I need Medical Insurance

I found a health insurance so I don't have to change my policy.

You really need personal medical insurance? Here is what you need to know before you can make up your mind.

At the end of March and beginning of April each year, the 11 million Australians who have privately insured are informed that premium rates are rising. From 1 April, premium income will rise by an annual 3.95 percent and will depend on the insurance company and products. But why become personal?

Australasia has a universally applicable medical system, Medicare. Providing medical services is available to all and is partly funded by a 2% wage income taxpayer contribution (Medicare levy). Accessibility to general practioners and general hospital services is only one part of the benefit. Commonwealth government is encouraging Australians to take out personal medical insurance.

They impose sanctions for non-withdrawal (payment of more personal tax: the Medicare surcharge) and provide an incentive for those who do (premium discounts). 8% of Australians have privately insured themselves, an increase of 31% in 1999. There are different Australians who have different motives for taking out personal medical insurance.

Some people find it financially sensible to take out insurance to prevent payment of the Medicare upcharge. Still others opt for insurance to prevent delays in optional treatments (mostly surgery), to have their own specialists or hospitals, or to have the choice of a room, a better kitchen or more appealing amenities.

A few individuals believe that personal insurance will give them better healthcare in the personal system. Some are afraid that they will not receive the service they need in the state system. Universally applicable healthcare systems are built on the principle that those with the greatest need for treatment have easy and effective means of accessing the necessary healthcare facilities.

The majority of emergencies are treated in government clinics. This is not the case with "non-urgent" or optional surgeries, where the patient is discouraged to use their own personal insurance, mainly because of the wait time for such an operation in the state system. Response periods for dialysis in government clinics differ depending on whether the patient is financed or not.

By 2015-2016, the average wait period (the period in which 50 percent of all admissions are made) was 42 consecutive working day for government admissions, 20 consecutive working day for admissions financed by their own personal insurance, and 16 consecutive working day for admissions financed by their own family. However, please note that wait periods differ depending on your level of hospitality.

Between 2016-17, 98 percent of New South Wales government admissions were within the clinical timeframe indicated. Also, the difference in wait periods varies depending on the nature of the process. Between 2015 and 2016, the average wait period for cardio thoracic surgeries was 18 day for general admission and 16 day for all other people.

Conversely, the average waiting time for general hospital clients requiring complete replacements was 203 and 67 for all other clients. Choosing a supplier is a major factor in why individuals take out personal insurance. For some years now, the concept that the consumer should have the freedom to choose which service they want to get has been successfully supported by both state and individual insurance funds.

Today, many consumer believe that more selection is better and that personal insurance is the best "enabler of choice". However, do humans really have a choise? The options are not evenly spread, and not everyone with privately funded medical insurance gets the desired decisions. Privately owned insurance companies have the right to limit the services or maximize the use of their "preferred providers".

One recent example of this is the Bupa announcing that from 1 August members will face higher cost prices in privately owned clinics that have no particular relation to the business, and some processes will be barred from certain types of insurance. When you choose to keep your personal medical insurance, make sure you get the best offer for a plan that's right for you.

PrivateHealth.gov., the website of the government of Australia, and Select Krankenversicherungsfinder are good places to go. This includes all of Australia's registrated insurance companies and allows you to see what is included in each insurance plan. Others "free" comparisons can only make comparisons between some insurance companies and insurance companies or make a charge per insurance company sold.

You should make sure that you are better suited for self-insurance before taking out an extra insurance policy: you should provide funds in case you have to spend extra time paying for extra services such as tooth or eye hygiene. Check your insurance every year and discuss your evolving needs with your insurance company. When you need a procedural, determine the wait time in the open system instead of expecting it to be faster in the closed system.

Find out about the expenses if you decide to take out personal medical insurance. You can then judge whether the label is profitable to get your operation a few week before. Karen Willis est professeure agrégée au Centre de recherche sociale en santé de l'UNSW et Karen Willis est professeure à l'Allied l'Université LaTrobe.