Private health insurance is a dud. That’s why a majority of Australians don’t have it (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by Joshi@aussie.zone to c/australianpolitics@aussie.zone

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Successive governments have tried to convince Australians that private health is better than the public system. Australia doesn't agree.

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[-] joelfromaus@aussie.zone 23 points 4 days ago

I’ve seen how the public system can work when it’s working well and I’ve read plenty of terrifying stories from USA from both “successful” and failed private health visits to know that our public system is a treasure that we should try our damndest to protect.

It’s part of why I’ve copped the Medicare charge instead of getting private health when I turned 30. I would rather pay a little more for a decent health system than pay a lot more for a shit one.

[-] Nath@aussie.zone 5 points 4 days ago

I have Private health insurance because I essentially need to pay the cost of private insurance in extra levies if I don't get it.

[-] Salvo@aussie.zone 2 points 3 days ago

I am currently copping the extra levies out of principle.

I would rather pay the extra tax than be forced to entire the criminally corrupt public system.

The problem is that the runaway inflation (caused by corporate price-gouging) is resulting in increased cost of living.

I have been fortunate enough to receive a pay-rise that reduces the pain caused by the CoL crisis, but it has pushed me into a higher tax bracket.

[-] Nath@aussie.zone 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

We do use Medibank. In a family of four, I've maxed out my Physio for the year (first time), my kid has spent a chunk on orthodontics, my wife got glasses and osteo care. It's borderline on whether we use enough to justify our premiums - probably not this year. But we did have one year with a few surgeries that made me happy the insurance was there.

Edit: oh! And our dental visits, I forgot!

If it were just me, my own use of private insurance would not have justified the premium I've been paying all these years. But I'm probably close to breaking even over the past 15 years or so with my wife and kids added to the mix.

[-] shirro@aussie.zone 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

We keep it out of habit and because the Government bribes us.

Some people probably get good value out of it but not us. There is a lot of faith healing stuff on their policies and those practitioners rely a lot on over-servicing for their income so the people into that shit likely make claims. Partner went into hospital once and I said why didn't you use the card to get a room upgrade with nicer wallpaper and its basically not worth the effort. I'm not complaining because if they were offering value it would be at the expense of the public system and peoples health. They overcharge for policies that are basically useless and never get claims but as long as they can lobby politicians it keeps them in business anyway. They should let people add their pets to the family policy, then we might find some use for it.

[-] maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zone 8 points 4 days ago

May I ask, how did you end sharing an amp link? Is that what the Guardian uses in their newsletters or social media posts?

[-] Nath@aussie.zone 2 points 4 days ago

Great question, because Guardian links with amp remove that annoying popup begging for subscription while telling me I'm one of their most prolific readers, having read 80 articles this year.