We have chosen life/accident and trauma insurance over private health insurance. Where we live any major medical problem is dealt with via the public system and is dealt with reasonably quickly. The same Dr's in the private are the same ones in the public hospital. There was less than 3 months wait for a procedure for me going public.

When we were in Melbourne DH had a life threatening condition, he was seen quickly. When it came to his surgery he had the top Professor in the field do his surgery. We had district nursing visits when we came home, which we found out later if we had private health insurance would have left us $100's out of pocket, as opposed to us just paying for the dressing supplies.

I do have some basic extras and have done since I left home, it costs me very little. When we are more financial I will look at if we can have the family just covered for extra's and not hospital, as I want the girls covered for any major dental.

My sister before she died of cancer gave me one piece of advice and that was to have life insurance instead of private health.