Shel and I have talked about it, and its pretty important for us to get private health insurance to cover our family. Neither of us has had PHI before, but with the public hospital and dental system the way it is at the moment it seems like almost a necessity to at least have some cover.

Orthodontics is important as I had really bad problems with my teeth and needed braces (and was on the public waiting list from age 7... and ten years later got braces on the public system at 17... amazing that I actually got them at all through public but it became a major medical problem, and not just cosmetic!), and my mum had bad teeth as well (and my bro does too), so I am guessing we are going to face that problem somewhere along the line with our kids.
I also had a major problem with my ears and throat, infections and hearing, and was in and out of hospital getting it checked out, and don't really know if there are waiting lists for that now.

I also want to get hospital cover so if our kids ever need surgery or things like that we won't get stuck to a waiting list if we can't pay for it for something that could be done straight away with PHI.

I have a few questions for those who know anything about PHI or those who have PHI.......

... when would we need to get a 'family' cover (remembering that we don't have cover at all)? Do we do that before bub is born or after? Do we have to get cover then add bub once it is born?

... does PHI really make a difference? My parents never had private health insurance (why pay for something when it is offered for free... despite ten year waiting lists...) and tell me I am being a 'stuck up yuppy' by considering getting PHI. No one I know has PHI, they just get by without it, but I think for the things we need it for (especially orthodontics and ENT) it would be beneficial. But does it really make a difference?

TIA! Any other info that you think is important when choosing let me know! I'm new to PHI, so am doing all the research I can.