ACC (again)

[jono035]

User pays...................

Yeah, except that for the most part private health insurance is cripplingly expensive, especially if you have some form of pre-existing condition which makes it impossible for you to get insurance at all. The system is letting a lot of people down while simultaneously making a few people very rich.

[Grahameeboy]

Yeah, except that for the most part private health insurance is cripplingly expensive, especially if you have some form of pre-existing condition which makes it impossible for you to get insurance at all. The system is letting a lot of people down while simultaneously making a few people very rich.

If you have a pre-existing condition you can come under the Health system for medical help.

The trick is to take out health cover for your kids from the day that they are born...generally the kids don't cost much if at all to begin with...not sure the system is letting people down....with a disabled Daughter I agree it is not easy but it is not impossible either.

For the most part private health is not crippling expensive.....one problem is that people often take out cover too late in life, the usual syndrome.."it won't happen to me"

[doc]

For the most part private health is not crippling expensive.....one problem is that people often take out cover too late in life, the usual syndrome.."it won't happen to me"

There are some horror stories starting to surface about private health insurance for the elderly. Loyality is not something the insurance companies treasure.

[Grahameeboy]

There are some horror stories starting to surface about private health insurance for the elderly. Loyality is not something the insurance companies treasure.

This could be because they did not have an advisor or say go with a lower quality cover / insurer....my boss is a Financial Advisor this should not happen.....a lot of old folk have probably been paying the same low premium for donkeys years no realising what they are covered for

[jono035]

If you have a pre-existing condition you can come under the Health system for medical help.

The trick is to take out health cover for your kids from the day that they are born...generally the kids don't cost much if at all to begin with...not sure the system is letting people down....with a disabled Daughter I agree it is not easy but it is not impossible either.

For the most part private health is not crippling expensive.....one problem is that people often take out cover too late in life, the usual syndrome.."it won't happen to me"

And if you do that then everyone pays a similar amount for the health-care throughout the course of their lives, which basically equates to socialised health-care.

I don't think the system in this country is perfect by any stretch of the imagination, and the waste and bureaucracy can be unbelievable at times. It does seem to work for the most part though.

I'm deeply suspicious of anyone who suggests that privatisation is the answer (hasn't really done us all that much good in NZ, Telecom, and our wonderful rail system springing to mind). I generally just assume that any big business who is out to make money is doing it by trying to screw me someway or another. At least with the government you get a well-intentioned screwing...

[Grahameeboy]

And if you do that then everyone pays a similar amount for the health-care throughout the course of their lives, which basically equates to socialised health-care.

I don't think the system in this country is perfect by any stretch of the imagination, and the waste and bureaucracy can be unbelievable at times. It does seem to work for the most part though.

I'm deeply suspicious of anyone who suggests that privatisation is the answer (hasn't really done us all that much good in NZ, Telecom, and our wonderful rail system springing to mind). I generally just assume that any big business who is out to make money is doing it by trying to screw me someway or another. At least with the government you get a well-intentioned screwing...

Thing is like a helmet..you spend a fair bit of money but you only need it once....

[doc]

Thing is like a helmet..you spend a fair bit of money but you only need it once....

That was my drift in the previous post. You pay when your young and don't need it. Ppl get to the age where they need it, get one chance then can't afford it the next time premiums are due, heading into the expensive time of healthcare/life

[Grahameeboy]

That was my drift in the previous post. You pay when your young and don't need it. Ppl get to the age where they need it, get one chance then can't afford it the next time premiums are due, heading into the expensive time of healthcare/life

I know..will be able to get health cover for death soon..whatever next....

Seriously though if you have adequate cover to begin with you should be okay and premiums don't hike up that much...

[The Stranger:Me]

Seriously though if you have adequate cover to begin with you should be okay and premiums don't hike up that much...

Ours (Southern Cross) just went up 45% to $1451.01 for 6 months and the only changes made is we all got a year older. I have had continuous cover from birth - thanks to my parents so yeah I started early.
As usual Grahameeboy, you don't know what you are talking about.

[Grahameeboy]

Ours (Southern Cross) just went up 45% to $1451.01 for 6 months and the only changes made is we all got a year older. I have had continuous cover from birth - thanks to my parents so yeah I started early.
As usual Grahameeboy, you don't know what you are talking about.

I was referring to when you made a claim.Obviously I cannot comment on your individual case. Premiums go up when you reach a certain age and then settle down till the next insurance milestone or it could just be that like a lot of Insurer's at the moment with the downturn they are putting premiums up after low increases over the last few years. NZI have been putting premiums up 30% this year...Have you called Southern Cross and asked them because the highest net increases, other than those reaching the 65 bracket, were around 20% this year.Mind you you are 99 so that could explain it.

[rosie631]

Ours (Southern Cross) just went up 45% to $1451.01 for 6 months and the only changes made is we all got a year older. I have had continuous cover from birth - thanks to my parents so yeah I started early.
As usual Grahameeboy, you don't know what you are talking about.

That's what i gather happens. They happy to take your money for 20 or 30 years when the odds of needing anything major are low. As soon as you get to an age where you might start costing them money, they hike up the premiums so much that a lot of people can't afford to keep their insurance.
I think it's fucking rude...

[The Stranger:Me]

I was referring to when you made a claim.

When you said "premiums don't hike up that much... "? It's still bullshit. Premiums don't hike for an individual as a result of claims. You miss out on your "rewards" if you make claims, but your premiums don't hike. They hike due to age.

Obviously I cannot comment on your individual case.

Sure you can't, however it is a standard policy and we pay a standard premium for it - based on age. No "individual" element to it.


Have you called Southern Cross and asked them because the highest net increases, other than those reaching the 65 bracket, were around 20% this year.

Sure as all insurers, the angels are only too happy to help me out. They offered to reduce my premium right there and then - by offering me a policy with reduced benefits.

Hey, I aren't complaining at or about them. Just pointing out that Doc is correct, as you age cover become cost prohibitive for very many and that is the time they need it most.

[The Stranger:Me]

That's what i gather happens. They happy to take your money for 20 or 30 years when the odds of needing anything major are low. As soon as you get to an age where you might start costing them money, they hike up the premiums so much that a lot of people can't afford to keep their insurance.
I think it's fucking rude...

Exactly. As Doc said "Loyality is not something the insurance companies treasure." Grahameeboy lives in a different world however.

[ynot slow]

I was lucky when kids were young,we saw a broker who advised us to take a surgery policy from company x as southern cross 80% was dearer and as he said you can afford $20 to go to doctor,but how about $1000 for say tonsil removal for kids,we went with at the time a policy with max cover of $25000(around 1991)and even had our youngest daughter on it,who was still unborn,and once born could add her to the policy by name.I think it cost $90mth at the time,we took out this type as my oldest daughter had a growth on her neck which although not cancerous behaved like one,i.e started small and grew,the hassles with public hospital was a pain.

We would be told Friday come in Monday,so I'd arrange my work,come Monday morning a call saying doctor away,or next week no beds due to urgent cases,think it took 4 weeks from original booking to get her operated.Our younger one required surgery for a small lump by her eye,our gp said it will be done within 6-12 mths,we said nope refer us to surgeon and we'll go private,all done within 2 weeks from consultation in Southern Cross.

I kept my policy up till the last year or so but the premium was getting to much.

[Oakie]

Getting near the time to scrap the ACC system--and go back to private insurance cover---.

Won't happen. Also I was reading an hour ago that the government has decided not to privatise the employee compensation side of ACC. Decided that they need to focus their efforts in other places because it's such a mess.