The biggest optical ripoff

[Lee]

If we were all disciplined enough to put aside the money you paid into private health funds, we could all self-insure ourself. Until you need to be in hospital for 3 months after a major injury that is, and the money you've saved runs out real fast..... I guess with that sort of admission you would be better off in a public bed anyway.....

Private health insurance is great for painful elective conditions - hernias, gallstones, kidney stones and a wealth of orthopaedic complaints (knee injuries etc etc) come to mind as big starters.... for major, life threatening conditions, you are really better off public in my opinion (or at least no worse off).

A review only a few years ago showed the death rate in private hospitals following cardiac surgery was about double that of public units (this was Queensland) - maybe that inexperienced resident at 2am was actually better than nothing when you developed a major complication!

[Bassnut (Fred)]

Frames wise, it takes a bit of pushing, but the plain good-as cheap frames are in the bottom draw (everything on display is over $200, the bottom draw cheapies are $50), I wasnt aware of this untill hassling magically produced the required result, steel frame cheapies are fine and look great, the optics count, you just need to hassle them on frames.

[kinetic (Steve)]

Ian, Lee,

All good points.

People have private health for differing specific reasons.
Like all insurance, it's a necessary evil. We all hate paying premiums.
Our family has it for reasons more to do with our kids.
Mum and Dad have it for their reasons.
We're lucky we have such a good public health system in
this country to fall back on...we could be far worse off.

Lee, you hear horror stories about the public system just as much
as the ones denigrating private.

I've heard, for example, doctors being rostered on for 24 hour shifts.
I'm flat out thinking straight after 10-12 hrs....these people make
decisions where lives are at stake.

Lawyers send their mistakes to prison, journalists print their mistakes
for all the world to see, doctors bury their mistakes.

On reading glasses, it's probably been covered already but,
I've just been through the process of my first prescription
measurement/fitting.....all paid for under private.

I, too, spent many years using the $2 glasses to get by doing
fine soldering, fibre optic work.....but always knew there was
not an exact compensation....each eye had a slightly different
deficiency.

When my new glasses came in, it was a breath of fresh air.
The compensation was exact.....and putting on my 'favourite'
pair of cheapies just showed how much strain my eyes were under
trying to compensate for the 'not quite right' factor.

Optometrists are tradespeople just like me...you probably have good
and bad ones in the mix.....I'm just glad I got a good one.

Steve

Originally Posted by Ian Robinson

Actually you did , bet ya never ever got more back from HBF in rebates than you paid them to have coverage. .... all they did was give you back a little bit of your money , why don't as many people see this ....?

[Lee]

Originally Posted by kinetic

Lee, you hear horror stories about the public system just as much
as the ones denigrating private.

The point of my post wasn't to denigrate private medical care - just to point out differences - both systems have their advantages and disadvantages.

There are heaps of horror stories about the public system (a lot of them unfortunate outcomes of nature that were inevitable, and just happened to occur on the grounds of a hospital) - if the press reported fairly, you wouldn't be able to find them among the good reports, the good reports don't make good news headlines...

[Ian Robinson]

Originally Posted by Lee

If we were all disciplined enough to put aside the money you paid into private health funds, we could all self-insure ourself. Until you need to be in hospital for 3 months after a major injury that is, and the money you've saved runs out real fast..... I guess with that sort of admission you would be better off in a public bed anyway.....

Private health insurance is great for painful elective conditions - hernias, gallstones, kidney stones and a wealth of orthopaedic complaints (knee injuries etc etc) come to mind as big starters.... for major, life threatening conditions, you are really better off public in my opinion (or at least no worse off).

A review only a few years ago showed the death rate in private hospitals following cardiac surgery was about double that of public units (this was Queensland) - maybe that inexperienced resident at 2am was actually better than nothing when you developed a major complication!

This is not the USA , we'd go to a public hospital and it will be totally free of charge for as long as is needed to be treated , no gap , no bills , and we'd get specialists needed at no cost , same as the cost of the bed , any surgery , physio , pharmaceuticals , etc as public patients . Why do you think so many private patients decline or forget to tell the hospitals they have private health insurance when they have a major medical problem eh ???.... where do you think privately insured patients wind up if they have major medical problems anyway .... not in private hospitals in the main , in major regional hospitals , only they get a big bill at the end , and get some of it paid when they present to bill to the health fund , they still need to cover the gap (which can be huge).

The garbage about choice of doctor , and being able to have unnecessary / elective stuff done as selling point by the private health funds , and the "incentive" to joint funds, early (while you are fit and healthy ,not to mention the federal government subsidisation of private funds - money that'd better used to improve the public hospital system and maybe reintroduce bulk billing of dental work, is all a big con job.

Better off saving and ensuring you've enough to cover more likely costs like dental work and glasses and pharmaceuticals yourself and not subsidising private health funds' owners' and shareholders' affluent lifestyles .... we'll all be better off when the profit motive is removed from hospital and health industries . Very good thing Howard and mates were sacked I reckon.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Frames are outrageously overpriced.
To get value for your money, when you do fork out for a complete new pair of glasses, get your old pair tinted (it used to cost around $20) so you can use them as prescription sunnies.

[Zuts]

Originally Posted by Ian Robinson

This is not the USA , we'd go to a public hospital and it will be totally free of charge for as long as is needed to be treated , no gap , no bills , and we'd get specialists needed at no cost , same as the cost of the bed , any surgery , physio , pharmaceuticals , etc as public patients . Why do you think so many private patients decline or forget to tell the hospitals they have private health insurance when they have a major medical problem eh ???.... where do you think privately insured patients wind up if they have major medical problems anyway .... not in private hospitals in the main , in major regional hospitals , only they get a big bill at the end , and get some of it paid when they present to bill to the health fund , they still need to cover the gap (which can be huge).

The garbage about choice of doctor , and being able to have unnecessary / elective stuff done as selling point by the private health funds , and the "incentive" to joint funds, early (while you are fit and healthy ,not to mention the federal government subsidisation of private funds - money that'd better used to improve the public hospital system and maybe reintroduce bulk billing of dental work, is all a big con job.

Better off saving and ensuring you've enough to cover more likely costs like dental work and glasses and pharmaceuticals yourself and not subsidising private health funds' owners' and shareholders' affluent lifestyles .... we'll all be better off when the profit motive is removed from hospital and health industries . Very good thing Howard and mates were sacked I reckon.

If you have a bad knee which requires surgery then

(1) A health fund member goes and finds a surgeon of his choice who then books him into a private hospital and performs the operation.

(2) A non health fund member goes on the public waiting list for the same surgery and waits anything up to a few years for the operation; and it doesnt matter how much pain they are in while waiting.

I dont have private health insurance and got fantastic service at RPAH for a life threatening cardiac bypass operation. However I can easily understand why people would choose to take out private health insurance.

[xelasnave]

I was called in to appraise a frame importers house and wow he was doing very well it seemed to me...
alex

[Ian Robinson]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

Frames are outrageously overpriced.
To get value for your money, when you do fork out for a complete new pair of glasses, get your old pair tinted (it used to cost around $20) so you can use them as prescription sunnies.

Knew plenty of people who had prescription tinted polaroidized safety glasses made for them for nix as annual safety gear issues when I was working for BHP , Onesteel and BHPB.

Bet plenty people here who work in industry get their glasses that way.... I would.

[Ian Robinson]

Originally Posted by Zuts

If you have a bad knee which requires surgery then

(1) A health fund member goes and finds a surgeon of his choice who then books him into a private hospital and performs the operation.

(2) A non health fund member goes on the public waiting list for the same surgery and waits anything up to a few years for the operation; and it doesnt matter how much pain they are in while waiting.

I dont have private health insurance and got fantastic service at RPAH for a life threatening cardiac bypass operation. However I can easily understand why people would choose to take out private health insurance.

It's a myth propogated by private health funds .... sorry to burst your bubble .... only the elective stuff is queued , necessary stuff is done right away .
My wife had an issue that was necessary a few years ago , was done right away , no costs incurred .

I've had sports injuries - elbow dislocations from fishing accidents - done immediately - no cost.

My mum had a hib replacement as a public patient , she was done within a few weeks of being told by her specialist it was needed , she was even put in private room . She had exactly the same surgical team as others who had the same procedure who were private patients and was treated no differently.

My elder brother is still in a private health fund, and I have similar discussions with him too .... can't be convinced that he's wasting his money.

[xelasnave]

They fitted me in when I said I would do my hernia opperation myself and put it on Utube.

alex

[Ian Robinson]

Originally Posted by xelasnave

They fitted me in when I said I would do my hernia opperation myself and put it on Utube.

alex

With or without pain relief when you proposed a DIYS hernia operation ???

[xelasnave]

I figured I could nick something when at the dentists ...
alex

[Ian Robinson]

Originally Posted by xelasnave

I figured I could nick something when at the dentists ...
alex

Or just get the dentist to do it ..... while he's at it .... ???? Novacain is wonderful stuff .,.... just the size of the horse needle they use to get it into you is DISTURBING .... I HATE NEEDLES >>>>>>>

[Zuts]

Originally Posted by Ian Robinson

It's a myth propogated by private health funds .... sorry to burst your bubble .... only the elective stuff is queued , necessary stuff is done right away .
My wife had an issue that was necessary a few years ago , was done right away , no costs incurred .

I've had sports injuries - elbow dislocations from fishing accidents - done immediately - no cost.

My mum had a hib replacement as a public patient , she was done within a few weeks of being told by her specialist it was needed , she was even put in private room . She had exactly the same surgical team as others who had the same procedure who were private patients and was treated no differently.

My elder brother is still in a private health fund, and I have similar discussions with him too .... can't be convinced that he's wasting his money.

An elbow dislocation requires immediate attention, a 'bad' knee does not. I damaged my leg in a motorbike accident about 20 years ago and suffered a shortened leg as a result. This over the years has affected my knee. Now it's not life threatening and I can walk but it can be very very painfull, so painfull in fact that at times I find it difficult to walk; though not all the time, the pain comes and goes.

and no

I cant get it fixed immediately, knee reconstruction or leg lengthening and knee reconstruction, unlike if i had private health insurance. I have to go on a waiting list and the wait could be a couple of years.

Obviously, i am not unique and many many people would find themselves in my situation for any number of conditions.

[xelasnave]

Tell them you are going to do it yourself...
alex

[Ian Robinson]

Originally Posted by Zuts

An elbow dislocation requires immediate attention, a 'bad' knee does not. I damaged my leg in a motorbike accident about 20 years ago and suffered a shortened leg as a result. This over the years has affected my knee. Now it's not life threatening and I can walk but it can be very very painfull, so painfull in fact that at times I find it difficult to walk; though not all the time, the pain comes and goes.

and no

I cant get it fixed immediately, knee reconstruction or leg lengthening and knee reconstruction, unlike if i had private health insurance. I have to go on a waiting list and the wait could be a couple of years.

Obviously, i am not unique and many many people would find themselves in my situation for any number of conditions.

Maybe you should look into getting it done outside of Sydney then. I've never had to wait , my mum lives in Forster , she was brought to the John Hunter to be done when her local doctors and specialists told her she needed the hip replacement , no long period of waiting .

One more reason why I am glad I don't live in Sydney .... seems the health system - private and public is in decay there.

[Ian Robinson]

Originally Posted by xelasnave

Tell them you are going to do it yourself...
alex

Or go an complaign to Nine or Seven , and your local federal and state members .... bad publicity will get things moving if your doctors don't give a toss or care enough about you to force the issue. You don't have to accept what some administration type tells you , and you are entitled to second and third opinions if you are not happy with what you doctors' saying or the priority youlve been given by them. Costs nothing to seek further opinions.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Zuts

If you have a bad knee which requires surgery then

(1) A health fund member goes and finds a surgeon of his choice who then books him into a private hospital and performs the operation.

(2) A non health fund member goes on the public waiting list for the same surgery and waits anything up to a few years for the operation; and it doesnt matter how much pain they are in while waiting.

I dont have private health insurance and got fantastic service at RPAH for a life threatening cardiac bypass operation. However I can easily understand why people would choose to take out private health insurance.

You are exactly right Zuts - I see people on a daily basis in this situation - the public patient is waiting for their letter advising them of their clinic date to discuss when they can get on a waiting list, whilst the private patient is on crutches recuperating from said sugery.... every day.....

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Ian Robinson

This is not the USA , we'd go to a public hospital and it will be totally free of charge for as long as is needed to be treated , no gap , no bills , and we'd get specialists needed at no cost , same as the cost of the bed , any surgery , physio , pharmaceuticals , etc as public patients . Why do you think so many private patients decline or forget to tell the hospitals they have private health insurance when they have a major medical problem eh ???.... where do you think privately insured patients wind up if they have major medical problems anyway .... not in private hospitals in the main , in major regional hospitals , only they get a big bill at the end , and get some of it paid when they present to bill to the health fund , they still need to cover the gap (which can be huge).

The garbage about choice of doctor , and being able to have unnecessary / elective stuff done as selling point by the private health funds , and the "incentive" to joint funds, early (while you are fit and healthy ,not to mention the federal government subsidisation of private funds - money that'd better used to improve the public hospital system and maybe reintroduce bulk billing of dental work, is all a big con job.

Better off saving and ensuring you've enough to cover more likely costs like dental work and glasses and pharmaceuticals yourself and not subsidising private health funds' owners' and shareholders' affluent lifestyles .... we'll all be better off when the profit motive is removed from hospital and health industries . Very good thing Howard and mates were sacked I reckon.

Correct - that is why I said you would go public, and be none the worse off.... public physiotherapy - interesting concept! It is there, but try and access it.
Mmmm - remove profit from the health industry? That will make it easier to see a doctor! Not. You should move to your local communist state, I hear they have fantastic health systems!

From your friendly capitalist.....