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busymum 
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: New Zealand
Points: 12236
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 Posted: 15 November 2006 at 7:42pm |
The cost of medical attention for kids is free in NZ but unfortunately the ambulance is not covered by the Ministry of Health.... hence the need to bill people for call-outs. There are a couple of other exceptions too, Hannah needed a tympanogram (sp?) which is basically a fluid checker on her ear, and we were charged a surcharge for that. Got me by surprise too, fortunately it was only $6 
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Jennz
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Wellington
Points: 1897
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Posted: 15 November 2006 at 9:50pm |
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I don't think anything we got Charlotte medically in NZ was ever free- we got charged $16 for Drs visits as there were no free Drs in our area. Her specialist visits were $300 + each visit and on the few occasions we went to the A&E after hours we were charged too. Her allergy med is charged full price because the government don't subsidise it, even though she will die if she doesn't have it- $120+ a pen.
Actually no, we didn't get charged for Pamol. Woohoo.
We were so lucky in that we got medical insurance for her before she turned 3 months so she is covered for conditions she was born with, like her allergies. It just means that we have to keep the poilicy as she will not be able to get another one. Even though we are over seas for a few years we still have to pay the NZ subsidy so she can be insured when we get back.
I know lots of people complain about the UK health system but since we have been here we haven't had to pay a cent. Now I'm pregnant I get free Dr and perscriptions and even get free Dentist viists! Charlottes been to the Drs twice and A&E once- got 3 perscriptions including an Epipen and its all been free. Its brilliant and just how it should be in NZ- complain away, our health system is cr*p.
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Jen, Charlotte 7 & Kate 3 
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Roksana
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Manurewa, Auckland
Points: 6137
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Posted: 16 November 2006 at 9:26am |
oh Toni I like that letter...make sure you send it!!! 
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Two Blondinis
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: West Auckland
Points: 4370
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Posted: 16 November 2006 at 9:29am |
**gets a bit homesick**
I think the way Pharmac decide what is and isn't subsidised SUCKS! Especially for meds that Charlottle MUST have  .
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Maya
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Joined: 16 September 2003
Location: Sydney
Points: 23297
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Posted: 16 November 2006 at 9:43am |
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Roksana - thats really cunning on the part of your insurance company, they only cover pre-existing conditions and conditions bubs are born with if you add them within 3 months of birth! I added Mercedes and Sienna before I'd even left the hospital!
And having insurance has been a Godsend with Maya. It meant we could afford to see private allergy paeds, and have her testing etc. done privately so we could avoid waiting lists and get some decent care. Same goes for my OB when I was preg with the twins, Southern Cross paid the whole lot so I didn't have to have a dodgy hospital doctor.
And before you complain too loudly about the public health system here spare a thought for the Aussies. Medicare is the biggest rip ever, there's no such thing as a free lunch - it's user pays for everything. If you go to the Emergency Dept you get charged for the cost of whatever doctors you see. I had to pay for the privelege of having my d and c done at Royal North Shore in Sydney when I had the miscarriage. And had to pay for the scans etc.
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 Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Deez
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Waitakere
Points: 1802
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Posted: 16 November 2006 at 9:45am |
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without reading what everybody else said i suggest you ring St Johns and see how much it is for a family membership for a year....the last the my MIL updated her first aid cert she said it was $80 and you have unlimited amount of ambulance rides
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Lycan and Peyton = Moon and back!!
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Roksana
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Manurewa, Auckland
Points: 6137
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Posted: 16 November 2006 at 9:54am |
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I know Emma....I have been with Sth Cross for ages and hardly ever need to use their services...but makes me feel better that at least I have the option.
Zaara has no conditions ....so May be I should insure her for hospital care or specialist care or some thing....what do you think?
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mummy_becks
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Points: 14931
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Posted: 16 November 2006 at 10:38am |
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Roksana, we have Southern Cross as well and I made sure Andrew was on it before the age of 3 months so that anything that happened to him would be covered. I would give them a call and ask them how they can go about putting Zaara on the policy. If she has had no illnesses then there shouldn't be any problems. I fould having the insurance meant that Andrew could see a specialist straight away for any problems (his ears have been a problem for us) and then the specialist told us he would fast track him through for public surgery and we had the op 3 months after seeing the specialist (bear in mind we saw the specialist in December and the op was in Feb).
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I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived!
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Maya
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Joined: 16 September 2003
Location: Sydney
Points: 23297
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Posted: 16 November 2006 at 11:32am |
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I would Roksana, it doesn't affect your premiums too much. I have Ultracare100 for myself and the three girls, Willie doesn't have any insurance and he is t the mercy of the public system for surgery he needs on his nose, the waiting list is around 6 mths and if he doesn't have it he'll lose his HT licence and therefore his job.
They've paid for all of Maya's allergy appts, her prescription formula up to $300 per year, Sienna's kidney u/s, the twins paed visit, not to mention my bladder surgery, wisdom teeth, OB... and that's all in the last 2 years! They're not making any money off us!
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Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Two Blondinis
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: West Auckland
Points: 4370
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Posted: 16 November 2006 at 11:42am |
Wonders now if she should have stayed with Southern Cross?!?! 
I used to work for them in their call centre. Roksana I would definitely add Zaara, even if it is just the Hospital Care (cheapest plan that covers $60k per op and I think it covers the spec and scans as long as it relates to the op-if my memory serves me right)
We're with Tower and were quoted a ridiculous fee for adding Caitlin who has no congenital conditons! 
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Maya
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Location: Sydney
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Posted: 16 November 2006 at 9:12pm |
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Mine was $117 a mth for just me and Maya and is now $154 a mth with the twins as well.
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Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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mummy_becks
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Posted: 17 November 2006 at 9:16am |
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For me and Andrew with specialist and hopsital cover its $146 a quarter, so $50 a month which is nothing.
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I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived!
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Charged for emergency ambulance!?!?
