Private Health Insurance Qs

[Turkish Delight]

AJP. Found it. Many thanks.

privatehealth.gov.au

is the website.

I know that PHI doesn't cover plastic surgery but my plastic surgeon mentioned that when i get a tummy tuck with PHI it is like $5k out of pocket as medicare pays for some it. If i didn't have PHI it is like $10k.

I'm thinking if they waive the no-wait period i can also get my boobies done for cheaper too.

[Bathsheba]

I also agree with ringing around the actual companies... you'll also get a feel as to their customer service. We are with three insurance agenices (one for health, one for income and other financially related services, the other for contents etc) and the health phone service is much better than the other two, consistently. Actually we are also with another for our car... they aren't too bad. I value being able to speak to real people and excellent phone service and would be prepared to pay a little more for this... but if you are looking for the cheapest fund sometimes they do cut costs by reducing customer service.. eg by offselling the phone help line to Indian companies etc. It's a bit of a personal gripe with me... I like to actually be able to understand the person on the other end of the line... without an accent barrier. I know that my PHI service has consistently high quality call centre staff... who operate within Australia. I know this isn't answering your actual question but if you have to decide between two companies I'd go for the one with better service if the premiums are not that different.

[Turkish Delight]

I spoke to my plastic surgeon's receptionist just before and she said that a tummy tuck is seen as a necessary medical procedure once you have a c/s and hence that is why the fee is reduced to $5k and the PHI covers the rest.

Called to DH and he said to find out the premiums. He gave me the go ahead. Now i need to find a PHI co. with reduced waiting periods. The receptionist gave me the item number for the procedure and to check it out the PHI before signing up.

Which PHIs are you guys with??

[Cheeky_Monkey]

I dare say that no PHI will reduce waiting periods for that type of surgery.

If they have given you the item # though it will only take a minute for them to look it up.

I am with Medibank Private.

[kawazuki]

im with HCf as it has best customer service for my area and alot of no out of pocket fees for selected dentists etc

[Bathsheba]

We've been with NIB for over 10 years. The two banks that my DH has worked for both offer corporate-rate PHI through NIB. Never had any problems with them. Their over-the-phone service is 10/10. Not the cheapest but we won't be changing. NIB has a new dental/optical centre on Collins Street (Melbourne CBD) where if you are a member you can go with no out-of-pocket expense.