Private Health Insurance, The Australian.

Not sure of date.

Not sure if run.

John Stapleton
CAROLYN and Robert Steinman, who live with their 9 month old daughter Sara at Wyndham Vale on Melbourne's western fringe, have no intention of giving up their private health insurance.

Mr Steinman works as a teacher at a primary school while his wife works as a nursing unit manager. Between them they have a combined income of around $100,000, well below the Medicare levy surcharge threshold of $150,000 for couples.

But both regard the comfort of having private health well worth the money.
Ms Steinman said being a nurse she knew how important it was to have private health.
She recently broke her leg in a freak accident at her front door and for a while it looked like she would have to have surgery. She said knowing that she could have the doctor of her choice and did not have to join a long queue for surgery was a great comfort.

``I know it is hard to afford private health but it is something you really need to have,'' she said. ``Everything's going up, groceries, petrol, but you need to be careful about what you cut.

``People need to look at what they are doing and what it is going to cost them in terms of their taxes. And also their own health.

``I hope people will look at the issue.''

Ms Steinman said they make use of the extras that come with their private health, such as chiropractry and naturopathy. Taking that into account, they probably break even.

``But if you needed surgery it would be pricesless not having to wait for months on the wating list,'' she said. ``And making sure you had the surgery and the doctor you wanted.''

Ms Steinman said as a nurse herself and being married to a teacher, she had not been a supporter of the previous prime minister, John Howard. Workchoices had also been a bit turn off.

But she did support him on private health.
``The rebate does work. I understand it got a lot of people into private health,'' she said.