What they don’t tell you

when you buy private health insurance, is how gypped you could be compared to someone depending on public health care.

Went to my private health insurer today, and despite having paid for obstetrics since I first took up the policy in 2005, I’m now learning that the extra insurance doesn’t get to cover a swag of other services.

In summary:

Anything to do with the hospital: Medicare, to a point.
Hospital accommodation, operating theatre, nursing etc: Private health insurance
Anything outside of the hospital like your obstetrician: Medicare only. Private health insurance companies are NOT ALLOWED to cover you for doctor’s fees, under the law.

I’m probably over-simplifying things, but we did a rough guesstimate and it seems that if we were opt for private healthcare, we’ll be out of pocket by $5k. Most of which has to do with the antenatal and the obstetrician fees.

Sucked in?

Velle

I come from a much smaller island-city-state-country called Singapore. I’ve been setting down roots in Australia since 2003. I love both countries immensely. In 1986, I became a writer. In 2002, a blogger. In 2004, a wife. In 2011, a mother. Somewhere in amongst all that, I did event and conference management, public relations, marketing, and online communications for over a decade. I’m currently a freelance web manager for a modern dance school, a part-time Communications and Marketing Manager, a part-time writer, and a part-time stay-at-home mother. I don’t sleep much.

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6 November 2010

Uncategorized

costs, health insurance, Planning ahead

I write about being a Chinese Singaporean and choosing to live in Canberra. I write about being a Christian, a mother, a wife, a woman. I write about discovering joy - in the everyday, in the grand scheme of things, in the sun and in the storm.

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Finding The Happy

Looking for joy in all the right places