Private Medical Insurance

18 common questions on private medical insurance

1. Why do I need Health Insurance?
2. What is the Federal Gov. 30% Rebate?
3. What is the Medicare Levy Surcharge?
4. Can someone else manage my policy for me?
5. How long will my kids be covered?
6. What is a Membership Summary?
7. What if I become unemployed?
8. What if I live outside WA?
9. What is Lifetime Health Cover?
10. Can I save money by using Direct Debit?
11. What are Standard Information Statements?
12. What is the Medical Gap?
13. State of the Health Funds Report
14. What are waiting periods?
15. Why isn’t there a ‘no claim’ bonus for health?
16. Have you recently moved to Australia?
17. Do I have to use my private health insurance in a public hospital?
18. Going overseas for more than two months?

I found these questions at www.hbf.com.au/Health/Things_worth_knowing and the answers are all available on that web page.

The topic “Medicare Levy Surcharge”, has been covered by me at www.britzinoz.com/page.php?206, but for ease of reference, the current details are:

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Medical Category Advert

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In the 2010/2011 financial year, if you earn more than $77,000 as a single or $154,000 as a family and you don’t have private hospital cover, you will incur an additional 1% Medicare Levy Surcharge.
This is in addition to the normal 1.5% Medicare Levy.
So for example if you earn $80,000 as a single and you don’t have private hospital cover, you will incur a $800 Medicare Levy Surcharge bill at tax time.

By taking out a qualifying Hospital Cover, you could avoid the 1% surcharge and save yourself or your family money.