this post was submitted on 30 Dec 2024
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130
Private health insurance is a dud. That’s why a majority of Australians don’t have it | Grogonomics (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 1 week ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 days ago

Eh it can be useful in certain situations. His lordship uses it quite heavily for his glasses, psychology appointments, meds, and we both use it for dental.

Forcing people onto it via punitive tax can piss right off though. And they need to tell private insurers they can't use public infrastructure, the double dipping little fuckholes

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 week ago

I recommend his podcast if you like more of this: 'Dollars and Sense' published by the Australia Institute.
https://pca.st/podcast/9cc37d00-6a4f-013c-9f4c-0acc26574db2

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago (3 children)

I'm over 31 and make enough to get hit with the Medicare levy surcharge. I don't really want private health insurance but is there something I can get to cut down on how much I'd get stung for the surcharge every financial year?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Alternatively, you can make voluntary Superannuation contributions to lower your taxable income.

The problem is that with the Cost of Living crisis, we all need that increase in our wages and salaries to be able to survive!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 days ago

I looked into this at an old job. I could contribute $500 a month to super and only take home $250 less a month. I'll definitely do this if I can pick up some side work again as that's 6 grand a year in one of the safest investment vehicles you can use

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

You can basically get the cheapest plan around and try to use whatever benefits it does provide.

I went with a non-profit.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I was in the same boat at your age. The government has a health insurance comparer for a bunch of situations. Just go the barest of bones insurance and sort by cheapest. Ignore the meerkat one and other copycats when you search for it

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 days ago

I'll see if I can find something cheaper than my monthly repayments for my last tax bill. The repayments will add up if I don't do anything as I can stretched it out to go over 24 months

[–] Sgt_choke_n_stroke -4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

US American here private insurance is going to be why the next deadly pandemic will kill all Americans we don't have the infrastructure to help people.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 days ago (2 children)

How is this relevant at all here to american stuff

This is Australian news

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Because certain political powers in Australia think that the US model has no problem’s whatsoever.

It is how the NHS is being pushed in the UK so we need to fight against these profiteers and their mates.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago

It's a warning to us if the dangers of this path. I think it was quite relevant.