa lang sa Australia?
No for me ...

Thanks @JCsantos, may I know po bakit di nyo inaadvise na kumuha agad ng Private Health Insurance ang mga bagong dating sa AU?

And when po ung advisable na kumuha na nito?

Im assuming you still dont have a work, it will be a burden to you, 2 nd you need to research to what private health fund fits you, but if you have money to burn by all means get one

JCsantos · October 2013

Advisable rime is When you have a stable job or before your 1 year stay in australia ( based on initial entry)

kookie420 · February 2014

been here a few months, and am starting to think of private insurance. i just don't get it. medicare seems to be perfectly fine. except for ambulance and non-essential extras.

i dont understand the benefit of getting private insurance. the only real reason i can think of is that non-essentials are covered and you can choose a doc. but considering the monthly premium you pay, it seems like a bum deal. can anybody comment on their experience?

stolich18 · February 2014

^ i agree with what you have mentioned. kaso nga lang, if you are earning some certain income above the threshold, you would need to get private insurance to alleviate the Medical Levy Surcharge (on top of the medical levy that is 1.5%) and claim some rebates for the payments you've made. When you're earning a certain income, the medical levy surcharge becomes a rip-off. hehehe ohh not to mention the LHC (lifetime health cover) if you are 31 and above...

So siguro, try to compute if it's better to just stay on medicare and pay the levy and the surcharge and LHC then compare the cost if you get a private insurance. Either way, you would really need to spend on these things if you are not exempted from the levy etc... Ako nga rin, pinag-aaralan ko pa to. I think the government is encouraging people to get private insurance para hindi masyado malaki gastos nila sa medicare.hehehehe

For more information:
Medicare Levy & surcharge:
http://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Medicare-levy/

LHC: http://www.privatehealth.gov.au/healthinsurance/incentivessurcharges/lifetimehealthcover.htm

stolich18 · February 2014

On LHC: Who pays LHC?
If you do not have hospital cover with an Australian registered health fund on the 1st of July following your 31st birthday and then decide to take out hospital cover later in life, you will pay a 2% loading on top of your premium for every year you are aged over 30.

kremitz · February 2014

@stolich18 umm sorry dik po msyado maintindihan. Bale before ka mag 31 dapat kumuha ka ng private insurance?

kremitz · February 2014

@stolich18 umm sorry dik po msyado maintindihan. Bale before ka mag 31 dapat kumuha ka ng private insurance?

JCsantos · February 2014

@stolich18 umm sorry dik po msyado maintindihan. Bale before ka mag 31 dapat kumuha ka ng private insurance?

Yes tama pagkaka intindi mo

before 31 years old or

A letter from medicare stating that you are less than a year Immigrant

kremitz · February 2014

Ok thanks @jcsantos. Bale if more than 31 yrs old kana nung pagdating ng oz pwede padin na dika magbayad nung 2% if less than one year ka pa lang immigrant nung kumuha ka ng private insurance?

JCsantos · February 2014

Ok thanks @jcsantos. Bale if more than 31 yrs old kana nung pagdating ng oz pwede padin na dika magbayad nung 2% if less than one year ka pa lang immigrant nung kumuha ka ng private insurance?

Yes

kookie420 · February 2014

@jcsantos

yes, i did try a few computations. if your income is just a little over 150k, parang break even ka lng sa medicare levy vs the average private ins premiums. the thing is, even if my private ins ka, its possible na may cash out ka pa rin, depending on your plan and the condition that you are claiming for.

if less than 150k, parang mas ok mag stay sa medicare, as long as you're fine na wla kang ambulance, physio, etc na benefit.

as for the loading thing, its only applicable for 10 years after you get private ins, not for the rest of yoru life. thats how i remember it from some govt website. so its not as big as you think.

anyway, all i can share based on my research is if household income mo malayo sa 150k, private ins doesnt really make sense. if malapit, it sort of evens out. if way over 150k ka, then private is the way to go.

Saken · February 2014

I would say advantageous ang may private health insurance (PHI) para sa dental at optical cases. Di kasi fully covered ang mga ito ng Medicare.

Meron public dental clinics pero pila bago makakuha ng service. Since recommended na every 6 mos ang dental checkup, sulit na rin ang PHI lalo na for a family of at least 3.

Still analysing kung paano pa maoptimise ang PHI para sa amin pero ito yung dalawang (optical/dental) sulit sa amin.

Amelie · March 2014

Any experience with GMHBA? My husband's superannuation is Hesta, and there's a discount daw if we go GMHBA, 7%, for private health.

mhej · May 2014

Do private health insurance companies cover routine check ups to the doctors for minor illnesses such as stomach aches, fever, etc.? I've been looking online for health care providers but can't tell for sure if these are covered.

JCsantos · May 2014

Do private health insurance companies cover routine check ups to the doctors for minor illnesses such as stomach aches, fever, etc.? I've been looking online for health care providers but can't tell for sure if these are covered.

This should be covered by medicare if you are a PR , pero sa non-PR im guessing its covered

mhej · September 2014

Going back to this topic, I'm wondering if anyone here knows if Medicare or what PHI covers routine annual physical check ups? My partner and I would like to continue to undergo annual physical checkup especially with an ob-gyne just to make sure our lady parts are healthy. Or just in general, when it comes to preventive physical maintenance, so to speak. Hindi kasi clear (or maybe I just don't know that that is already what's being referred to) about the Extras stuff or if this kind of medical activity is covered by the Hospital part of PHI.

TasBurrfoot · September 2014

Going back to this topic, I'm wondering if anyone here knows if Medicare or what PHI covers routine annual physical check ups? My partner and I would like to continue to undergo annual physical checkup especially with an ob-gyne just to make sure our lady parts are healthy. Or just in general, when it comes to preventive physical maintenance, so to speak. Hindi kasi clear (or maybe I just don't know that that is already what's being referred to) about the Extras stuff or if this kind of medical activity is covered by the Hospital part of PHI.

I don't think included ang mga annual check-ups eh...

Are you referring to Medicare or Medibank?

mhej · September 2014

Going back to this topic, I'm wondering if anyone here knows if Medicare or what PHI covers routine annual physical check ups? My partner and I would like to continue to undergo annual physical checkup especially with an ob-gyne just to make sure our lady parts are healthy. Or just in general, when it comes to preventive physical maintenance, so to speak. Hindi kasi clear (or maybe I just don't know that that is already what's being referred to) about the Extras stuff or if this kind of medical activity is covered by the Hospital part of PHI.
I don't think included ang mga annual check-ups eh...

Are you referring to Medicare or Medibank?

either po. so kahit anong Private Insurance, they don't provide that??

So basically, you can't prevent sickness, just treat it when it happens? sayang naman. kasi sa PH naman, routine check ups are covered even by the stingiest health care providers..

TasBurrfoot · September 2014

Going back to this topic, I'm wondering if anyone here knows if Medicare or what PHI covers routine annual physical check ups? My partner and I would like to continue to undergo annual physical checkup especially with an ob-gyne just to make sure our lady parts are healthy. Or just in general, when it comes to preventive physical maintenance, so to speak. Hindi kasi clear (or maybe I just don't know that that is already what's being referred to) about the Extras stuff or if this kind of medical activity is covered by the Hospital part of PHI.
I don't think included ang mga annual check-ups eh...

Are you referring to Medicare or Medibank?
either po. so kahit anong Private Insurance, they don't provide that??

So basically, you can't prevent sickness, just treat it when it happens? sayang naman. kasi sa PH naman, routine check ups are covered even by the stingiest health care providers..

i don't think so... check with your provider or read the PDS, ikaw lang makakaalam ng content ng health insurance mo.

kung may mararamdaman ka na masama, doctor kaagad...