Health Insurance?

[xelasnave]

I am 74 and want to buy some health insurance ...any tips?

I was on the Old Age Pension but when my father passed away he left me with sufficient assets to cause me to lose the pension and I presume the medical benefits.

I need a scan on my back soon so I expect that will be expensive.

But I want to sort it out.

Alex

[billdan]

Hi Alex,

I ditched private health insurance 5 years ago, as I believe they are useless.
Like you I am over 70 and I get free Doctors consultancy because he bulk bills the Govt.

Recently the Doctor told me I have Emphyisimia (decades of smoking) and I had to get a CT scan on my lungs (which came back clean, no cancer). I didn't have to pay anything, they just scanned my Medicare card and that was it.

So if your local doctor sends you for a scan, at our age you shouldn't have to pay.

Cheers
Bill

[casstony]

Scans/MRI's aren't that expensive but there may be a wait. You can pay a bit more out of pocket to get them done sooner.

Where private health insurance makes a difference is if you end up needing spinal surgery - you get access to surgeons who only work in the private system and you can bypass waiting lists.
If you have spinal surgery you should choose a surgeon who has a high success rate for good outcomes - your GP should be able to offer recommendations.

There's generally a 12 month waiting period after taking out cover before you can claim.

[glend]

Alex, everyone is covered by Medicare, and always will be, whether you have Private Health Insurance or not. Private cover gives you some advantages when it comes to elective procedures (non- life threatening), where you might have to wait in a queue in the Public system. Things like joint and hip replacements can be done fairly quickly in a Private facility, but you might want years on the Public waiting list. Of course you pay a premium to the Private Health funds for that cover and all if them will have a waiting period before you can claim.
I believe, if your doctor orders a scan of your back, in your present curcumstances, it will be covered by Medicare to a certain value and you will pay a gap of the rest.

So in short, you will not lose Medicare coverage.

[leon]

As others have said, don't bother, other than maybe waiting for certain procedures the over all services is no different.

As you know recently i had a triple bypass, i could not fault the specialists, nursing staff, and the after service. not only that but in the past other procedures with excellent results

You would not get better in a private system, don't waste your dollars Alex, just go buy another scope mate.:P

Leon :thumbsup:

[multiweb]

Life's too short to look through cheap glass heh? :)

[glend]

There are some things that can definitely be better about private treatment:

Choice of Doctor, if that is important to you.
Waiting list. In the Public system there are considerable waiting lists for certain procedures.
Type of accommodation, amenities, and food. Now you might laugh about that last one, but having had Cardiac care stays in both public and private hospitals, I can testify about how good it is to have a Private room and bath, and a choice and quality of food, WIFI, etc which makes for a stress free recovery.

In an Emergency, the Public system shines, but paying for Private for booked procedures is usually a better choice in my experience. Health insurance is an investment, people whinge about it until suddenly they need to use it.

[Nikolas]

I had prostate cancer I had it removed 6 weeks after diagnosis I am cancer free because I got it early and my outcome therefore was better. I am a private patient I did not have to wait 6 months for the same surgery under the public system with a doctor no name. I know of others who waited in the public system, their outcome is now not similar to mine as that 6 month wait can make or break. Everyone is different but so long as the current mob are in power and keep cutting back on public health it's best to have that insurance if you can afford it.

[xelasnave]

Thanks to all for your help. I greatly appreciate it.
Alex

[xelasnave]

I have been out so laid down when I got in ..no shirt.. as I tried to get comfortable I felt something slither down my arm then leg and looked up to see a snake tail dropping off the end of the bed, and then noticed same tail going out the door...I went to the door and I looked outside to see the snake standing about a foot upright in some weeds at the annex door looking straight at me..because I am colour blind it could be green or brown but it seemed to have yellow around it's lower jaw. I rang my daughter and she said probably a green tree snake as a brown being aggressive would have bitten me.

I feel very shaken.

What surprised me was the way it stood up and looked me in the eye.


Alex

[Sunfish]

I have had a few rounds of surgery in both public and private hospitals and have always had private hospital cover only. The problem with private health insurance is that it does not really cover a decent part of the the cost of your choice of medical people , scans and allied costs. Only the stay in the private hospital is really covered. Every other thing is not really covered to any degree if you choose your own surgeon. Nice room but it is incredibly expensive in private health.

You can often choose your own surgeon and see them in a public or private system and choose based on the type of procedure they use . That is common to many highly regarded surgeons. I have been able to choose either. The private system is good for those who can afford it to skip the wait and have a nice room but not always. It would be wrong to think that private health insurance covers much of it or that anyone should accept whatever surgeon happens to be in that area at their local private hospital or better covered by their insurer. They are bound to be a lesser choice than a well known surgeon who works in both private and public hospitals and preferably a big public teaching hospital.

You an always choose either way, and the idea that an Australian would be made to wait for a life saving surgery in a public hospital is wrong. That is where the life saving surgeries are most performed.

[leon]

Although I had no choice in the surgeons that did my procedure, they did come and speak with me at length before and after, and it turns out the one that actually did the procedure was the best in his class.

These people did both, private and public and alternated between both hospitals which happened to be next to each other.

The food and service i had was just excellent.

By the way I was in the Geelong Cardio Hospital, on the floor just for this procedure

I suppose we all see the different aspects of public or private, each to his/her own i expect

Leon

[Zuts]

I have private health insurance, but had a quadruple bypass as a public patient at RPH in Sydney. Cost me nothing and an excellent outcome. After diagnosing my heart attack, i was put straight in hospital and the bypass was scheduled for a few days later.

The point is that this was a life threatening event so the public system acted immediately and there is no waiting list for the surgery, though on the morning of the operation I did get bumped by an MVA.

Anyway, I also need a knee replacement, if i went public I could be waiting a number of years, i suspect back surgery would be the same. So will use my private insurance.

Horses for courses!

Cheers

[leon]

Ok fair enough, best leave it there.

Leon

[gregbradley]

I don't know about other types of snakes but a brown can take a cobra type pose as a warning. The only time I have seen that the snake hissed in that position and then did not move for some time. It had been surprised by my dog when we were playing fetch.

Greg.

[Paul Haese]

Alex,

something to consider is LHC, which is Lift time Health Cover. If you have never had health insurance or not had cover for years you will be subject to LHC. If never I think you will be paying a 70% surcharge or thereabouts. I am on my last few months of LHC (it goes for 10 years) and only on 36% and it is $150 dollars or so extra a quarter. I have silver extras and bronze hospital. I would imagine you will be paying probably double me and then expected to pay this for a couple of years to qualify for any procedure requiring surgery. Might be worth looking at the numbers to see if it is worth the financial pain.

[xelasnave]

Thanks to everyone for all your help I really appreciate it...more so as something has come up which I may have put off if not for helpful comments here..... Could be very very serious.

Sunday night found huge lump in my neck under my beard..hand size maybe half inch thick..dont know how long it had been there..getting tests right now...blood, xray and an ultra sound next week... but if its cancer I would say I am done for...hopefully it may be iodine deficiency...blood test back Monday which should indicate cancer or not.

My thumb at least seems better but I am keeping it strapped ..doctor said maybe " trigger finger" comes from over exertion..which could be the case from playing the xmas guitar and assembling the garden shed...

I have been rather active.

I hope its not the death warrant now that I have everything finally set up...just affirms not to put off doing what you want...but feeling ok..if its the end I really think I have had a bigger slice of life than anyone else...sorry to be morbid its just a worry.
Alex

[wavelandscott]

Thinking and sending positive thoughts your way Alex

[Renato1]

Very definitely agree with this.
Three and a half years, our health fund paid out around $220,000 for the back surgeries my wife and I had.

Plus it's nice having one's own room with great food, beer and wine, nice cakes for morning and afternoon tea, some Foxtel channels and WiFi with a daily 10Gbyte limit. The experience is akin to being on a plane trip, but with better service.

I liked it so much, I'm going back for more this week, after spending a week there in January. I think I'm costing my fund a fortune.
Cheers,
Renato

[xelasnave]

I have always said that I am the luckiest man on the planet.

Without getting too excited ..blood test shows high white cell count indicating infection...still have tests but it may only be an infection type sac as with sists or absysis..still could be cancer but liver and thyroid present as healthy.

Alex

[xelasnave]

Thank you Scott

Alex

[JA]

Alex: Wishing you the very best that all is and will be well.

Best
JA

[xelasnave]

I was not in a fund when they did my back.

Seven weeks in a flash room with own bath, tv and a great view.

Excellent meals, morning and afternoon tea. I did pencil drawings of tea ladies and doctors so they liked me...I think I was getting the bosses meals...plus I visited everyone on my floor to cheer them up..

I helped a few with legal problems a couple of nurses had and the nurses would sit and chat for ages...they seemed to like my stories.

My surgeon was apparently one of the two best in the country and she treated me so good before and after...

Three angiograms, major back surgery, as I said seven weeks..cost $6 for a pack of Panedol on the way out...I doubt a fund would have got me better in fact I bet they would have thrown me out sooner...they scan me each year to make sure the problem has not come back.

Losing the pension had me thinking I would not get that sort of care again...

Waiting time..my doctor after I told him all my symptoms was on the phone saying they would probably opperate the next day..they didnt but only cause it was not exactly what the doctor thought was the problem..still fast action was needed else..no legs.

Alex

[Startrek]

Alex
All the best
Cheers
Martin

[Hemi]

Hey Alex,

I’d like to echo everyone else’s thoughts and well wishes.

Hopefully everything will be fine. If not you have the right attitude to deal with it, come what may.

Best Wishes

Hemi

[Nikolas]

It'll be fine Alex, I reckon it's just a cyst (fingers crossed)

[xelasnave]

Thank you gentlemen and thanks for the correct spelling Nik. One day at a time but I feel it won't be cancer...with this non stop rain I can't get anything done so I am just taking it easy.
Alex

[Renato1]

Hi Alex,
I think your experience may be atypical in relation to public hospitals.
Where I live they have mixed wards, and the food definitely is not up to the level of what is served in the private hospital I go to.

Every time I've visited someone in a public hospital, it increases my determination to keep going private. Though I'm not saying that their health care is inferior, just the overall experience.
Regards,
Renato

[raymo]

Alex, your back problem must have been extremely severe; there is usually
at least a 12 month waiting list for hips, knees, backs,etc in the public
system, and often quite a lot longer than that. Getting to see the relevant specialist in the first place can take months.
raymo

[xelasnave]

As I said when seeing the doctor ...he grabbed the phone and with a sense of extreme urgency called the hospital..he thought it was "cordia Aquina?" which is serious ..it wasnt but turned our just as bad.. ..two blood vessles got tangled under my spine...
I was very lucky not to lose use of my legs..they are not flash but I can get around.
I was seen by about 7 doctors..a doctor and students.. each day..I guess they kept me as a teaching aid and that's why I got great food etc...plus they all liked getting their portraits done..I enjoyed the experience.

Yesterday...went to have MRI scan in Queensland.they keep an eye on my back..forgot about daylight saving and got there very early..anyways I must have been in the machine for over an hour...then after to face peak hour traffic for the long drive home..got in at 10 pm and the Sky was clear ..first in 3 months but I was done so went to bed..

Had more tests yesterday for neck problem and will see doctor on Wednesday for the news....$437 worth but at my age what else can I spend my money on...plus I get half back....

Worked out why folk fear death..fear of the unknown..what they miss is you will be dead you won't know anything so the is no reason to be fearful.

So got my head on straight...studying micro biology and bacteria communication systems...so interesting...so I am happy and occupied.

Alex

[raymo]

Alex, I'm glad you got the timely treatment that you obviously needed, but
we would all hopefully get immediate treatment when the problem is severe
or life threatening. I was referring to things like hip/knee replacements.
You will wait for ever to get dental treatment other than a simple urgent
extraction.
raymo

[xelasnave]

No experience with hip or knee replacements but dental I walk in get an initial appointment work out the work to be done and get it done pay the bill..no waiting no problems.

Alex

[xelasnave]

So I made an appointment with the dentist which I have just now attended..what did it cost? I dont know as I got chatting with the lady and she forgot to bill me..I rang back to let her know and will go back later to fix her up...anyways the great news was although some teeth have chips there is no decay..I cant believe it..the other news is very bad re throat as with more tests they have found the nasty and there is some in my lung...seeing a surgeon later today but things dont look good unfortunately. Worst of all now going off to have my hair and beard cut back so the surgeon can see the throat.
Anyways hopefully the surgeon can see me and we can make a plan.
Alex

[xelasnave]

Well my beard and hair is cut...

[Sunfish]

Lost your strength now Samson. ? For what it is worth a 70 yo friend down the road went in to have chunks cut out of his neck , throat and tongue . A week later , he is driving around visiting the country. He looks great.

Good luck.

[Startrek]

Alex
My goodness you don’t look a day over 55
Good luck with everything
All the best
Martin

[Constant]

Alex, grim news however in a small way i can be of some help. Recently I had a bone marrow transplant, very heavy chemo as all the bone marrow needs to be knocked off prior to receiving the transplant.
Shave off all your hair, beard, head. Shaving now will give the skin a little time to toughen-up prior to chemo.
Shaving now will mean less scabbing and general horriblness. Make the razor your friend, you'll have a much better time of it.... Clear Sky's

All the best (hair grows back)"

[DamienB]

Despite the frustrating news, this line did make me chuckle.:rofl:


;)

[xelasnave]

It was very warm.
Thanks for the encouragement Ray.
Alex

[xelasnave]

Well its been a worrying time no wonder I am looking older than usual.
Thanks Martin.
Alex

[xelasnave]

Thanks. Good advice.
Alex

[xelasnave]

Saw the Surgeon.
Its cancer all thru my neck...my air pipe has been pushed to one side...cut it out please...29th March at this stage..will cost a lot but hang the expense..when the neck is done and my breathing fixed then the lung...
However I feel much better. When I left this morning I was very down ..being alone it becomes difficult to not think bad things...big day 13 hours..very happy about no decay in the teeth and the hair cut is not so bad...
Went back and paid the dentist and sort pity from the ex to make me a sandwich and a cuppa...another day.
But this rain is getting beyond tolerance just rains a bit every day...
Alex

[JA]

Alex, ... sending you every positive wish for your treatment and recovery.....:party2:

Best
JA

[Nikolas]

All the very best Alex, you don't have to answer this if you don't want, are you or were you a smoker?
Best of luck mate

[N1]

Alex, hang in there mate.
All the best!

[xelasnave]

At one stage a heavy smoker..15 stone.
I think if it were smoking related it would have hit me at 40 years.
Thank you for your kind wishes.
Alex

[xelasnave]

Thank you, your kind thoughts are greatly appreciated.
Alex

[xelasnave]

Thank you I greatly appreciate your advice and good wishes.
Alex

[xelasnave]

In Lismore and completed all the paper work..lucky I did not buy the 16 inch, eq 8 and zwo camera as I will have enough cash on hand without selling anything. Its a pity I could not get health insurance organised ...but I will.
Going to Queensland next week to get report on MRI they did last week..it will be interesting to see if they have picked up the cancer...more interesting if they miss it...it will be fun either way..I just hope they are happy with my back and that it is doing ok.
But this rain...I am worrying about all my optics as well.
Left hand marginally better but still cant play guitar properly ...which is so annoying as I have learn all this new stuff...
Alex

[xelasnave]

Well the beard has been removed.
Alex

[JA]

Ah.... That guy :D :thumbsup:

Best
JA

[wavelandscott]

Looking fabulous!

[raymo]

Where's Alex gone?
raymo

[PCH]

It’s only been a day Ray. Fear not, he’ll be back ;)

[raymo]

Thank goodness for that.
raymo

[xelasnave]

OK more trivia....so I put $5k on my card to pay the anaesthetist...pay over the phone but card wont work..ring bank...ten days for a bank cheque to clear...too tired to complain....so decide to have yet another trip to Lismore and pay cash..back out this morning car sinks to floor...I ring my dear X please help me..so her car gets bogged..ring my neighbour please help..his 4 wd gets bogged...he then bogs his tractor..another neighbour with a tractor gets all out but my park looks like a WW1 battle field...so decide pay cash at PO on card save going to Lismore..ring to speak to the girl to pay the bill..she is not in today...no worries I will call tomorrow...I had to cancel trip to Queesland hospital cause of weather...but the worse thing...I have now to leave car at front gate and walk to my van rather than risk getting bogged again....done it once and it near killed me...the damn nasty has near closed off my wind pipe so I get short of breath.
Rain has only just now stopped but I can still hear it in my head. Hope for no floods so I can get the opp done Monday.
Gone past worry...its now just annoying.
Alex

[Renato1]

Very sorry to hear of your misfortune (misfortunes?) Alex.
Best wishes.
Renato

[glend]

Alex, so sorry to hear about your health problems and upcoming surgery. I only just caught up with this thread. Best wishes for a quick and full recovery, my thoughts are with you.

[Sunfish]

That is some really bad luck all round.
I hope you have some better luck soon.
The cancer thing is not your fault and don’t let anyone tell you other wise. There a million cancers and many more causes.
They will find out themselves one day.

[PKay]

All the best mate, you'll be fine :)

[xelasnave]

Thanks to all.

Because of concerns re flooding I felt it best to cancel trip (today) to Gold Coast Hospital re my MRI discussion appointment, for my back ( follow up on that opperation now years ago)..When cancelling appointment I told them of my situation and asked if they could call and let me know..they did and gave me good news...

Thank goodness the rain stopped last night as the bottom road was ready to flood...I had to leave my car by the front gate rather than risk getting bogged on the track to the van and hopefully with the Sun and wind today things will dry out soon.

So on the positive..no tooth decay, back ok, car not bogged and usable, opperation is on Monday and paid my bill over the phone.
Alex

[Nikolas]

Some good news mate Let's hope you have the same outcome with the Cancer

[leee]

My thoughts - my hope - my wishes are all with you. Thomas