Health Insurance.

[LadyC]

I've found my grandfather's service number but I assume I will need to demonstrate relationship (via birth certificates) and whether certified copies are required etc. I would be interested to know how you go with it. We are currently with BUPA but the numbers are compelling to switch to Defence Health (I need to do a detailed comparison still).

So far I’ve just been asked for Dads service number. If you don’t have that, then search the Defence Government website that contains a wealth of information. My Grandfathers war records from WWI are there as are Dads. I think love_the_life might be right that I might also need my birth certificate proving the relationship. Gets a bit trickier with grandparents I’m thinking unless it’s paternal.

 

[amaroo]

I sourced the paperwork from the DF Gov site, but they only wanted the name.

Didn’t need to provide any proof. Been with DH for around 7 months - all good so far.

 

[Pushka]

I sourced the paperwork from the DF Gov site, but they only wanted the name.

Didn’t need to provide any proof. Been with DH for around 7 months - all good so far.

Is that the same surname as you though amaroo- ie (most likely) paternal line? Having said that, the person I spoke to knew I was organising for my husband and I and I did call him Dad so that would normally be a cue I’d likely changed my name.

I just need to tell them the number, and they can check it out. I’m thinking if you know all the details then it’s legit. My brother is already a member so won’t be hard to prove anything. Plus I do have my birth certificate with parents name on it.

I’ll call them when they open this morning and confirming the policy. Bye bye BUPA. It’s been decades. My only health Insurance Company actually and I’ve always been insured. And I’m an old thing.

 

[amaroo]

Is that the same surname as you though amaroo- ie (most likely) paternal line? Having said that, the person I spoke to knew I was organising for my husband and I and I did call him Dad so that would normally be a cue I’d likely changed my name.

I just need to tell them the number, and they can check it out. I’m thinking if you know all the details then it’s legit. My brother is already a member so won’t be hard to prove anything. Plus I do have my birth certificate with parents name on it.

No. Wife’s GF (WW2 POW, Changi/Burma) ... three different surnames to boot.

 

[Pushka]

No. Wife’s GF (WW2 POW, Changi/Burma) ... three different surnames to boot.

Ok have just called again. Of course I have to get MrP’s permission now so it’s not quite finalised. They did want to know Dads name, enlistment and discharge date. Perhaps they can back search but they seemed to trust that we were related. I have his certificates and couldn’t see discharge date and enlistment was titled something else but they said they would search. Bank details done and Medicare. I need to wait for 2 emails and we have to re do the Government subsidy thing again too.

 

[docjames]

I see BUPA has backed down on the changes it wanted to bring in. Suspect they will try again though and maybe in another way.

They haven't really backed down (although that's how it's being sold).

They've agreed to properly cover elective admissions into public hospitals (choice of provider). But note that doesn't include emergency admissions (eg. orthopaedic, acute surgical, trauma etc) which basically means it's not really giving much, as it's difficult to get eg. emergency orthopaedic surgery at many private hospitals out of hours (read; weekends, public holidays etc), so by default this means emergency admission to a public hospital and diminished cover.

So they've made a change to deflect some of the heat, but really they haven't given up much. The intent is the same. Managed health care / control of health care stream.

 

[love_the_life]

They haven't really backed down (although that's how it's being sold).

They've agreed to properly cover elective admissions into public hospitals (choice of provider). But note that doesn't include emergency admissions (eg. orthopaedic, acute surgical, trauma etc) which basically means it's not really giving much, as it's difficult to get eg. emergency orthopaedic surgery at many private hospitals out of hours (read; weekends, public holidays etc), so by default this means emergency admission to a public hospital and diminished cover.

So they've made a change to deflect some of the heat, but really they haven't given up much. The intent is the same. Managed health care / control of health care stream.

Agreed that this is to deflect some of the bad publicity and pretty sure they won’t be giving up on the idea yet.

 

[Pushka]

Well, I haven’t finalised Defence Health just yet as I needed to call with MrP’s consent. Now looking at Qantas Assure. Premiums seem fine and comparable with Defence Health. Anyone else sign up?

 

[straitman]

Well, I haven’t finalised Defence Health just yet as I needed to call with MrP’s consent. Now looking at Qantas Assure. Premiums seem fine and comparable with Defence Health. Anyone else sign up?

I posted up thread.
I’m tempted to swap to Qantas for the 61 day period and then go back to DH. Premium is about $140/month more for Qantas but it makes them cheap points.

 

[Pushka]

I posted up thread.
I’m tempted to swap to Qantas for the 61 day period and then go back to DH. Premium is about $140/month more for Qantas but it makes them cheap points.

Are you sure you are using the same Government rebate level to compare? I got excited by one company (Apia) then saw the rider that it was based in full Govt rebate which we don’t get. And then I couldn’t change it back to whichever level it is we do get. Bit tacky I thought.
$140 a month more? Or $14?

 

[RAM]

Not every town/place has access to a private hospital. I also believe that many private hospitals don't have an emergency dept & you won't be taken there by an ambulance

Unfortunately, many private hospitals are run on profit-maximising basis by administrators. For example well known private Sydney hospital near mardi gras, has no doctors rostered on overnight.

If patient has cardiac arrest or ANY complication then a doctor is paged from the adjoining public hospital operation. He/she must then be let through 7 security doors to access private hospital from public A&E area.

Not a quick process.

Led to believe this is not an isolated case

Yes, it's that time or year again. Last March I paid 12 months in advance to beat the price rise (thanks to the suggestions on AFF).

Was looking to do the same this year and discovered that paying my fund NIB by credit card is 4.04% dearer than a direct debit from my bank! WTF; what happened to the Reserve Bank's rule on credit card fees? I'll have to look around for another provider (again).

BTW; has anyone paid there annual fee using those GCs, $100 at a time?

Yes, did that last year with NIB who seem to be the champion of bait-switching offers. Get you in with a good deal and then push price up and reduce coverage following year(s). investigating leaving this year.

BTW can pre-pay 13 months worth. So if pay before 31 March you can keep adding to fwd date. So this year's renewal will be through to Sept 2019.

Average is a political tool.

What kind of avg?

Avg of all 'types' of policy (newly opened, no changes to conditions, new policy offered just this current year or in other words a policy that 99.9% of people do not have but Govt claims is like-for-like comparison)?
Avg of all 'new' policies started this coming year vs new policies this current year? (I suspect this is the answer btw)
Weighted avg of all policies currently on issue - weighted by number of policy A on issue x policy A price rise + number of policy B on issue x Policy B price rise (GUARANTEE this is not the AVG just the reality)

Anyone want to talk about fake news?

... You'd never guess how easily one can get DVT coming back from Hawaii (no alcohol, too much water, movement especially to the toilets) after getting your feet somewhat crushed in a rock fall.

 

[Pushka]

... You'd never guess how easily one can get DVT coming back from Hawaii (no alcohol, too much water, movement especially to the toilets) after getting your feet somewhat crushed in a rock fall.

I can guess. I got one in my jugular vein just because.

 

[straitman]

Are you sure you are using the same Government rebate level to compare? I got excited by one company (Apia) then saw the rider that it was based in full Govt rebate which we don’t get. And then I couldn’t change it back to whichever level it is we do get. Bit tacky I thought.
$140 a month more? Or $14?

I’ll rerun the numbers but the Qantas health guy said that they couldn’t go close to DH on hospital cover but would be competitive on extras.

 

[JohnM]

I see that Qantas Assure is really NIB by another name.

 

[Pushka]

I see that Qantas Assure is really NIB by another name.

Interesting. I did an iselect comparison and NIB came in at three. BUPA nowhere to be seen. Although iselect has its own issues.

 

[Renato1]

I’ve just called up Defence Health and I will save approx $76 a month although I am dropping extras so not quite equivalent.

Up until last year's and this year's bumper operations disaster for my wife and me, the Defence Health Extras cover was the best part of the policy. (It's only March, and I've already had two hospital admissions for minor procedures).
Regards,
Renato

 

[docjames]

Interesting. I did an iselect comparison and NIB came in at three. BUPA nowhere to be seen. Although iselect has its own issues.

Were BUPA even on iselect? The aggregators don’t cover all funds.


BTW my switch is done. BUPA weren’t thrilled with my “I’m leaving for ideological reasons” and attempted to tell me my cover wasn’t affected by any changes so it didn’t matter.....

 

[Pushka]

Were BUPA even on iselect? The aggregators don’t cover all funds.


BTW my switch is done. BUPA weren’t thrilled with my “I’m leaving for ideological reasons” and attempted to tell me my cover wasn’t affected by any changes so it didn’t matter.....

I’m not sure if I select etc covered BUPA. It a bit tricky. I’ve just signed up with the Qantas plan (NIB) as prices were similar. They will deal with BUPA but I do hope BUPA does call me. ‘Ideological’ sums it up nicely.

 

[Pushka]

Up until last year's and this year's bumper operations disaster for my wife and me, the Defence Health Extras cover was the best part of the policy. (It's only March, and I've already had two hospital admissions for minor procedures).
Regards,
Renato

Extras cover doesn’t include hospital stuff.

 

[Milboo]

I have a policy with unlimited general dental and a top extras package - I.e. I get back 85% of the schedule fee. Had dentist today to replace 3 old amalgam fillings - my gap payment was more than the benefit paid! $500 out of pocket.