Golden Age: Gold Coast residents threaten to drop health insurance if costs rise

GOLD Coast residents are asking if the cost of private health insurance is really worth the expense, with new data revealing how many people are considering dumping it.

GOLD Coasters say the cost of private health cover is forcing them to consider going without.

A majority (65 per cent) of the more than 1200 respondents to a Gold Coast Bulletin survey say premium rises have caused them to reconsider their level of health cover.

The number of people with hospital cover has dropped by 37,000 nationally in the past year.

Federal Government data reveals the Gold Coast Primary Health Network is the worst covered in Queensland when it comes to private insurance, with just 50.1 per cent of adults under a private plan.

In comparison, Brisbane North sits at 60.4 per cent, while the national average is 57 per cent.

Southport business owner Kiel Sinclair said he went close to pulling out of his own private hospital plan — until he found himself on the operating table.

Kiel Sinclair was close to cancelling his health insurance because of the cost, but two weeks later he found himself in hospital with a serious health condition. Picture: Jerad Williams

“I was one of those people in their mid-30s wondering why I was paying money each week for something I don’t use,” Mr Sinclair said.

“Everyone has only so much expendable income and when a visit to a dentist is still costing you hundreds — they are all the thoughts that go through your head.

“After going through my budget I was close to cancelling my coverage.”

But just a week later a shock bile duct obstruction put the young accountant in hospital.

“I started cramping, turning yellow, my body was shutting down without me realising,” he said.

Mr Sinclair was in and out of hospital over the next six weeks, undergoing six separate operations.

“They couldn’t determine what was wrong, I had multiple MRIs before we worked out what the issue was,’’ he said.

“It makes you think, it had nothing to do with my current health, it just happened.

“I think young people have the attitude that we have full control over our health.”

Mr Sinclair said he would not be quitting his hospital cover.

“Going through it all, at the end the bill would have been $15,000,” Mr Sinclair said.

“The cost of the MRIs, medications and specialists have been worth the last 30 or so years of my private health cover.”

Kiel Sinclair says he will keep his hospital cover after suffering from a serious health condition. Picture: Jerad Williams

The story is different for Miami self-funded retiree Noela Baglot.

Mrs Baglot and her husband recently pulled out of the couple’s hospital cover in search of a more affordable option.

“We are in the seniors group that have been considering where we are going with private health insurance and whether it is to our value,” she said.

Facing rising costs, they found separate policies and still pay $100-200 each for their insurance every month.

“We have gone for two single covers rather than a couple because our needs are independently different. We did shop around and changed from one cover to another looking for value,’’ she said.

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Gold Coast Medical Association secretary Philip Morris said he could understand why the number of Gold Coast people with cover might be lower than average.

“I would imagine the problem may be to do with the number of retirees on the Gold Coast looking at what they can afford,’’ he said.

“On the other hand there are a lot of retired people who see health care as a priority.

“The primary reasons why people have private health insurance is choice of hospital and doctor and speed of treatment and you can’t do that if you don’t have private health insurance.

“Age is no barrier against illness.”

Senator Murray Watt in the Senate Chamber at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

Gold Coast senator Murray Watt said the numbers opting out of full hospital cover were an indication of financial pressures in the community.

“We are in the middle of a private health insurance crisis. While families are struggling to keep up with the rising costs of their premiums, private health insurance CEOs are taking lavish overseas junkets costing hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Senator Watt said.

Labor had proposed a 2 per cent premium price cap, which Senator Watt said would save families on private health insurance an average of $340 over two years.

Gold Coast MP Stuart Robert said a new health insurance classification system announced by the Federal Government would assist people in making a decision.

From April 1 2019 all existing policies would be categorised in a tier system of Gold, Silver, Bronze and Basic.

“States aren’t investing in the system, so the only real way to counter that and take the pressure off is to get people in the private system,” Mr Robert said.

“Health insurance should be treated with the same approach as your car or your house. Even if you are young, walking onto a sporting field you have no idea what is going to happen.”

Gold Coast MP Stuart Robert in Parliament House Canberra. Picture Gary Ramage