Private medical cover help desperately needed 236

On Thu, 18 May 2006 09:30:30 +0000, leanne..melbourne bound

Am still a Yank, but a longtime resident of Oz. The medical system is probably pretty mixed, from what have heard of UK system.

As I understand it, there you are "buttigned" a medical pracbreastioner.

AFIK, there is a reciprocal medical agreement between UK and Australia. If seriously injured, you will get immediate treatment, whether public ally or privately insured and there will be very little difference in quality of care.

Supposed, for instance, you are on a holiday, lift something heavy, get a slipped or ruptured disk in your back. If can call or send for help will get immediate road or air transport to nearest hospital, and if need a operation to closest large hospital. In NSW, this would probably be Sydney, and would probably be flown there on a care flight.

As to a "waiting list" it depends on where you live and how urgent your case is. In major cities, on non urgent cases, could be weeks or months. Less in smaller centers.

As to private doctors, you can often find one who "bulk bills". That is, he charges the "standard fee". Don't know what this offhand, but say A$25.

As with hospital care, will cost you nothing for a consultation, most tests, etc.

However, many or even most doctors charge higher than the standard fee for a standard 15 minute consultation. I suspect this is largely to discourage hypochondriacs who would come in every few days if cost them nothing at all.

Generally, dental treatment is not covered.

It does depend on whether you are unemployed, on a pension of some sort, etc.

If average working citizen, it is worth paying an annual fee for ambulance transport if needed. This was around $25 a year last time I checked. Can be expensive otherwise.

Obviously, though, if he charges, say $75 or $100 he will have very few patients! :-)

There is a pharmaceutical benefits scheme and pharmaceuticals usually well under US$ costs. Again, what you actually pay depends on whether unemployed, a pensioner, etc.

Admittedly, this is a reasonably complex issue, but, in general, Australia has a very high standard of medical care.

So does the US, if you can afford it! No national health care for most people, though, and no national heath care as such. If you ever travel there, get lots of travel insurance, and read the fine print

And you should keep a close eye on it if transferring large amounts of money. A couple of weeks ago the A$ was down to around 74 cents US, a few days ago 77 cents US. Currently:

Incidentally, if you are wondering about the date, Australia is currently not on DST time and is 10 hours ahead of GMT.

New York is 5 hours behind GMT.

Live mid-market rates as of 2006.05.19 02:20:53 UTC. 1.00 GBP United Kingdom Pounds = 2.48135 AUD Australia Dollars 1 GBP = 2.48135 AUD 1 AUD = 0.403006 GBP

Can get any rates for any amount for any country.

1 GBT =~ 1.47348 EUROs ~= $US 1.89181 USD ~= 2.11986 CAD Canadian $ ~= 3.04185 NZD New Zealand dollars

When arriving in Australian, either bring A$ currency and coins with you. Better to get some samples before you leave to familiarize yourself with them.

Notes are plastic, different sizes and colours for different demoninations: Notes are $100, $50, $20, $10, 5$.

Coins are 5, 10, 20, 50 cents, $1 and $2.

For photos of notes see: ... examples of Australian currency.

see examples of Australian currency. 380 x 410 pixels - 35k - jpg sydney.intercontinental.com

at or , more simply,

For photos of coins see

Note that there isn't much difference in size of $1 & $2 coins and those of lesser value, although they are of different colours. This is one reason I suggest that you get some samples of both coins and currency before you arrive.

Or, at least change some money at airport, although this is the slow way. Don't expect cab drivers to have any idea of the current value of any currency than Australian, or shopkeepers for that matter.

For other purchases, if using travel checks, use only those in Australian currency. Don't think of using any T-Cs other than American Express or Cooks. They simply wont be recognized.

Have even heard of major stores rejecting American Express checks.

Would highly recommend using cash or international credit-debit cards such as American Express, international Visa, or Mastercard.

Forget about personal checks, cashiers checks, certified checks, etc. Checks are NOT negotiable instruments here and they must be returned to issuing bank by mail before they will be cashed. Takes weeks, often a hefty exchange fee.

When I arrived in the sixties, and some tax refund state and USA government checks. No bank would cash them. American Express would, though. :-)

Any other warnings? Well, if arrive by air, both "taxis" and "hire cars" are available. Both are metered, but hire cars will charge double to cover their trip back to the airport.

Rental cars readily available, though.

If even thinking of touring inland Australia, be well prepared. Once get a 50 miles or so from the coast, inland towns are rare. Even those marked on maps may not have stores or petrol stations.

Feel free to ask additional questions if wish.

Cheers,