WATERCOOLER: Health funds losing their appeal fast

I FOUND myself questioning why I bothered funnelling a bit over $100 a month of my hard-earned into a health insurance company’s coffers.

WHEN I found myself recently questioning why I bothered funnelling a bit over $100 a month of my hard-earned into a health insurance company's coffers, I didn't realise that so many others were in the same boat.

According to a report this week, more than 25% of private health fund customers have had a gutful.

I signed up for health insurance a good six years ago, when the premium was just over $60 a month.

At that time it was another expense to add to all the other things, but I weighed that up against the peace of mind you get when something goes pear-shaped.

ARE PRIVATE HEALTH FUNDS WORTHWHILE ANYMORE?

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I'd recently undergone a hip operation at that time, and didn't want to be out of pocket if it happened again.

Since then the monthly premium has almost doubled.

The newspapers are now saying that another premium rise is coming in April next year.

Well, I guess it always helps to have something to look forward to, doesn't it?

The obvious problem with private health funds now is that they want more money from you, in return for less of a service.

Forget sacrificing a small amount every month so that you'll be fully looked after properly when something goes wrong, because it does not appear to work that way.

It has got to the point where you'd almost be better off putting the money into a bank account.