Got insurance?

The 000 symbol on the side denotes the emergency number to call.
A common issue with Aussie kids is that they want to call 9-1-1 because
they see it on American tv shows.

Recently we've had a few too many trips to the doctor for emergency care.

First Donnelly was trying to ride a riding lawnmower with no motor down a hill, and it rolled, gashing his chin badly.

So, a quick trip in the "amblyance" to the hospital, and they superglued his chin together rather than giving him stitches.

A few days later Donnelly and Brynley were playing around with an aerosol can and a lighter (yikes!) and Brynley caught himself on fire and burnt the end of his nose, cheek and upper lip. After many visits to the GP (general practitioner) and the plastic surgeon, he seems to be doing ok. Whew.

On top of being terrified at what damage the boys had done to themselves, I was worried about what the expense of all this medical care would be. I needn't have worried because Australia's universal health care system is very good.

The ambulance ride was free because a small tax that is added to everyone's electric bill pays for the service. The seven or eight trips to the GP and the trip to the plastic surgeon were covered by Medicare. We did have to pay for the medicines used to treat Bryn's burns, but the total was less than $100 because they are subsidized by the government via the pharmaceutical benefits scheme.

I can imagine if this had happened in the U.S. that we would possibly be charged $1,000 or more. A friend from back home recently asked me if it was worth the extra taxes to have socialized medicine. I can only say after this experience, that it certainly is.