Yesterday, I was in hospital again for a planned procedure. Hopefully that will be the end of the matter which started with my visit to the emergency room nearly a month ago. Ambulance Action It was my third admission, and due to the fact that my hospital admission excess of $500 is capped at $1000 per year, I did not have to pay this time. That's good. (So was the sandwich which broke an 11 hour fast, when I woke up after surgery.)Of course I still have to pay for the surgeon, and as he charges above the scheduled fee, there will be a gap between what Medicare pays, what my health insurance pays, and the total cost. Ah, the dreaded gap. If you think private health insurance will cover everything? Think again.
My final example is orthodontia. When asked to explain why they would only pay half of the $7000 bill for my daughter's orthodontic treatment, the insurance company representative said that orthodontia was 'complicated'. What a cop out! What they meant was that they didn't want to pay for it.
On the plus side, I do get two free pairs of glasses per year, I get pretty good rebates on dentist fees, and if I need to go into hospital I don't have to go on a long waiting list. There is also no charge for ambulance services.
For around $250 per month for me and my family, I think it's probably worth it. What do you think?
Photo source:
http://www.medindia.net/patients/insurance/universal-sompo-general-insurance.htm
I live in a country with free health care (and free schools), fortunately. So I don't have a health insurance. Basically I pay for it over the tax bill. A week ago my son injured a kidney while skiing (he's a freestyle skier and get some hits from time to time). I took him to the hospital for x-ray and ultrasound imaging. Didn't pay a cent.
ReplyDeleteCold As Heaven
I live in a country with free health care (and free schools), fortunately. So I don't have a health insurance. Basically I pay for it over the tax bill. A week ago my son injured a kidney while skiing (he's a freestyle skier and get some hits from time to time). I took him to the hospital for x-ray and ultrasound imaging. Didn't pay a cent.
ReplyDeleteCold As Heaven
Health is 'free' in Australia...but not everything, and so is education (but not everything). Where is this utopia in which you live? Is you son okay? Kidneys are serious business. All my recent ins and outs of hospital were because of a kidney stone.
DeleteI think our health care system in Norway is similar to the Australian. Adults pay a small amount until some max total. Kids younger than 16 pay nothing .
DeleteMy son's kidney is fine now . He's back to skiing, jumping as before
I think the whole thing sucks, sorry you are in and out the hospital and now f'ing bills... I had surgery two February's ago, think the bill was 30g's... I only had to pay a 10% and I still am...
ReplyDeleteThe whole thing sucks...eloquently put, Jeremy. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteGood god, the thought of private health insurance terrifies me! I've never lived in a country where it's the norm. I've always had everything I need paid for by government and taxes.
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Lucky you. Maybe I'll move there. Where is there? Thanks for visiting Square Pegs, and for taking the time to comment.
ReplyDeleteI still think that having one is worth it. Just imagine, in times where you need to be admitted for some sort of emergency, insurance will serve as a big help. But I have to say, your insurance company seems to be cutting corners — especially about your daughter’s Orthodontia. They should’ve had a better explanation than ‘it’s complicated’. But in the end, I think the insurance served you just fine. Thanks for sharing this with us, and I hope you are feeling a lot better nowadays.
ReplyDeleteJason Hayes @ DECO Recovery Management