Sarab Posted October 11, 2012 Report Share Posted October 11, 2012 I know it's the done thing over here, and I have been looking at policies, but is it really worth it? Do people that have it feel they are getting value for money from it? Being from the UK I don't know if it's worth getting a policy other than ambulance cover as there is Medicare. Any advice much appreciated!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicolac34 Posted October 11, 2012 Report Share Posted October 11, 2012 (edited) For us we decided to get medical insurance because it worked out to be cheaper than paying the medicare levy surcharge. Basically if you earn over $168k per year as a couple then you have to start paying an additional percentage of your income in a 'surcharge' if you don't have medical insurance. We did the sums and decided a cheapish basic cover was cheaper than the tax bill we'd be likely to have at the end of the year. Edit to say that Medicare doesn't cover you for a whole lot! You get a % back when you go to the Doctors and on some treatments, but things like dental or optical or physio etc are not covered. A&E is all covered (apart from Ambulance) but don't be under any illusion that medicare means the same as the NHS - because it doesn't! Edited October 11, 2012 by nicolac34 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfie Posted October 11, 2012 Report Share Posted October 11, 2012 definitely trips to the dentist are expensive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levi Posted October 11, 2012 Report Share Posted October 11, 2012 (edited) I too would like to know more about this, so let's see some comments! Thanks EDIT: @nicolac34: What is A&E ? Edited October 11, 2012 by Levi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicolac34 Posted October 11, 2012 Report Share Posted October 11, 2012 I too would like to know more about this, so let's see some comments! Thanks EDIT: @nicolac34: What is A&E ? Accident and Emergency Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesw Posted October 11, 2012 Report Share Posted October 11, 2012 I've have just had a knee operation, and I am glad I have got private healthcare. The operation would have been $2000 but it was the fact that I went to a nice quiet hospital for the operation instead of the local one. Its like traveling business class on a plane! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarab Posted October 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2012 What is a good policy then? I have been looking at HBF? Hospital, dental, optical & another (but don't know what to choose for the other). I saw something about tax but didn't know what it meant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicolac34 Posted October 11, 2012 Report Share Posted October 11, 2012 http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.aspx?doc=/content/00250854.htm&page=11 Here is some info about the levy - you can work out if you would be hit by it and by how much. (If you earn over the threshold they tax your whole income at 1% not just the portion over) I went with Medibank, the basic young esentials with hopsital cover. Cost $128 per month for us as a couple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted October 11, 2012 Report Share Posted October 11, 2012 Definatley worth it for optical and dental. Both my daughter and I wear glasses, eye tests are bulk billed usually (we have specsavers), my daughters glasses should have been about $300 and with our medibank we got them for $130. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesw Posted October 11, 2012 Report Share Posted October 11, 2012 We are with medibank as well. No complaints with them, but we do pay for lots of extra's, so for this family of 3, we pay $300 per month Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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