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Health Care reform...dont want political
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<blockquote data-quote="Marguerite" data-source="post: 299822" data-attributes="member: 1991"><p>The Big Brother aspect can be scary, even for us complacent Aussies. </p><p></p><p>Pre-existing conditions - not an issue with our public health system. But depending on what it is, some private health funds would have a problem. In our case though, you would get private health coverage regardless, but if they want to they can deny you coverage for something they consider to be a pre-existing condition. So in your case, KTMom91, you and your family would be given private healrth fund coverage if you wanted to pay for it, and it would cover you for all things NOT related to what it considered pre-existing. So if you wanted to get braces for your child, or needed to see a specialist for a broken arm, of course you would be covered. </p><p></p><p>In Australia, I don't think obesity is considered an exclusion as pre-existing condition. In fact I think the health fund would even pay for (and support) measures you would take to reduce your weight (such as gastric bypass). A lot of our health funds here are getting proactive in encouraging people to stay healthy. For example, we can claim sporting equipment including clothing; we can claim gym memberships. Prescriptions that cost above schedule fee can be claimed back from the private health fund. Dental is not covered by our public health fund (our new government may be changing that) but private funds cover about half of it. Optical is private health fund stuff.</p><p></p><p>But for a fund to refuse you membership entirely - they would only do that if you had a record of making fraudulent claims on private health insurance. </p><p></p><p>There are other, more compassionate, ways a health fund can protect itself from the risk of many expensive claims from a pre-existing condition. I suspect in our country it's illegal for a health fund to pull this stunt. Otherwise I'm sure they would do it - I think our MBF is the same as your Blue Cross (same logo).</p><p></p><p>I am very glad this thread is being so open and non-emotional (and apolitical) in discussing this. It's very important. Any country with an adversarial political system (and isn't that just about any democratic country?) is going to have the different political opinions loudly and emotionally arguing the issue and often deliberately confusing the issues, purely to score points. The public has a hard time trying to get at the truth of an issue, under such circumstances.</p><p></p><p>So check out the websites Witz recommended. And read up on the systems in other countries. Don't be too starry-eyed about any other country's system (including ours) because frankly, if the US is putting in a nationalised health system now, you should be able to pick the best out of everybody else's system and avoid some of our pitfalls.</p><p></p><p>People need to be fully and accurately informed. Don't expect politicians to do that job well for you! It's the same in any country - you can tell a politician is lying, because their lips are moving. Either lying, or only telling you THEIR viewpoint. Here, you need balanced discussion and broad information. Learn from our mistakes so you can have the best system, one you need and deserve.</p><p></p><p>Marg</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Marguerite, post: 299822, member: 1991"] The Big Brother aspect can be scary, even for us complacent Aussies. Pre-existing conditions - not an issue with our public health system. But depending on what it is, some private health funds would have a problem. In our case though, you would get private health coverage regardless, but if they want to they can deny you coverage for something they consider to be a pre-existing condition. So in your case, KTMom91, you and your family would be given private healrth fund coverage if you wanted to pay for it, and it would cover you for all things NOT related to what it considered pre-existing. So if you wanted to get braces for your child, or needed to see a specialist for a broken arm, of course you would be covered. In Australia, I don't think obesity is considered an exclusion as pre-existing condition. In fact I think the health fund would even pay for (and support) measures you would take to reduce your weight (such as gastric bypass). A lot of our health funds here are getting proactive in encouraging people to stay healthy. For example, we can claim sporting equipment including clothing; we can claim gym memberships. Prescriptions that cost above schedule fee can be claimed back from the private health fund. Dental is not covered by our public health fund (our new government may be changing that) but private funds cover about half of it. Optical is private health fund stuff. But for a fund to refuse you membership entirely - they would only do that if you had a record of making fraudulent claims on private health insurance. There are other, more compassionate, ways a health fund can protect itself from the risk of many expensive claims from a pre-existing condition. I suspect in our country it's illegal for a health fund to pull this stunt. Otherwise I'm sure they would do it - I think our MBF is the same as your Blue Cross (same logo). I am very glad this thread is being so open and non-emotional (and apolitical) in discussing this. It's very important. Any country with an adversarial political system (and isn't that just about any democratic country?) is going to have the different political opinions loudly and emotionally arguing the issue and often deliberately confusing the issues, purely to score points. The public has a hard time trying to get at the truth of an issue, under such circumstances. So check out the websites Witz recommended. And read up on the systems in other countries. Don't be too starry-eyed about any other country's system (including ours) because frankly, if the US is putting in a nationalised health system now, you should be able to pick the best out of everybody else's system and avoid some of our pitfalls. People need to be fully and accurately informed. Don't expect politicians to do that job well for you! It's the same in any country - you can tell a politician is lying, because their lips are moving. Either lying, or only telling you THEIR viewpoint. Here, you need balanced discussion and broad information. Learn from our mistakes so you can have the best system, one you need and deserve. Marg [/QUOTE]
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