Can I add to the original question? I have never ever had PHI and neither had hubby, nor did our parents when we were kids. I know that not having it means you get put in waiting lists when you need something, but generally everything is covered by medicare? But when you have PHI you may get treatment straight away but you have to pay for loads of things like blood tests, ultrasounds etc. Is that right? And if so, is the only benefit to PHI not going on waiting lists?
No, it's not the only benefit. But you do have to weigh it up for your own circumstances. As I said in my first post, before we had kids we couldn't see the point in it, but now we have them we wouldn't be without PHI. Even if you have PHI, you are still able to get medicare for anything you get treatment for. Bulk billing for bloodtests are still under medicare even if you have PHI (unless if they are ordered by a specialist Dr and in which case EVERYONE would have to pay for them because they are not bulk billed anymore), same goes for ultrasounds - if your PHI doesn't cover it then you are still covered by medicare to make a claim just like someone who doesn't have PHI would be able to do. But if you have an ultrasound or bloodtest in hospital and you are covered for it under your PHI, then you wont pay for it. I see health as a consumer industry just like any other - if I walk into a cafe I'm paying for the food I get so I expect to be able to choose what I want to eat. Just like with PHI - I'm paying for it so I pay for the luxury of being able to choose a Dr. If I was getting food for free, then I would expect to just get what I'm given and this applies in hospitals too. Even if you are able to access great Drs in a public setting, that really is the luck of the draw.

ETA - Taurean, DH's PHI was originally with HBF, but they are virtually non-existent in the eastern states and trying to make a claim for anything was like pulling hens teeth. Not only that, you had to make sure that the person who treated you was actually registered with them as a provider and if they weren't you had to get them to fill in a provider form just so you could make a claim. It was total bull**** so the company changed to GUHealth. Unless they have seriously changed their game in the last 4 years then they aren't worth it to anyone outside WA.