CAMS insurance, fkkd.

[tortfeaser]

So I'd heard before that the CAMS insurance coverage was pretty poor. Didn't think much of it at the time.

Now that I've fkkd my hand and its going to cost me a couple of grand in gap payments (between what Medicare/private health insurance covers and the docs' bills), I'm a bit more interested.

I fell while servicing for Matty T at the Caltex and munted my thumb (google Steners Lesion), its going to need a bit of fixing, a pin and a whole lot of time in a cast. Surgon is going to be $1k, only $400 of which is Medicare covered. Then there's the hospital bill, and the gas man.

So why is it CAMS insurance doesn't cover this gap stuff? They'll hand out a paltry $600pw max if you're not getting paid (but who doesn't have sick leave?) and $1k for a physio.

I'm left either pursuing a public liability action against the club, CAMS and forestry or I'm left carrying the can.

BTW, why private medical? 'cos the ACT govt clowns can't see a way to provide a hospital system that gets my injury seen to within a year, when any surgury beyond 3 weeks is sketchy. Stanhope and his clowns can get ****ed.

[Factor]

Clearly you are mistaken Marc, the CAMS insurance systrem is wonderful, I can point you to many posts on here that say that the CAMS insurance system is great and that people should be wary of the alternative sanctioning system because their insurance might be dodgy.

And yes I am being firmly tongue in cheek. Its a shame you had the injury, its a shame the ACT gummint cant fix it for you and its a shame that Cams cant fix it for you. And it is not just about you, its a serious matter of principle in rallying, particularly for co-drivers who may need to sue the driver in an extreme case. (not that I would but it is a real possibility for some.)

[Kagan]

What does CAMS insurance cover if not the gap stuff? Can you simply not claim anything on your Insurance so there is no gap, and simply make an insurance claim for the whole lot???

[Spac]

Been spending a bit of time thinking about such matters myself lately... (well, the medical side of things, rather than the insurance side).

Seems to me that if nobody objects to there being a properly funded, properly run health care system, even if it means paying a fair bit more tax.
Imagine: You get hurt, it needs fixing, it gets fixed. And if you get permenantly disabled, you get the help you need.

Quite apart from the 'namby pamby' stuff relating to the health of our society, it would save a truck load of money in reduced court costs, would eliminate dodgy workers' comp claims, etc etc.

Hell, after I busted my leg a mate - who runs a small business himself - half-jokingly suggested that I should claim that it happened on my way to work.
So far its cost me nothing and I have the leave to cover it, so there's no reason for me to dream of attempting such a stunt, but I can see how (in different circumstances), the idea could appeal.

And anyway.... I seem to recall Fro being underwhlemed at the cover provided when he thumped his head a couple of years back.

[MATNESmotorsports]

realistly you need to take out your own private insurance policy if you want to be totaly covered but even then there may be some Gaps or huge costs to set up

MATT

[tortfeaser]

I think I understand a bit more now. Some deep recess of my brain recalls a regulatory approach that precludes anyone insuring the gap to avoid encouraging doctors to massively ramp up the fees. So CAMS might not be able to offer insurance that covers my situation even if they wanted to. But I might be selling myself short here.

The regulation is fine in theory, but in a crap market like Canberra where specialists can charge what they want and get it, it just bites.

[rowdytoot]

WTF? my private health insurance covered ALL my surgery costs in a private hospital (less the 150 buck excess I paid), AND the gap between scheduled specialists charges and the scheduled fee while I was being treated as an outpatient pre and post.

Must be a canberra is ghey thing. Go to sydney or somewhere to get treated I reckon Marc!

[pvda]

The whole what is coverd under the various policies out there (depending on who is sanctioning the event) is a mine field I don't really want to find out about from personal experience.

The CAMS Policy document is hidden away so you cant find out if you want to, AASA is able to be veiwed at any member track, ANDRA, NASR, iRace & AMSAG I don't know.

The important points to look for is exactly what is covered, exactly when it starts and stops and importantly, the exclusions after all it's not much good having a policy if it doesn't cover damaged caused by a competition vehicle or to it's crew during the event (don't think I'm kidding either, there's at least one series I know of that was covered by such a policy).

Please don't start slinging arrows my way as this isn't a CAMS bash as none of the policies out there are perfect, all we can do is have Private Cover to back up Medicare & the insurance cover as well as an Ambulance subscription (which we discussed on here in detail several months ago) to try to keep out head above water in the case of an injury..

[tortfeaser]

Originally Posted by rowdytoot

WTF? my private health insurance covered ALL my surgery costs in a private hospital (less the 150 buck excess I paid), AND the gap between scheduled specialists charges and the scheduled fee while I was being treated as an outpatient pre and post.

Must be a canberra is ghey thing. Go to sydney or somewhere to get treated I reckon Marc!

Yeah, my insurance covers the 25% gap between the 75% of the schedule fee that medicare pays, but noone's insurance covers the gap between the scheduled fee that medicare recons the surgery is worth and the fee the specialist sets. For me, surgeon is billing $970 for something medicare recons is worth $400. Medicare pays like $300, insurance pays $100, I'm left paying $570 out of pocket, that I thought the CAMS insurance would cover.

Sure its a Canberra thing to some extent - there's only two guys in Canberra that do the work, both in the same practice. They can charge whatever they want and because I need it in the next week, I have to meet the market.

[Ausrally]

Originally Posted by tortfeaser

Now that I've fkkd my hand

The injury hasn't seemed to affect your typing!....

[TKM]

Originally Posted by tortfeaser

For me, surgeon is billing $970 for something medicare recons is worth $400. Medicare pays like $300, insurance pays $100, I'm left paying $570 out of pocket

Exactly why I don't have private health insurance, it's the biggest scam since, well I don't know when. Even the AMA reckons it's a rip off. Pay $1000+ a year insurance in order to claim a few hundred dollars (if that) a year. No thanks, I'd rather foot the bill when I need to, and still be better off financially. Oh, and as for Howard’s effort to try and get us all to have private health insurance by forcing higher income earners to pay a Medicare levy. I simply tick the single parent box each year and avoid paying it

[greeneyes]

If you want full accident cover paid for by the taxpayer go to New Zealand..

It comes with all the extras like lower wages, higher taxes and a die-while-you-wait healthcare system! If they can't fix you then Accident Compensation will give you $40/week for your lost thumb! So what if you can't work..

NZ now sends cancer paitients to Sydney because they can't get their **** together over there!

Mind you, no Govt health system will ever keep up with the increasing cost of medicine and the aging population, and no insurance company ever likes to pay out.

[afifield]

Originally Posted by TKM

Exactly why I don't have private health insurance, it's the biggest scam since, well I don't know when. Even the AMA reckons it's a rip off. Pay $1000+ a year insurance in order to claim a few hundred dollars (if that) a year. No thanks, I'd rather foot the bill when I need to, and still be better off financially.

Until 2 months ago, I thought the same thing...why bother. Since the start of September, I've claimed more than we've paid over the last couple of years. That's on top of the same thing with Jo's achilles surgery a few years back. All in all, it's balanced itself out.

Originally Posted by greeneyes

If you want full accident cover paid for by the taxpayer go to New Zealand

And a good thing it is too, for emergencies, for tourists. All my medical bills over there (4 doctors, 2 triage, 2 physios, x-rays, drugs, crutches) totalled $300. Here it would have been >$600, with only some of it claimable on Medicrap.

Unfortunately, our medical system is more than a bit screwed. Marc has to decide whether he wants his thumb, and pay accordingly. CAMS insurance should pay the gap.

[munyard]

just one little thing..

Originally Posted by tortfeaser

I fell while servicing for Matty T at the Caltex and munted my thumb

is it really (always) someone else's fault?

and gee the cost of competing has risen so much over the years with all the increased insurance/safety stuff. -why would this be i wonder?

so say you come round to my shed again to help prep swills car for the next alpine and trip over?

-sorry marc, no offence intended..
please direct all comments to complaints@munyard.com

[Ben Wilson]

Originally Posted by munyard

and gee the cost of competing has risen so much over the years with all the increased insurance/safety stuff. -why would this be i wonder?

so say you come round to my shed again to help prep swills car for the next alpine and trip over?

He'd have more chance of getting money out of you than CAMS, the costs have risen because of safety/insurance stuff, where is the money going? If insurance policies aren't in place to adequately cover people working on the cars, what is the money going towards?