Health Insurance

Hi Victoria

Sorry to hear about your Mum and your family history. I haven't had surgery yet, but I have one of the lower levels of private health insurance which covers you fully as a private patient in a public hospital, through Australian Unity. I am fully covered, and can choose my own surgeon, which is perhaps the most important thing.

One thing you might not have considered is Extras cover, which I found out the hard way that I didn't have great cover for, and have since changed. Some of the "better" extras cover gives you rebates on prosthetics and wigs, as well as pharmaceutical cover, which gives some peace of mind if more expensive non-PBS treatments are prescribed.

I think the most important things I've learned about private health insrance so far, and throughout my diagnosis is that

1. You really need to know what you're covered for before you're asked to make decisions. I was a bit blase about my insurance choices before I had to go through all of this!
2. Private Health insurance does not cover you for imaging and outpatient tests in a private hospital. You're not covered for anything, even if you have top cover. If you have financial considerations (and everyone does), don't be embarassed or backward in saying that you want to have your tests done in a public hospital. I was thousands out of pocket through diagnosis, and I can't imagine extra stress this would have caused on top of everything else if I couldn't afford it.

Good luck with everything :-)