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ENZ
Site Administrator
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 1001
Location: New Zealand
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Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Hi Karl I've PM'd you, and as Rich says, what a bummer!!! |
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BJ
I'll Hang Around A Little
Joined: 26 May 2004
Posts: 19
Location: essex
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 1:08 am Post subject: health insurance |
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Hi Karl
Hope your wife is feeling better.  , and taking it easy.
Whats the name of the health insurance company you've used?
might come in handy for everyone, including us when we come out.
All the Best
BJ |
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michelle
Valued Member
Joined: 12 May 2004
Posts: 208
Location: Leeds
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 1:33 am Post subject: |
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Hi Karl
Hope your wife is soon better, you get to celebrate getting PR and then this happens.
Was speaking to a friend out in Auckland who was ill last year and needed 10 weeks of work, fortunately she had accrued most of them never having taken any sick time in years. This really does make you think my employer in the UK gives me 6 months on full pay then 6 months on half pay. My employer in NZ gives me 6 days a year!
I will be taking every policy going because if s**t happens it happens to me.
I wish you wife well.
Michelle |
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Moorf
Future NZ Guru
Joined: 06 Mar 2004
Posts: 705
Location: West Sussex, UK
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 1:37 am Post subject: |
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Hmm getting somewhat worried about the medical side of things.... it would be handy to have the names of some insurers so we can at least investigate what level of cover we would need.
What happens with medical costs / docs visits etc when you are over on a visitors visa?
Cheers
Moorf |
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michelle
Valued Member
Joined: 12 May 2004
Posts: 208
Location: Leeds
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 1:53 am Post subject: |
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Hi Moorf
It is an issue and one I'm about to start investigating, need to get some policies started ASAP. The general feeling seems to be that cover is more tailored to what you actually need, policies can be a bit cheaper than the UK because you dont pay for cover you don't need. Having said that it may be cheaper on paper but taken as a percentage of your wage it might be about the same. Would be interested to hear from anyone who has found any of these policies, costs etc
As for being on a visitors visa, I would pressume you will be covered for emergency treatment but will still have to pay the same costs as a resident to see a doctor.
I did see an article in the sunday times travel supplement a couple of weeks ago about insurers who will cover you for long trips abroad, it might be worth investigating this.
Michelle |
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Moorf
Future NZ Guru
Joined: 06 Mar 2004
Posts: 705
Location: West Sussex, UK
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 1:59 am Post subject: |
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| Well I'm guessing it can't be anywhere near the sort of costs due in the USA - was watching "Get a New Life" the other day with a family moving to Florida - their monthly health insurance bill was nearly 1000US$ !!! ARGHHH.... |
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michelle
Valued Member
Joined: 12 May 2004
Posts: 208
Location: Leeds
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 2:08 am Post subject: |
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| I know that made me realise the full horror of the American health care system. How does any family on a normal wage pay those premiums ??? |
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coastcat
I'll Hang Around A Little
Joined: 11 May 2004
Posts: 27
Location: Silver Spring MD, USA
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 4:50 am Post subject: |
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| michelle wrote: | | I know that made me realise the full horror of the American health care system. How does any family on a normal wage pay those premiums ??? |
digression mode /ON
It's not always that expensive! It depends upon your employer (if any) and the level of coverage. My husband works for a large corporation that offers above-average benefits and uses a major insurance company; we opted for the most flexible plan (called a PPO) plus dental coverage. For the two of us, it's $122/month. Coverage for a family with children will cost more, of course (around $275/month). Coverage via his previous (and vastly smaller) employer was more expensive, around $170/month. We're on our third insurance company in four years, but we've never had to switch doctors. HMO coverage would have been cheaper, but you're much more limited in doctor choice.
If you don't have health benefits through your employer, you can buy private insurance and that can get expensive. I priced out a private family plan through my insurer (Aetna), and the most expensive option for a family of four was $650.
If you don't get insurance through your job and can't afford private insurance, yet don't qualify for federal coverage... well, that gets ugly. A close friend struggled for years to pay off the steep costs of her uninsured mother's (ultimately unsuccessful) cancer treatment.
digression mode /OFF |
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karltsmith
Moderator
Joined: 26 Nov 2003
Posts: 570
Location: North Shore, Auckland since March 2004
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JCM
Moderator
Joined: 15 Nov 2003
Posts: 275
Location: Christchurch since last century
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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Good luck Karl. I hope everything settles down again soon.  |
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