roxy Posted May 7, 2014 Report Share Posted May 7, 2014 Hi All, Just wondering what cover you would recommend for a family.. don't think we'd be interested in the hospital cover but ive heard a lot of people have the extras? Whats the 'norm' if there is one? We're a family of 3...2 adults, 1 baby. Dad is VERY accident prone! Tends to require Physio ALOT. haha Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted May 7, 2014 Report Share Posted May 7, 2014 There are so many variables it is hard to say. Dental is a must as it is so expensive here and i would recomend ambulance as well - an ambulance will result in a $700 bill. There is something to be said for going for the maximum as just like the UK there can be very long waits for the public system. I recenently had a cancer scare - was ok - but the public system was going to take a year to do the tests and the doc was concerned this would result in things going very bad. But, used my hospital cover and was seen the same week. Physio is good and my wife has saved a fortune by having it on our policy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Druid Posted May 7, 2014 Report Share Posted May 7, 2014 Another thing to think about is the hospital cover versus the Medicare levy, rumour has it the federal budget is going to increase the Medicare levy for high income earners ($80k+), don't know where he gets 80k being a high income, and denying high income earners access to Medicare bulk billing, so basically you will be charged for every event, if this is the case it might be more cost efficient to sign up for hospital cover, which normally includes things like dental, ambulance optician, physio etc and if you are new to Aus and you haven't been here a year yet you will be excluded from the lifetime loading fees, if you have been here longer than a year you are going to get stung by the hospital cover provider for lifetime loading which means the older you get the more you pay, rather than pay the Medicare levy, we are just waiting for the budget to be announced, then I think we are going to up our HBF essentials+ to include hospital cover and get ripped off on lifetime loading Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE P Posted May 8, 2014 Report Share Posted May 8, 2014 Mine was covered with employers insurance but immigration required cover until I started, we did have a yearly holiday policy & this was accepted. I started work 3 days after arriving so all was well !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreigT Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 Druid, Verystormy HELP I have been here 5 weeks and been quoted today $480.50 top 85 working visa health insurance for me and my wife no kids, which i can't get my head around. The girl at medi bank said its because of my visa 489 skilled state sponsorship also got told it will go down to $ 227 when i get PR. to me this docent sound correct any advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted May 20, 2014 Report Share Posted May 20, 2014 That sounds very high. I would give some of the other insurers a call such as Bupa or try having a look at this. http://online.iselect.com.au/ggl/index?ref=H_S_G_health-insurance-compare_2&k_clickid=33f791ff-e0e4-4848-9b6c-00004e0fc0e7 I have never heard of 489 holders being penalized. Only 457. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7cdb Posted May 20, 2014 Report Share Posted May 20, 2014 Druid, Verystormy HELP I have been here 5 weeks and been quoted today $480.50 top 85 working visa health insurance for me and my wife no kids, which i can't get my head around. The girl at medi bank said its because of my visa 489 skilled state sponsorship also got told it will go down to $ 227 when i get PR. to me this docent sound correct any advice? Is that $480.50 per month/year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou8670 Posted May 20, 2014 Report Share Posted May 20, 2014 That sounds very high. I would give some of the other insurers a call such as Bupa or try having a look at this. http://online.iselect.com.au/ggl/index?ref=H_S_G_health-insurance-compare_2&k_clickid=33f791ff-e0e4-4848-9b6c-00004e0fc0e7 I have never heard of 489 holders being penalized. Only 457. Yeh sounds like they're getting the visa types confused. I'd get a second quote/ opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreigT Posted May 20, 2014 Report Share Posted May 20, 2014 That is a $480.50 month. It was a girl from the uk behind the desk as well. I think ill speak to someone else and get a second opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreigT Posted May 20, 2014 Report Share Posted May 20, 2014 Just spoken to a manager at Medibank, He said that is the correct price for top cover as the 489 visa on there system now comes under the 457. SHOCKING PRICE? looking like ill stick with Medicare and take my chances Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou8670 Posted May 20, 2014 Report Share Posted May 20, 2014 Just spoken to a manager at Medibank, He said that is the correct price for top cover as the 489 visa on there system now comes under the 457. SHOCKING PRICE? looking like ill stick with Medicare and take my chances That doesn't make sense as 457 visa holders have to have medical insurance whereas you'll be covered under Medicare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreigT Posted May 20, 2014 Report Share Posted May 20, 2014 Lou i know dos not make any sense to me either, will look at a few other private companies. They also told me it will go from $480.50 to $227.00 when i get my PR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou8670 Posted May 20, 2014 Report Share Posted May 20, 2014 Lou i know dos not make any sense to me either, will look at a few other private companies. They also told me it will go from $480.50 to $227.00 when i get my PR I reckon half the time they don't understand the different visa types and what they entitle you to within Australia! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Druid Posted May 20, 2014 Report Share Posted May 20, 2014 We had HBF Essentials & then upgraded to Extra Essentials when we were on our 457 with no probs, both the (adult kids) were on it too as at that time they were classed as students, they didn't charge us anything extra for being on a 457 or to have the kids on it, we only pay about $90 month, sounds like you getting ripped off, time to do some shopping around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreigT Posted May 20, 2014 Report Share Posted May 20, 2014 Druid just applied online for HBF under 489 visa and it was more expensive than Medibank, HBF essential was over $500 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted May 20, 2014 Report Share Posted May 20, 2014 That is crazy money. If they won't budge, then I would look at ambulance and dental only. Which to be honest is all you really need. Medicare covers 90% of the rest. Insurance here though is stupid. I was looking at redundancy cover and the best figure I had for $100k of cover was $3k a month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Druid Posted May 20, 2014 Report Share Posted May 20, 2014 Druid just applied online for HBF under 489 visa and it was more expensive than Medibank, HBF essential was over $500 Thats stupid, a UK citizen is entitled to Medicare for free, why are they charging so much nowadays for basic cover, have you tried IMAN? I went with them initially just to get the visa as you get stuck with a chicken & egg scenario with a 457 visa & Medicare, it was quick cheap & easy & complied with all the visa requirements to get the 457 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peata Whyted Posted May 20, 2014 Report Share Posted May 20, 2014 Druid just applied online for HBF under 489 visa and it was more expensive than Medibank, HBF essential was over $500 Hi Greg, I went with HBF last week, 2 adults and 2 kids on a 457 visa. Hospital and ambulance cover $200 a month. If you add the whole shooting match on there (out patient cover, pharmacy, dental, optical) it's going to cost you top dollar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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