I have Private Health Insurance .......... but for how long?

I haven’t always had private health insurance, not because I chose not to – but because I couldn’t afford to. Now that I can afford private health insurance, I’ve taken it up (as is ‘my duty’) but I am struggling to afford it.

Firstly I’m being penalised because I delayed signing up after I turned 30 (because of finances, due to injuries that prevented me from working.) I joined as soon as I could afford to.

It means that I have a 10-15% loading (penalty) because I delayed. So with every hike in insurance costs, I get a further 10-15% penalty.

Alright – so the government said everyone MUST be insured and if you’re not – we are going to penalize you.

What about a ‘reward’ if you stay signed up for 12+ months? Something like, alright we penalise you for the time it takes you to sign up for health insurance, BUT for every 12 months you stay joined, you get a 1-2% discount every year. Until you are back to the regular rates. You’d still be penalised but not at a rate that may eventually cause you to drop out of said health policy?

Let’s play pretends (with nice round figures)

M’ship length - - Pr Mnth $ - - - % Penalty - - - Total cost - - - Discount - - - Total
1yr - - - - - - - - - -$200 - - - - - - - 10% - - - - - - $220 - - - - - - - 1% - - - - - $218
2yrs - - - - - - - - - $210 - - - - - - - -10% - - - - - - $231 - - - - - - - - 2% - - - - -$226
3yrs - - - - - - - - - $220 - - - - - - - -10% - - - - - - $242 - - - - - - - - 3% - - - - - $235
4yrs - - - - - - - - - $230 - - - - - - - - 10% - - - - - -$253 - - - - - - - - 4% - - - - - $243
5yrs - - - - - - - - - $240 - - - - - - - - 10% - - - - - - $264 - - - - - - - - 5% - - - - - $251
6yrs - - - - - - - - - $250 - - - - - - - - 10% - - - - - - $275 - - - - - - - - 6% - - - - - $259
7yrs - - - - - - - - - $260 - - - - - - - - 10% - - - - - - $286 - - - - - - - - 7% - - - - - $266

So in 8-10 years, things would be back to normal and you might be enticed to stay in said health policy rather than dumping out because you can no longer afford to stay and pay both the yearly hikes and the penalty.

What say you? Are you being penalised the same as me – or don’t you have private insurance because you can’t afford to have it?

I’m beginning to wonder if $250 a month is really worth it – would I be better off putting that money in a high-interest earnings account, paying the 48% interest for having savings in the bank and use that if I need to?

Would love your thoughts.

Noting that I found this artical regarding lifetime health cover loading AKA LHC. There is no expections, no exclusions, and there is a further 2% levy if you fail to maintain your cover (even if due to financial hardship) NO EXEMPTIONS.

My Favourite Photos of the week

Taken by me for your enjoyment



Sunset over the crest (20100830)

Toolangi State Forest almost 2 years on and the crests of the hills still scarred (20101107)

Spider web in dew (20101014)

spider spider on the web, what is for dinner tonight? (20101108)

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Please note that no photo has been photoshopped on this blog, cropped yes, photoshopped NO!

Enjoy all of natures beauty!

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My Favourite Photos of the week

Taken by me for your enjoyment



Spider in the lemon tree

A bubble in a bubble

The joys of catching bubbles

A rose by any other name, one that was caught in a rain storm

Please do NOT copy any of the photos on this blog - if you would like to use any photos, please leave a comment with contact details, Photos will be supplied without watermark and at full size. All comments are moderated and won't be shown to the public. Thank-you

Please note that no photo has been photoshopped on this blog, cropped yes, photoshopped NO!

Enjoy all of natures beauty!

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My Favourite photos of the Week

Taken by me for your enjoyment

Inverloch at dawn (20101023)


Inverloch inlet at dawn (20101024)


Mushroom ripe for the picking (20101007)


Storm rolling in over the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne (20101112)

Please do NOT copy any of the photos on this blog - if you would like to use any photos, please leave a comment with contact details, Photos will be supplied without watermark and at full size. All comments are moderated and won't be shown to the public. Thank-you

Please note that no photo has been photoshopped on this blog, cropped yes, photoshopped NO!

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Another trip to the dentist

For many years I’ve had problems with my teeth, little niggly problems, that I’m sure others have similar experiences, but in reality I’m not so sure!

In 1986 I needed to see a dentist, first time, since flying the coop. I found a dentist, one that I thought was good, top end of Collins Street, Melbourne and all.

Seemed to spend a lot of time in the chair. Maybe because the bills were always paid on time, or because I was young and stupid. I don’t know.

Not long after the dreaded wisdom teeth started to put in an appearance, and true to form, nothing could be simple, of course they were impacted ALL 4 of them! The symptoms were massive migraine type headache that would incapacitate me for days on end. Only solution a full general anaesthetic, so of course booked into one of the private hospital in the inner Melbourne area.

I crawl/walk out of hospital after having a reaction to the anaesthetic (of course!) and then the real pain started.

TMJ (Temporomandibular joint disorder) possibly due to the over-extension of my jaw during the extractions – who knows. It meant that I was unable to eat a forkful of food, I was unable to raise myself off the floor when lying on my stomach. And they are just the things I remember (besides the pain)

I trundle back off to the dentist, who installs a splint (removable thing, that is supposed to rest the jaw muscles) 2 years later and no real improvement. Next solution (remember I trust this guy) grind my adult teeth down to try and improve my bite, again no success.

So two options left, keep the splint (making me lisp and making employment involving a telephone useless) OR spend LOTS of money on orthodontics. Of course, being young and stupid I took the second option.

2 years later, the pain is reduced, the headaches still evidence, I’ve got straight teeth, I’ve spent enough money for a house deposit and still got problems. FFS!

Essentially I give up. But every 12months or so – regardless of how often or well I brush my teeth – I end up with a tooth infection/abscess. Doesn’t matter if I get 6 monthly check-ups or not. The same thing happens almost every year.

Because of high pain tolerances, The only symptom is something similar to sinus pain, and a headache to boot. The first time it happened, took the GP 6 months to realise what the problem was and because there was no surface pain I had no idea.

It’s happened again (6-7th time), this time I’ll bypass the GP and head straight to the dentist. Ayn is used to me and my self-diagnosis, and I’ve not been wrong yet.

By the way – a Chiro helped with the headaches and I’m still seeing him now, once a month, and it’s well worth the money (my hubby calls him a fish monger!) But I don’t care if it works for the body or the mind, then that is all that matters!

My Favourite photos of the Week

Taken by me for your enjoyment

My dog - looking relaxed around my son, he never poses like this for me! (20101113)



Bird on the wing, taken in Thomastown (20101112)


My Rooster coming in for a heavy landing (20101114)


Frog on the wrong side of door - (released) 20101023

Please do NOT copy any of the photos on this blog - if you would like to use any photos, please leave a comment with contact details, Photos will be supplied without watermark and at full size. All comments are moderated and won't be shown to the public. Thank-you

Please note that no photo has been photoshopped on this blog, cropped yes, photoshopped NO!

Enjoy all of natures beauty!

Please visit Redbubble, perhaps there is something there you would like to purchase. Refer the photos below!