Private or Public?

[AGrace]

Hi Everyone,

My friend recently shared an article with me that she had written for a news channel regarding the difficulties she had in getting help with mental illness. The article revealed numerous times that she'd been sent away from public emergency departments, how she couldn't get help from support lines, her traumatic experiences in public psychiatric facilities, her inability to find appropriate public support groups, and the ill treatment she received from public nursing staff. She went on to write about the fact that these grievances had caused her to turn to alcohol and illicit drugs, and how she felt like she couldn't get anywhere with her recovery. She told of how she'd take holidays to try to feel better, that she'd resorted to takeaway food because she didn't feel like cooking, and she was smoking around 2 packets of cigarettes a day, and compulsively purchasing items through online stores.

My instant thought was if she had the money to buy drugs, alcohol, holidays, takeaway, and cigarettes, why wouldn't she just invest these funds into getting private health insurance?

I've claimed and used around $50,000 worth of services for my mental health just this year alone, and yet my premiums are under $2500 per year. I tell my partner everyday that I'd rather live on the streets than not have private health. I'm just wondering your views, was I right to feel dumbfounded by the fact that my friend went through all of these problems when she may have had better treatment in private care for less than the cost of the additional self destructive behaviours she engaged in as a result?

I completely understand that sometimes private insurance is beyond the means of a lot of people, and I feel blessed that I've chosen to make it my priority my entire life. It just frustrates me when I see that people are wasting money on other things, when health is so important. I'm not excessively familiar with the public health system, so I wonder also is it of the same standard? Can you access similar services?

AGrace

[Mares73]

Dear A GRACE from my understanding there is a major difference between the private & public system. For one in private facilities you often get your own room & are under the continual care of one psychiatrist. In the public system unfortunately there are so many limitations due to limited funding & resources that I think for the most part they only take people at serious risk to themselves or others. In comparison you can voluntarily request admission into a private facility before you reach desperation & receive support from a multidisciplinary team, participate in various activities & aim to get help for your depression before you reach a state of desperation.  However the comments you make about your friend appear to be your judgment when perhaps she was only able to cope with the present moment. Thus her escape mechanisms are the ways she has dealt with her depression & she may not be in a mental state to think ahead re private health cover. Many of us turn to our safety nets or ways of dealing with things in a crisis & whilst it may seem clear to you that she's wasting money that could go towards private cpver-she may not be in a position to have that insight. Personally I can only have compassion for people in her position. Have you tried to have a gentle talk with her? It's quite common that people with depression turn to their vices when really low. I can only suggest you listen to how she feels & raise the benefits of private cover. There is no "right" way for everyone with depression. I hope your friendship can assist her to consider longer term solutions. The fact you've written about it shows how much you care. Kind thoughts, Mares xx

[White_Rose]

Hello AG

You bring up some tough topics but they do need addressing.

Two parts to your post.

1. Private medical insurance. I agree about the necessity of having this insurance and I do understand why some people feel it is too expensive. My husband refused to have it on the grounds that any hospital stay could be through the public hospitals. Well, unless you are dying on the doorstep it is very difficult to get a bed, and that applies to both physical and mental health problems.

Consequently, when we separated I did not have insurance and did not get any because I was so brainwashed by him. When the psychiatrist wanted me to go to hospital I was not able to do so. Public hospital would not have accepted me  because I was not urgent enough and I could not afford a private bed. In retrospect I think I would have been a whole lot better in hospital but then we cannot foresee the future. Which is exactly the point. Since then I have insurance and like you would go hungry rather than stop it.

Your friend does what many people do. Put their heads in the sand over these types of matters. As you point out, she could probably have paid her insurance costs with the money spent on smokes, fast food etc. But you know what? It is so much easier to gratify yourself today than prepare for the future. And of course the cry goes up that "they" should look after you.

On the other hand, there should be beds available for mental health patients. One of the symptoms of poor mental health is the inability to take care of ourselves, especially it seems in the area of finance. Added to which, many people live on a disability pension and it is difficult to pay insurance as well as all the other living costs we incur. I live on a part age pension and have a small additional income. It's still much harder to make ends meet than when I was working.

Having a two-tier hospital system really gives a two-tier community. Those who can afford insurance and the others. This is what the row is about with Tony Abbott and his $7 levy.

So I feel I have not given a definite answer to part one. There are too many variables. This is one of the reasons that financially disadvantaged people are often disparaged because they are as shiftless, careless with their money, dependent on social welfare and general bludgers. I could go on for the rest of my word allowance as this is something I feel passionately about. My volunteer work was helping people with low incomes.

I will post again about part 2.

LING

[white knight]

I worked with a man, a father of 2 that chain smoked. His car was 25 years old and always breaking down. I read the newspaper one morning and saw an advert for a new BMW for $600 a month. (1997) and told him he could get that car if he gave up smoking. He laughed. It was true.

But private health insurance has always been out of reach for me for one reason of another. I dont drink hardly at all, no smoking etc. And now I'd be high risk due to my many physical issues like DVT, 

And some of the so called benefits like choosing your own doctor isnt such a benefit IMO- for me.  Your situation though AGrace seems to benefit you more than most.

[White_Rose]

Part 2

Public Hospitals

I was sent to public hospital because I was sleep walking due to to my sleeping tablets. Not a pretty sight. I had no idea where I was and tried desperately to get home. The security guards forced me back to the ward. The nurses were too busy discussing me over their morning tea to actually talk to me. I asked for the ward number so that my psychiatrist could find out what was happening but they gave me a helpline number. No one told me tried to reassure me. I had to wait for the hospital psychiatrist to visit and he did not talk to me. Just signed my "release" papers.

In contrast, the one time I went to a private hospital was so different. My doc visited every day and the nurses (male and female) spent a great deal of time talking to me. There were various activities under the supervision of psychologists and nice food. There was a GP to check for other health problems. The accommodation was not five star, but I had a single room and en suite bathroom. The atmosphere was completely different.

To some extent I blame the system that does not give everyone decent access to hospital care for whatever reason they need it. I know it costs money so are we going to pay more in taxes? Alternatively, more services for those with mental health problems would perhaps reduce the need for hospital services. They certainly cost more than external services.

Another problem with public hospitals is that they employ new graduate doctors. Once the doc has finished the internship they are off to private practice. They earn more that way. It's probably a bit unfair to the some of the people who want to specialize but the coal face doctors are often inexperienced, including mental health doctors, so the patients do not necessarily get the best treatment.

Some doctors have a private practice and work in hospitals one or two days a week which is great. They are employed as consultants and get paid more. What it all comes down to is money or the lack thereof.

No one has come up with a way for all hospitals to be equally funded and staffed with recognition for the outstanding skills of some doctors and nurses, and with provision for all types of illnesses. Not unless we pay huge amounts more in taxation or reduced services elsewhere. And this is the problem. No one wants to lose what they already have.

So that's my soapbox rant. Love to read your comments everyone.

LING