The Privilege of Having Health Insurance When You’re Diagnosed Young

Let’s be real for a second, most young Aussies don’t take out private health insurance because they’re worried about getting sick. If the do, it’s usually to save tax.

That was me too. I got the cheapest cover I could find, purely to avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge. Bare minimum. No bells. No whistles. Definitely no thought that I’d ever actually need to use it.

Then I got bowel cancer.

And suddenly that little piece of plastic health fund card became the difference between waiting two weeks for a colonoscopy… or potentially waiting over a year in the public system.

The Tax Dodge That Accidentally Saved My Life

For those who don’t know, once you start earning over a certain threshold in Australia ($93,000 for singles or $186,000 for couples), if you don’t have private hospital cover, you get slapped with an extra tax, the Medicare Levy Surcharge. Health insurance companies know this. That’s why you’ll see cheap “hospital only” policies everywhere, just enough to dodge the tax, but not much else.

But here’s the thing nobody tells you: sometimes, that bare minimum is all you need.

When I started having bowel symptoms, I was referred for a colonoscopy. Through the private system, I was in within two weeks. Diagnosed. Treatment planned. Still alive.

In the public system? I’ve heard wait time stories ranging from months to over a year. And let’s be blunt, if I’d waited 6-12 months, I honestly don’t think I’d be here writing this blog.

The Public System Isn’t Bad, It’s Just Overwhelmed

This isn’t a bash-the-public-health-system piece. Australia’s public healthcare is world-class. Medicare is brilliant, when you can actually access it in time.

The reality is, our public system is stretched thin. Especially for “non-urgent” referrals like colonoscopies for young people who don’t fit the typical bowel cancer profile. If you’re 65 with rectal bleeding, you’ll probably be prioritised. If you’re 30 with vague gut symptoms? Good luck.

And that’s the kicker, cancer doesn’t care if you’ve got insurance. But the system absolutely does.

Wait Times Can Kill

These are real wait times I’ve heard from other young patients in Australia:

• 6-12 months for a public colonoscopy referral
• 9+ months for specialist consults
• Up to 2 years for some surgeries in public hospitals (depending on category)
• Months just to get a public MRI or CT scan in some states

When you’ve got cancer, or even just symptoms that might be cancer, waiting isn’t just inconvenient. It’s dangerous.

Private Health Isn’t Perfect (But It’s Bloody Handy)

Let’s be clear: private health doesn’t mean free health. There’s still:

• Gap fees for surgeons and anaesthetists
• Out-of-pocket costs for tests or scans
• Extras policies that barely cover anything useful
• Premiums that increase every single year

But when time matters? It’s hard to put a price on speed.

The Mixed Bag of Public vs Private

Here’s how I’d sum it up from what I’ve seen and heard:

• Public system = Incredible care, IF you can get in quickly
• Private system = Faster access, but often at a financial cost
• People rarely regret having health insurance once they get sick
• People often regret NOT having it if they end up waiting months or years for care

For Young People, It’s a Gamble Either Way

Health insurance is a weird thing when you’re young. You pay for something you hope you never need. And most of the time, you won’t.

But when lightning strikes, when you suddenly find yourself sitting in a GP office being told you need urgent tests or surgery, you’ll be bloody glad you’ve got that tax dodge policy.

Things I Wish Young Aussies Knew

Look, I’m not here to sell you insurance. But if you’re young and healthy right now, here’s what I’d want you to know:

• If you’re earning enough to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge, basic hospital cover might be worth it for more than just tax reasons.
• Check if your policy covers colonoscopies, diagnostics, and surgery, most do.
• Waiting months for public care isn’t rare. It’s standard.
• Medicare is brilliant, but access isn’t guaranteed quickly for non-urgent referrals.
• Cancer can happen to anyone. Yes, even you.

Final Thought

When I first took out health insurance, it was never about my health. It was about my wallet. But sitting here now, after a bowel cancer diagnosis in my 30s, I know one thing for sure:

I didn’t have health insurance because I thought I’d get cancer. I had it because I thought I wouldn’t. And that’s exactly why it ended up saving my life.