Reasons for going private

People take out private health insurance for a number of reasons — to avoid the Medicare levy surcharge, to opt in to lifetime cover and save, or just to have the peace of mind that comes with circumventing public hospital waiting lists. Choosing your preferred hospital, doctor or surgeon without waiting can be valuable, particularly for elective surgery.

The general waiting period for an operation in a public hospital is usually two months plus but it can be a lot longer. In addition to this waiting period, operations are put in order of priority; meaning that you may need to wait two months for an operation, only to be told that it has been pushed back for another patient whose situation is more critical.
Private health members enjoy a waiting period that is substantially less; usually no longer than a month, and can sometimes be immediate. Those with private health insurance also have the security of a 'locked in date', meaning that their operation will not be pushed back due to another patient's needs.

Another obvious benefit of private health insurance is the option of a private room. In a public hospital you are often placed in a room with four to six other people who are suffering various conditions. Private health members are able to request a private room, which is usually subject to availability.

Finally, with private health insurance you can select your preferred doctor or surgeon to carry out an operation. However in a public hospital, your doctor will be the one on duty at the time of your operation.

Health Insurance ...