injuryupdate
15-07-2004, 11:55 PM
Although Medibank Private is getting a free plug on the front page of the site for releasing a report on the costs of sports injuries in Australia, they might want to start providing better service to those clients who are insured and get a sports injury.
I have health insurance with Medibank Private, having changed over from another insurer (HBA) about a year ago. I wish I had never changed. One of the reasons for changing was Medibank Private's interest in sport and another was that I liked a specific package that they had available and thought I would change to it, along with my girlfriend.
Unfortunately, my girlfriend (who is now an ex-) suffered an ankle injury playing touch football late last year, and early this year (February) she had ankle arthroscopic surgery. The hospital (Prince of Wales Private) made us pay the hospital fees up front at the time of surgery, which I had no problem with. However, Medibank Private, even though they have completely accepted liability for the injury, have not paid us back for the costs of the hospital stay (and it is now July - five months later). All the forms were filled in correctly ages ago. The problem has been the Medibank Private reckon they have paid the hospital so they don't owe any more money, but I can't get anyone at the hospital to actually pay us the money. This is a huge rort - the hospital gets paid by the patient and then the insurer, who gets presented with a paid receipt from the patient, claims they have also paid the hospital. Whenever I complain about not receiving any money back, the insurer refers me to the hospital and the hospital refers me to the insurer. I am wasting a lot of time.
To top it off, I just received my statement for the financial year about health insurance, and my Medibank Private says I have a 12% loading for joining after I was 30. This is despite having had private health insurance since the age of 22. When I changed to Medibank Private, I clearly filled in the form stating my previous insurance history with the policy numbers with HBA. They seem to have ignored this. Now I have been overcharged and will have a fight on my hands to prove that I shouldn't be penalised with the lifetime loading next time I want insurance with another company (which will be very shortly - I can't see myself staying with Medibank Private when they have been so incompetent with everything).
It is a big worry that the health insurance system is so complicated that I, as a doctor, struggle to get rebates when I am on the side of being a patient. I pity the person who has no medical training in the same circumstance. I imagine they just get taken to the cleaners by companies like Medibank Private.
I have health insurance with Medibank Private, having changed over from another insurer (HBA) about a year ago. I wish I had never changed. One of the reasons for changing was Medibank Private's interest in sport and another was that I liked a specific package that they had available and thought I would change to it, along with my girlfriend.
Unfortunately, my girlfriend (who is now an ex-) suffered an ankle injury playing touch football late last year, and early this year (February) she had ankle arthroscopic surgery. The hospital (Prince of Wales Private) made us pay the hospital fees up front at the time of surgery, which I had no problem with. However, Medibank Private, even though they have completely accepted liability for the injury, have not paid us back for the costs of the hospital stay (and it is now July - five months later). All the forms were filled in correctly ages ago. The problem has been the Medibank Private reckon they have paid the hospital so they don't owe any more money, but I can't get anyone at the hospital to actually pay us the money. This is a huge rort - the hospital gets paid by the patient and then the insurer, who gets presented with a paid receipt from the patient, claims they have also paid the hospital. Whenever I complain about not receiving any money back, the insurer refers me to the hospital and the hospital refers me to the insurer. I am wasting a lot of time.
To top it off, I just received my statement for the financial year about health insurance, and my Medibank Private says I have a 12% loading for joining after I was 30. This is despite having had private health insurance since the age of 22. When I changed to Medibank Private, I clearly filled in the form stating my previous insurance history with the policy numbers with HBA. They seem to have ignored this. Now I have been overcharged and will have a fight on my hands to prove that I shouldn't be penalised with the lifetime loading next time I want insurance with another company (which will be very shortly - I can't see myself staying with Medibank Private when they have been so incompetent with everything).
It is a big worry that the health insurance system is so complicated that I, as a doctor, struggle to get rebates when I am on the side of being a patient. I pity the person who has no medical training in the same circumstance. I imagine they just get taken to the cleaners by companies like Medibank Private.