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Ethical dilemma
May. 27th, 2006 12:55 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mrsbrownZ needs braces, T could probably do with them too. That needs to happen in the next 2 years.
All three, Z, T and G have wonky feet and need orthotics, G and Z already have some, but Z probably needs new ones sooner than later.
G and I wear glasses and could do with new ones.
I occasionally use a physiotherapist, and all of us should be seeing a dentist more regularly.
I don't currently have health insurance. I don't see the need. I'm happy to wait all day in the emergency department or outpatient clinic of the nearest public hospital and to occasionally pay extra to see a specialist. The local health centre bulk bills and has an arrangement with the local pathology and x-ray labs to bulk bill also. Mostly I don't pay much for health care of the "see the doctor, you're sick" sort, it only cost me about $200 to have Rose and that was avoidable.
But I could choose an "extras" health insurance package. I could pay an insurance company about $800 per year to provide us with about $1000 towards each of the sets of braces, pay completely for the glasses and more regular dentist visits, and pay for at least half of the orthotics, in addition to paying for some of my physiotherapy and a psychologist if I decide I want/need one. A cost of about $8000 over the next 4 years.
Now to my ethical dilemma;
If I pay for insurance, when the bills come in, MTB (kids dad) and I split the bills and then I use the insurance money to pay my half. OTOH, if MTB and I share the insurance, we take the insurance money off the cost and then split the rest - I think it costs me more this way. But if I insure the kids, MTB can't insure them as well. He wouldn't have the cost reduction strategy available to him.
Should I tell him?
BTW, I think his new job means that he'll have to pay the health insurance surcharge, 'cos he'll earn too much. I don't think that will change his ideological stance against private health insurance.
And does anybody have a good reason to avoid Australian Unity Comprehensive Extras Cover?
All three, Z, T and G have wonky feet and need orthotics, G and Z already have some, but Z probably needs new ones sooner than later.
G and I wear glasses and could do with new ones.
I occasionally use a physiotherapist, and all of us should be seeing a dentist more regularly.
I don't currently have health insurance. I don't see the need. I'm happy to wait all day in the emergency department or outpatient clinic of the nearest public hospital and to occasionally pay extra to see a specialist. The local health centre bulk bills and has an arrangement with the local pathology and x-ray labs to bulk bill also. Mostly I don't pay much for health care of the "see the doctor, you're sick" sort, it only cost me about $200 to have Rose and that was avoidable.
But I could choose an "extras" health insurance package. I could pay an insurance company about $800 per year to provide us with about $1000 towards each of the sets of braces, pay completely for the glasses and more regular dentist visits, and pay for at least half of the orthotics, in addition to paying for some of my physiotherapy and a psychologist if I decide I want/need one. A cost of about $8000 over the next 4 years.
Now to my ethical dilemma;
If I pay for insurance, when the bills come in, MTB (kids dad) and I split the bills and then I use the insurance money to pay my half. OTOH, if MTB and I share the insurance, we take the insurance money off the cost and then split the rest - I think it costs me more this way. But if I insure the kids, MTB can't insure them as well. He wouldn't have the cost reduction strategy available to him.
Should I tell him?
BTW, I think his new job means that he'll have to pay the health insurance surcharge, 'cos he'll earn too much. I don't think that will change his ideological stance against private health insurance.
And does anybody have a good reason to avoid Australian Unity Comprehensive Extras Cover?
no subject
Date: 2006-05-27 02:52 am (UTC)I can't work out how it would be more expensive for you if you were sharing the cost of insurance than if you were paying it all yourself.
Two tips: there can be a distinct advantage to health funds that give you two year limits instead of one year limits, and don't forget the waiting period.