Health

Private Health Insurance

As with many other free public health services around the globe, demand for "free" healthcare outstrips supply, the result being waiting lists for non-essential services (and often for the necessary ones too).

This reality compels many to take out private health insurance so that they have the comfort of knowing that in general they can be treated in a private hospital, maybe in a hotel-style room, and when it is convenient in the case of non essential treatments.

Aussiemigrant, in partnership with CMN Global Inc of Canada, can arrange on your behalf, the provision of financially secure and world renowned private health insurance which provides access to the best medical providers within Australasia and throughout the World. CMN Global (CMNG) is an international Health & Benefits Insurance Consultancy serving the needs of expatriate communities around the World. CMNG manages programs distributed locally in SAR Hong Kong, Northern and Mediterranean Europe, the Americas and Australasia via association with our valued strategic alliance partners. A division of the Canadian Medical Network, CMNG is based in Markham, (Toronto) Ontario, Canada with operations located across Canada. CMNG have established strong affiliations with Global Claims Management and Medical Emergency Assistance groups on all continents and support a US based Preferred Provider facility coordinated by their parent organization thorough the Americas. This enables the suite of Expatriate Solutions bespoken to Aussiemigrant to be efficient, price sensitive and tailor-made to meet the varied and diverse expectations of Multi-National communities, with delivery and claims management supported locally across the World.

To find out more about CMNG's Aussiemigrant series of expatriate products available, please visit their web site at www.CMN-Global.com, and to obtain a no obligation quote you may e-mail them at info@CMN-Global.com quoting the Aussiemigrant reference.

In an effort to encourage private health care by making it more affordable the Federal Government provides everyone taking out cover with a rebate equal to 30% of the premium. More often than not offsetting the cost against the premium paid to the health fund claims this rebate. Alternatively, the rebate can be claimed when submitting the annual tax return, or by way of a payment from a Medicare office. There is also a 1% Medicare levy for those with incomes above $50,000 without Private medical insurance.

There are a number of providers of health cover within Australia.

When comparing policies watch out for:

• Waiting periods - the period of time you must wait from the time you take out health cover to the time you are eligible to claim.
• Coverage when travelling outside Australia.
• Whether cover includes the "gap" - The difference between the Federal governments Schedule Fee and the amount Medibank will pay to the medical practitioners.
• The level of excess, whether "co-payments" (contributions to the cost of treatment) are required, and the financial limit on claims in any one year.

It is important for all insurance policies to be reviewed annually and this we will do on your behalf. And don't forget that if you hold a temporary visa you may not be eligible for Medicare. You are therefore potentially facing an "open cheque book" scenario, even if an Australian employer (for example under a 457 employer-sponsored visa) is sponsoring you. Private health insurance caps that risk and in our view is a must if you want financial certainty.