The Australian government has the Medicare system to protect the citizens from health risks. But since it is a state-sponsored program, it is always in high demand. People from low-income class are prioritized. And those from the middle class are encouraged to take the private health insurance instead.
There is the Medicare levy surcharge (MLS) policy. It charges citizens who do not have any health coverage with high income-tax and distributes the money through rebates on premium. But despite the obligatory nature of private health insurance, here are five benefits that you will not get from universal healthcare.
You Can Choose Your Doctors
Choosing the person who is going to treat you may not seem like a big deal. But you may have that thought because you do not have any pressing medical needs. People who suffer from a terminal disease may need multiple surgeries to survive. And in their case, comforts, interpersonal intimacy, and the personality of the doctors matter significantly to them.
If you are about to consult your family in deciding which private health insurance to have, you should put this section into consideration. Hearing out from others about the best private health insurance alone is not enough. You have to make sure that the hospital that is in partnership with the insurance company has a good history of treating their patients.
Shorter Waiting List
Private health insurance is helpful because you do not need to wait for a long time to get treated. It is not like the public health care system, which often requires us to file out many documents first before we can get to the doctors. Besides, there are many people out there who cannot afford private premiums, and thus they ask for the public-funds instead. And that situation can overwhelm the system.
You Do Not Share Your Room
Being alone during a recovery phase is essential. And if you can afford the private health coverage, why don’t you buy it? The policy can grant you a private room in case you need to be hospitalized.
Besides, sharing a room can be a nuisance. If you are not get used to with noises, being in a room with another patient may stress you out. Some patients will be too demanding, and they may get a visit from their noisy relatives. By concerning those situations, spending some more bucks on a private premium seems like the best choice.
Extra Coverage
Medicare does not include dental treatment, home nursing, or other facilities that are deemed as extras. Private health insurance policies, on the other hand, include those extras. But one company may offer different choices from the others. Therefore, before you purchase a premium, you have to make sure that the extras included in the policy can benefit you in the future.