Too pricey to maintain
IT’S time we exposed our privates. That is, our private health insurance. Because make no mistake, we are all surely getting screwed.
I say this with a heavy heart – and a light wallet. For there once was a time, not so long ago, when I was a willing, consenting participant in this partnership.
In my time overseas, I espoused our health system wherein everyone receives free hospital care – and those who care to pay extra can choose their doctor, nab a private room or skip extensive waiting times for elective surgeries.
Ahh, what a happy and healthy utopia.
In the days when I was popping out kids, it was a good deal – I had a sweet suite where I could give birth while watching the sun rise. It was so very zen. About the only time I’ve felt that way as a mother, to be honest.
Since then, I’ve had the sneaking suspicion that I’m probably not getting my money’s worth out of our fund – despite a chat with the meerkat and a restructuring of our cover. But overall, I believe in the rationale behind the system.
I feel that as a financially secure family, it is our obligation to support the private system – and therefore ease the strain on the public.
But everything changed last week. Braces broke me.
From the moment my son’s second teeth started coming through, it was pretty obvious we were in danger. I’m not talking a few crooked canines, but actual rows of adult incisors – his granny calls him “sharky”.
After visiting the orthodontist, I was braced for the first wave of bills. But it’s like wearing a floatie for a tsunami.
Stage one – of how many stages, I am too scared to ask – of treatment consists of a dental plate to be worn for nine months.
My first concern was my child would not want to wear it – but he’s stoked. Of course, he’s inherited not just my dental issues but my love for health accessories – from casts to crutches to braces.
But, oh dear God, the price. This plate must be made of pure gold because the cost comes to … I can barely type it without crying … $3000.
Yes, $3K! When they told me I grabbed the gas and just started thinking happy thoughts. Most of which involved putting the orthodontist in a different kind of brace.
It’s all right, I consoled myself. Our private health insurance will cover the bulk of it.
Turns out, I’d be better relying on the tooth fairy.
Despite our high level of cover, I get $700 back. For my son’s lifetime, we get a maximum grand total of $2200 back. We can upgrade to a total of $2900 – with $900 per year able to be claimed … and upgraded premiums to match – but that’s it.
Fantastic. That should cover one tooth. In one row.
After administering smelling salts and wiping my tears off her shoulder, the kind orthodontist told me – as she admitted she does to many patients – to stop paying for private health and stick the money in a tooth-shaped piggy bank instead.
When I informed my health fund of the specialist’s advice, the representative was surprisingly not surprised. Instead, he advised we completely cancel our hospital cover and keep just our extras to reduce our premium by two-thirds – and still get that $700 back per annum.
Good advice … except that it completely destroys the point of our private system – i.e. keeping the wealthier patients out of public hospitals.
Mind you, not that anyone CAN be wealthy after paying for braces.
A friend advised me we should move to the UK as their orthodontics is covered by the NHS. Looking at the state of English teeth, I can well believe it.
Meanwhile, here we are … busted teeth, soaring bills and a broken system. And that’s why I’m going public.
THE (DENTAL) PLATE MUST BE MADE OF GOLD BECAUSE THE COST COMES TO … I CAN BARELY TYPE IT … $3000.
Read Ann Wason Moore every Tuesday and Saturday in the