What did you do re. Med ins/ ambo cover???- HELP!!!!!!

[Guest Kelly O]

Hi everyone! Asking for your assistance again!!

 

We moved out here last April- work hasn't exactly gone to plan and at times we have struggled with both of us out of work at the same time- the worst period being when neither of us were working over Dec, Jan and Feb.

 

We are hanging on in there as we love it here but as time is coming up to a year we need to either sort out medical cover and take advantage of the zero loading for new migrants or simply take out ambo cover and hope for the best as we can't really afford the $215 we were quoted,( but then can we afford not to).

 

My question is : if we did not take out cover is emergency treatment not free in a reciprocal agreemnet with the UK and say, God forbid, one of us became ill and needed treatment would we copped with a gigantic bill?

 

Please could you give me your thoughts we do not have long to sort this out, I'd really appreciate some imput.

[cliffy]

Regardless of the reciprocal agreement, Ambulance cover is not free to anyone and, as I understand it, if an ambulance is called, by you or by someone for your use, you are liable for the costs of transporting you. Even a local trip is quite a few hundred dollars and it really is essential to have cover from the moment you arrive. The exception to this is for Road Traffic Accidents, when the Accident Commission eventually pick up the tab.

[Sallyh]

I was wondering what people did as well. We have neither yet too. As for the times we have needed emergency treatment - the out of hours docs are really good, and we have had a free one in the middle of the night when necessary. With the children we've gone a few times now to Womens and childrens for their a&e for things like strange rash (shingles for one, and something else for another) etc. I am afraid my thoughts on ambulance cover so far are realising that I have never in my life had to call one yet, so while we have the money in the bank that could pay for it if we had to, that has been my thought on that one.

 

My concerns about medical cover really are that it is possible to have none, but I am not sure what the waiting times are like for something say like a child needing an ENT specialist or something (that's really the most likely). As far as I can tell its not essential and not all Australians have it - I wouldn't bother taking it out just for extras (I might be the only one in Adelaide not obsessed with chiropractic??!!!) but I am wondering long term whether we will do it. I suppose I think we could put that $200 per month away in a rainy day medical fund for ourselves rather than paying it to an insurance company...

 

Don't know, still thinking about it and was thinking of starting a thread myself to ask this very same question the other day. So glad you have. Await responses...

[andy and lindsey]

Hi everyone! Asking for your assistance again!!

 

We moved out here last April- work hasn't exactly gone to plan and at times we have struggled with both of us out of work at the same time- the worst period being when neither of us were working over Dec, Jan and Feb.

 

We are hanging on in there as we love it here but as time is coming up to a year we need to either sort out medical cover and take advantage of the zero loading for new migrants or simply take out ambo cover and hope for the best as we can't really afford the $215 we were quoted,( but then can we afford not to).

 

My question is : if we did not take out cover is emergency treatment not free in a reciprocal agreemnet with the UK and say, God forbid, one of us became ill and needed treatment would we copped with a gigantic bill?

 

Please could you give me your thoughts we do not have long to sort this out, I'd really appreciate some imput.

 

Hi Kelly

What sort of visa are you on? As the others have stated ambulance cover is a must - think it cost about $125 from the post office or ring SA ambulance direct SA Ambulance Service Medical insurance is really a different matter - If you are here on a temporary visa then its not an issue - you will get emergency treatment - if needed at either GP or Hospital - there will be a gap payment for some services (this applies to everyone regardless of visa). The issue is - is you have been here a year and you are on a permanent visa. Before the end of your first year must decide whether you want to take out health insurance (it is costly). If you take the insurance before the end of the first year then you are not penalised for never having had medical insurance before - but if it is after the end of the first year then it is loaded for age. Similar to getting life insurance the younger you are when you take out the premiums then the cheaper the cost is. If you cant afford it and are here on a permanent visa then dont get it - you will get treated if you need treatment be it routine or emergency. You will find many testimonials on here from people who have been treated in public hospitals and had excellent care. There will be people who werent pleased with the service just as there would be in the UK you cant suit everyone all of the time. Im a nurse and we have health insurance - costs $250 a month and there are a whole list of things that I wouldnt use it for - Just because the surroundings look like a 4/5 star hotel does not mean the treatment is better or safer.

 

I dont know whether this makes sense or not, hope it does but if finances are an issue I would say get the ambulance cover and dont worry about the rest.

 

Hope this helps

 

Lindsey

[Guest Kelly O]

Thanks very much for your response.I appreciate the time you have all taken to answer me. That is what I was thinking of doing- get ambo cover this week( we have risked it long enough without it! and my son is going away on a school camp so want to be sure he is covered just in case he has an accident whilst being adventurous!) and just accept waiting times if we have to just as we would in the UK. We are not in a financial position to be spending $215+ a month at the moment. Hopefully our luck will change in the nick of time and we can take out a medical cover b4 our year is up. We are no spring chickens and the loading for our age on cover would be laughable I'm sure.We are on PR visas.

[Guest Kelly O]

Thanks Lindsey,

 

I totally agree re. the treatment in a private hospital would be no better or safer - I have much the same thoughts on education, independent vs.state, but that's another matter for debate and I don't want to rattle any one's cage!

 

Thanks once again for your time. Cheers.

[lorluc]

I am afraid my thoughts on ambulance cover so far are realising that I have never in my life had to call one yet, so while we have the money in the bank that could pay for it if we had to, that has been my thought on that one

.

 

Do you know how much it is? Can be around $700.....

 

We too, had never had to call an ambulance in our lives...till we arrived here 4 years ago. My son was taken seriously ill after only 3 months of being here....we hadnt got round to getting ambulance cover....so it cost us..

 

Since then...we have to call an ambulance for him again...and also for my husband, both with serious conditions....

 

So 3 in four years....not bad going eh???

 

You just never know what is round the corner....think cover is about $100 a year or something like that..i have it part of my med cover now...

 

We have the extras cover....as for private v public? Had treatment within the public sector a fair bit here...and yeah a few little gripes, but nothing major...cant fault it really...personally i'd get the ambulance cover and maybe extras....especially as dentistry is very expensive....

[Guest Nick11]

Hi Kelly

What sort of visa are you on? As the others have stated ambulance cover is a must - think it cost about $125 from the post office or ring SA ambulance direct SA Ambulance Service Medical insurance is really a different matter - If you are here on a temporary visa then its not an issue - you will get emergency treatment - if needed at either GP or Hospital - there will be a gap payment for some services (this applies to everyone regardless of visa). The issue is - is you have been here a year and you are on a permanent visa. Before the end of your first year must decide whether you want to take out health insurance (it is costly). If you take the insurance before the end of the first year then you are not penalised for never having had medical insurance before - but if it is after the end of the first year then it is loaded for age. Similar to getting life insurance the younger you are when you take out the premiums then the cheaper the cost is. If you cant afford it and are here on a permanent visa then dont get it - you will get treated if you need treatment be it routine or emergency. You will find many testimonials on here from people who have been treated in public hospitals and had excellent care. There will be people who werent pleased with the service just as there would be in the UK you cant suit everyone all of the time. Im a nurse and we have health insurance - costs $250 a month and there are a whole list of things that I wouldnt use it for - Just because the surroundings look like a 4/5 star hotel does not mean the treatment is better or safer.

 

I dont know whether this makes sense or not, hope it does but if finances are an issue I would say get the ambulance cover and dont worry about the rest.

 

Hope this helps

 

Lindsey

 

Can I ask Lindsey - is it worth taking it out?

With you both being health care professionals does having it make a difference. When you work within a system you have very different perception of the service to anyone else.

With regards to the education debate of state v public -as a teacher whos taught in both systems here I have real concerns about the education of children here. But that's probably best left for another thread

[Guest Kelly O]

Yes I know calling an ambo is very pricey- we were told that on the day of landing by our meet and greet couple. I have risked it thus far but am not sure I want to anymore with my son going away on school camp. I picked up a leaflet today and ambo cover for a year is $125 for a family.

(By the way Lorluc I too am a Hammers fan!like the logo)

[Guest Kelly O]

Hi Thanks for your reply. I only popped the inde vs. state ed in as I am a teacher too( trying desparately to get a contract I might add!! I agree that's another thread ....but could be a good one!!

[andy and lindsey]

Can I ask Lindsey - is it worth taking it out?

With you both being health care professionals does having it make a difference. When you work within a system you have very different perception of the service to anyone else.

With regards to the education debate of state v public -as a teacher whos taught in both systems here I have real concerns about the education of children here. But that's probably best left for another thread

 

Honestly Im not sure - Most people I work with have it and wouldnt dream of not having it but having worked in both the private and public system there are varying standards. If you have private health insurance and are admitted to a private a and e dept for a procedure which does not result in a hospital stay the treatment is extortionate and a $300-400 dollar bill is not unusual - the minute that you are admitted then the prices reduce. I know of people who have gone in to a private a and e and said dont do anything unless you admit me. If you were admitted to say Flinders and you had to stay there would certainly be no lying around on a trolley for hours on end whilst they found you a bed. You would be wheeled across to Flinders private, quick sharpish which is like a 4 star hotel.

On the other hand if you had a heart attack and needed urgent heart surgery - it would be feesable with private insurance to have surgery that day. It really is tough call - we use ours for chiropracter, physio, have seen a naturopath, dentist and optician. Waiting times are definately reduced with private although in the public system they are not nearly as bad as the UK. Im glad we have it, but would be selective with what i used it for I suppose.

 

Hope it helps

[jim and adel]

Apart from emergency hospital treatment and ambulance cover, do think about what the extras can help with - dentist, optical, prescription charges etc.

 

Jim

[Selah]

We shopped around and got ambulance cover for the five of us for about $70 for the year from HBF who also offer extras plans. I understand MBH (I think) is also cheaper. Do an online search.

Liz

[Selah]

Thanks very much for your response.I appreciate the time you have all taken to answer me. That is what I was thinking of doing- get ambo cover this week( we have risked it long enough without it! and my son is going away on a school camp so want to be sure he is covered just in case he has an accident whilst being adventurous!) and just accept waiting times if we have to just as we would in the UK. We are not in a financial position to be spending $215+ a month at the moment. Hopefully our luck will change in the nick of time and we can take out a medical cover b4 our year is up. We are no spring chickens and the loading for our age on cover would be laughable I'm sure.We are on PR visas.

 

 

As an addendum, we were automatically given a medicare concessions card as we have work contracts which aren't starting until now (been here since November) and have been on a low income and that has covered all the extra costs ie my daughter seeing a specialist and given both our 11 and 13 year old a $147 dental voucher.

[Sallyh]

Thanks very much for your response.I appreciate the time you have all taken to answer me. That is what I was thinking of doing- get ambo cover this week( we have risked it long enough without it! and my son is going away on a school camp so want to be sure he is covered just in case he has an accident whilst being adventurous!) and just accept waiting times if we have to just as we would in the UK. We are not in a financial position to be spending $215+ a month at the moment. Hopefully our luck will change in the nick of time and we can take out a medical cover b4 our year is up. We are no spring chickens and the loading for our age on cover would be laughable I'm sure.We are on PR visas.

 

DH and I were discussing this yesterday and he had been listening to a radio discussion about medical insurance and they were saying basically you are paying for the wait time to be reduced, that's about it. There is a debate going on generally about whether it is worth having or not.

 

Wonder if there are queue jumping methods here just as in the UK re getting seen quicker?

[Guest lucy_20]

hiya i just thought i should let you no that you should check out MEDIBANK PRIVATE ... im with them have BLUE RIBON EXTRAS, and i pay around $60 a month (different packages available at different prices depending on requirements) and that includes most dental treatments, hospital, and also ambulance!! its really worth wile! i have bad asthma so for what i pay i get a lot of use out of it.. especially the ambulance cover! hope this helps x