I need to vent!

[jazzcomp]

i understand car insurance needs since an accident can happen at any time. but what about home insurance (bldg), how many times can your bldg require insurance to get fixed?

[griffin]

Cars are just so darn expensive to repair, especially on minor dents and scratches, due to replacing whole panels or parts. (which is why the Insurers then have to charge so much to cover themselves)
Like if the front or rear bumper is dented from a minor bump, they replace the entire bumper unit if the vehicle has air-bags, to make sure that the sensors weren't affected.
And when you have the more well-off people, who value the look of stuff, with full insurance, they don't hesitate bleeding their insurers for every little scratch.

Also, in case you end up bumping into one of these people (like I did), just make sure you at least have insurance to cover other people if it is your fault. Buy a cheap car for yourself to save insurance costs, but cover yourself for those who don't brush off a minor scratch or dent, like people used to do.


I actually hate the whole "excess" thing with Insurance. It's like, we'll charge you heaps of money, but you'll still pay for most of it.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

I'd suggest comparing quotes between companies as well. I ued to be with the RAC, paying 1000 a year for fully comprehensive, but after haggling a bit with a couple of companies have managed to get it down to $400 with better options. Of course it helps being an older driver who doesn't smash his car too ...

But when renewal time comes and you get your letter quoting the amount, ring another insurance bunch and tell them, they might beat it. Then call the original guys back and say that such-and-such have offered a quote of this, what can you do to keep me?

You'd be surprised at how much you can save by introducing a bit of competition.

[jazzcomp]

I actually hate the whole "excess" thing with Insurance. It's like, we'll charge you heaps of money, but you'll still pay for most of it.

Yeah, that's what I don't get. It feels like you're paying the whole insurance with the excess again. Also your premium goes up because of the claim.

I hate health insurance too when you're younger. It feels like I'm throwing money away and not claiming anything back.

When you're older, health insurance definitely needed.

[griffin]

Don't get me started on Health Insurance...

I finally signed up a couple years ago, after several years of earning over the amount that has you paying extra Medicare in your tax (I figured that I was spending this much money anyway, why not use it for private health insurance).
The next tax/fiscal year, my hours at work dropped back, and I didn't earn enough to be charged the extra Medicare levy anyway. So now I'm still paying extra money, but wouldn't have needed anymore (I haven't earnt enough since then either).

But that's not the complaint.
The problem is that after 2-3 years of paying Health Insurance premiums without any claims, the one time I need to rely on it (appendix operation last April), they refused to cover it because of a technicality - their fine-print said that I had to be admitted BEFORE tests were done for those tests to be covered.... but the hospital wasn't going to admit until after the test results said I had to have surgery.
Surely if tests done as part of the process to have surgery (and a subsequent admittance to a Private Hospital), it all should be covered.
At least, that's what a normal person would think, who had "hospital cover" in their policy, without scrutinising every tiny detail of their policy.

And for the record, if an admitting Private Hospital Emergency Ward sees the words "optional exclusions" on your policy (which most people have, especially young people who are less likely to cover things that affect the elderly), they can't guarantee if you are covered for that Private Hospital stay when entering in your policy details, because they don't know what your optional exclusions are... leaving you with a choice of being transferred to a public hospital, or run the risk/fear of being charged thousands - if you don't have the time to check with your insurer (like, after hours) to see if you are going to be paying anything for that stay/surgery.
It's a rare situation, but one that obviously can happen if you are new to Private Health Insurance, and have to go to a Private Hospital Emergency Ward.
(obviously if it was something elective, you'd have the time to find out beforehand, and not have a problem... but if it is an emergency, go to a Public Emergency Ward first just in case, then everything is covered by Medicare)
Bunch o' scammers.

[jazzcomp]

There should be after hours/emergency support for that.

That's why some of my colleagues go for the highest plan so that they won't have to worry about what's covered and what's not with optional extras.

Different covers are always confusing.

[griffin]

NIB didn't have an after-hours number, so I didn't want to take the chance of a $5000 bill if I wasn't covered. The surgery all worked out, and I was able to go to BotCon 4 days later... but I got stuck with bills for the pre-surgery tests, totalling $1500.

[snaketales]

Power has been out since 8.30 last night because of poletop fires from the rain.... 10 more minutes and we can claim for compensation (you can claim $80 from Western Power is the power's out for 12 or more continuous hours).

Wasn't so bad last night because we could put the kids to bed, but at 7am today they were already saying they were bored with nothing to do.

Glad I'm at work now.

[blackie]

so bored >_>

should have got off my ass and headed down to the rifle range this morning, too lazy to head down now and wait for a spot

[snaketales]

Power has been out since 8.30 last night because of poletop fires from the rain.... 10 more minutes and we can claim for compensation (you can claim $80 from Western Power is the power's out for 12 or more continuous hours).

Wasn't so bad last night because we could put the kids to bed, but at 7am today they were already saying they were bored with nothing to do.

Glad I'm at work now.

Power's still off and wife's working tonight.... I'm dreading being at home with three kids and no power