I took out a rubbish bronze hospital cover policy just to avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge.
I have had ads for the specific health insurer follow me around the internet (through cookies, whatever they call it) for the last 2 months.
Isn't this proof enough that this forced oligopoly and scam needs to be dismantled? I have already taken out the policy, but you still have money to keep wasting on ads.
Looking at you 'Frank Insurance'.
Titles themselves are the scam.
It's the OP; what did you expect? Not the first time they've scammed people into reading their inane posts by using the word scam in their post's titles. I'd suggest blocking them from your private messages as well so they don't abuse you in them like they did to me.
lol you like collecting em..
When does kerfuffIe get released from the penalty box…
You mean @Charlesgave? Hopefully he'll be in there again permanently once he gets out.
The troll a/c ?
It could be Random….
It makes up 90% of the ads I see….
If you're talking Facebook etc then that's just their algorithm. Nothing to do with your health insurance company.
Use AdBlock.
Or use your Frank Hospital Cover to seek counselling for Frank to pay for the Trauma from their Online Ad Pursuit.
hospital cover policy just to avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge
Everyone can have 2 years less 1 holiday period (of not having that cover) and not get charged
Nothing to do with health insurance and absolutely everything to do with how crap personalised advertising is. They don't know whether you bought health insurance or not so they'll spam you with ads simply because you look at that one thing.
It's really a good sign they don't have a lot of data on you to tailor advertising.
It's really a good sign that OP doesn't clear cookies and browsing history. Poor browsing hygiene.
browsing hygiene.
lol..do tell
OP, you're new to the internet, aren't you.
No.
But I have never been followed around by the same advertisement so much.
Do you click on the advertisements, ever? If so, you're resetting the timber and starting it again.
In my experience, if I am browsing with cookies turned on and the usual privacy settings off, viewing a product is normally worth 4-6 weeks of stalking.
Consider it is doing you a favour. The ad is reminding you how exposed to the internet your privacy settings have left you. Time to do some research about how to lock that down a little bit better.
I last viewed the site 2 months ago. The first and last day I view. I bought it that day.
I have never clicked on any of the ads.
It’s simply algorithms.
Noone’s following you around. Ignore it long enough it’ll change into StepOnes and Oodie ads.
Think of it as the (extra) cost of using the internet.
Don't make the same mistake I did. Someone in my area was selling a crappy old toilet on marketplace. I clicked on it to see WTF it was all about. Next few days all my marketplace suggestions are for friggin secondhand toilets. FML.
So most websites use 3rd party ad networks to populate ad “slots” built into the design of the page - google, Microsoft, Facebook & LinkedIn are common ad networks that generally have a lot of data about you, but there are many more
Basically when you open a webpage:
1. it sends your personal/devices ID (stored in your cookies or the browsers local storage) back to the ad server it uses
2. Based on all the data that ad server or network has about your ID (from this website/app and any other it can link to you, through other cookies/email addresses you’ve signed up with), the ad network will start an auction for the ad slots that will display on your browser
3. The highest bidding ad is sent back to your browser to be displayed
4. The website gets paid for displaying it to you - even more if you click on it - and the ad network takes a cut.
In your insurance example, it sounds like that company knows your ID has been on its website/researching insurance/etc - but doesn’t know you’ve already signed up. As a result, they’re the company that’s willing to pay the most to display ads to you, thinking you’re a “hot lead”. They definitely need to refine their targeting though, as 2 months is a long time to chase someone for a product, unless you keep visiting their website or clicking through on the ad.
I recommend using a more privacy first web browser, like Firefox or maybe Safari as they have more restrictive cookie and cross domain policies. Just bear in mind though, the minute you enter your email address into a website or log into an account, anonymity is lost.
Late response but came across this post whilst looking for health insurance.
OP - if you haven't already then the advice to change to a different browser is what I came to post so will add a bit more info to this already helpful post.
I would recommend if using Firefox to download an extension called uBlock Origin(it's free and over 6M users, make sure to use the official mozilla addon store) and will block a tonne of stuff/tracking/harmful content(addon description - "uBlock Origin is not an "ad blocker", it's a wide-spectrum content blocker with CPU and memory efficiency as a primary feature").
Otherwise I highly recommend Brave browser where their "shields" does a similar thing, it blocks tracking/fingerprinting/ads and cross-site cookies as well.
Both of these options are easy to use and you can click the add-ons/shield on or off with one click if say it's blocking parts of a page you know are safe.
Also as per the post I'm replying on about your device ID's etc, your device/Google/Microsoft accounts etc have what's called an "Advertising ID" - there are options within your phone to allow your device to share this information with other apps etc - check your settings and turn this feature off, on iPhone it's apparently "identifier for Advertisers/IDFA" and "Limit Ad Tracking". On my Samsung galaxy(android) it comes up under "Customisation service".
If you use google go to your account settings and check your privacy information and what information they store about you etc and decide if you want to keep doing that or not - I've disabled saving web/app activity, location, youtube history saving etc but "personalised ads" is the main one to consider to stop the ad customisation tracking etc. Beware that this may break your google if you turn them all off in terms of not having results tailored to your searches or even poor results with searches that are un-related to anything you've searched before - I feel this is punishment by google for disabling all the tracking options.
It may sound like a lot of work/time consuming changing browsers etc but the benefit to do so is there and can easy import settings/bookmarks/passwords from an existing browser(saving passwords within browser are another issue but I won't go there here today lol), even at a minimum disabling your add id's will take minutes of your time but increase your privacy greatly if you worry about that sort of thing.
A lot of people say things like "what's the point I don't care if they track me etc, I have nothing to hide" or w/e, but I like to see it as say would you provide your next-door neighbour a link to your browsing history or a list of the apps you have on your phone and the things your purchase within those apps or subscribe to? it's important we stand up for what should be our basic privacy imo.
Many people don't realise the extent that we are being tracked on a daily basis, btw I'm not talking AFP/CIA monitoring your individual whereabouts(unless you are a suspected crim and on their radar type of thing) but big companies having access to all your browsing/buying/viewing habits and targeting us with ad's based on this info as you have experienced.
I will stop ranting now as I could go on for days about this stuff 😂 if this helps even one person take an interest in privacy then my work here is done.
Cheers.
p.s/TLDR - I highly recommend www.privacytools.io for anyone that wants to go down the privacy rabbit hole. You can find privacy focused apps for most things you do on a pc/phone etc.
Is there a deal on dictionaries, so op can look up the word 'scam' ?
Health Insurance is something you are forced to buy (or taxed) and pays out very little. It does nothing, it's pure junk. The definition of a scam.
Don't even to write 'Health Insurance Scam'. The fact it is health insurance makes it a scam by definition.
Wait, so did you and your family receive any kind of Gov monetary assistance in your visits to the GP, either via bulk billing or co-payment?
Are you now complaining that you shouldn't be paying for health insurance (via tax)…but you want still bulk bill?
You want everything to be free and spoon fed to you?
omg…talk about missing the point.
I am talking about the forced private health insurance that you are made to buy if you earn over 90k to avoid 'medicare levy surcharge'.
NOTICE: 'SURCHARGE'.
Everyone pays the base medicare levy, and that goes to public hospitals.
What I do not like is being forced to make payments to a PRIVATE insurance company to avoid being taxed more. If they want to tax me more, great. I have no problem with that. Increase the base medicare levy. But have it go to PUBLIC medicare.
@random12: Then just pay the levy?
Some hospital cover policies cover issues related to mood, given you're angry at everything all the time, it might help you and you can use what you paid for?
@Ughhh: pay the levy or pay the levy surcharge?
Again, you are not being precise.
The levy surcharge is a percent of income. Most basic SCAM policies that let you avoid the surcharge are $1000. You can't just pay $1000 extra in tax, you pay up to 1.5% extra in tax.
What's a scam: everything you post on here.
With comments like this, is it any wonder why I assumed you were a downvote troll on the other post?
'You have been blocked by at least one participant in this conversation and cannot send further replies.' - the dummy spit.
No response to my comment above, and then the block.
Lucky this is not twitter or 'X'. Elon Musk doesn't allow you people their 'safe space' because their feelings are hurt.
@random12: What did you expect me to do after you sent abusive messages? Continue to let you abuse me? I don't need more vile messages from people like yourself, thanks. Your messages were unwarrantedand as you put it yourself, 'a dummy spit'. The block was out right after you sent those idiotic messages; you really can't put two and two together, huh?
Imagine being so triggered about negative votes that you feel the need to abuse random people about it, particularly when you have no substantial evidence. Unlike you, at least I was able to prove your abuse. A public apology would be nice, but considering the kind of person you are i.e. jumps to conclusions without any evidence (as shown in your posts and private messages to me), I doubt you'll deliver.
And just because you're fond of being transparent, yes I used all five negs on your comments here because you deserve them; you're welcome.
@kerfuffle: Small details but important.
(1) Was it really 'messages' (as in plural). No, it was one.
(2) Was it 'abusive'? Not really, just calling out that you are siding with the mob in downvoting everything I post.
@random12: You might think it wasn't abusive (of course you wouldn't; it's you), but to me it was. 'Not really' doesn't mean it wasn't abusive. It was abusive, period. And surprise surprise, no apology. Furthermore, as I said, I didn't downvote your comments, until you messaged me. I will repeat, I can +1 on comments without needing to -1 on comments. The fact that you attracted so many negative comments is telling you something. I don't go sending people messages when I get a ton of downvotes; I move on.
Go seek some help; you need it. Start with a dictionary and learn what a scam is.
and pays out very little. It does nothing, it's pure junk. The definition of a scam.
I've already claimed over $40,000 on my private health insurance in the last 12 months. You never know when the unexpected can pop up and ruin your life.
You might search Ozbargain for adguard and get a lifetime license and/or use incognito every time you don't want to be tracked.
Pihole or other similar house wide ad blocking solution is easy as pi to setup.
Use Brave Browser and move on with your life
I don't even notice the ads (if there are any).
Sneeze near your phone a few times and those ads will be replaced by Hayfever medicine.
I wish I was joking.
Total agree that health insurance comps have wasted too much of unnecessary advertising fees , They should be encouraged to give more discounts to their loyal customers instead . Many tend to jump from one to another in order to enjoy so many months of free given to the new customers. I use one this year and jump to other next year.
What about the HCF ad.
'We give back 90c to our members'.
WTF? That's something to be proud about? Losing 10%? Even when you go and play blackjack at a casino, you are only expected to lose a few percent in house edge. You can get the house edge down to 0.5% when playing perfectly.
True, most businesses do have $0 operating costs. Seems strange they can't refund all of it
I know there are operating costs.
But the thing is, people are forced to buy it.
Insurance is only supposed to be for large things. You don't need to insure small payments.
Look at stuff like dental. The dentist will charge $200 for a filling. Maybe you get back $50 on an extras policy. What benefit did the policy do? You pay constant premiums, and it gives you back a small amount. Insure is supposed to be for large losses that are catastrophic.
I did actuarial studies. I know about insurance. You don't insure small value things.
But the thing is, people are forced to buy it
Forced? Forced?
I'm well above the threshold and don't pay for ph.
Might cost me a few hundred extra a year but I refuse to give ph insurance companies $ for nothing junk policies, regardless of any minimal tax benefit, and I can't justify the cost of higher end policies.
Must have missed the memo on being forced.
@SBOB: (1) It's more than a 'few extra hundred' each year [ that's a called a strawman - minimizing the other person's argument ]. I suggest you actually look it up again if you think you are only losing 'a few hundred'.
(2) Yes, it is being forced. You are being forced to take an action to protect money from being taken. [ I guess you are the same sort of person that would happily hand over your belongings to a robber? You aren't being forced? ]
I suggest you actually look it up again if you think you are only losing 'a few hundred'.
Well, considering you don't know my age, applicable lifetime loading excess, or salary…
I know the above, and come October's price increase, well under $500 ($10/wk) difference for a couple in the rebate tier bracket I'm in.
I'm currently fine spending ~$10/wk not to make several thousand dollar donations to pH funds bottom line.
Feel free to show the maths if you think I'm wrong.
@SBOB: Correct - I don't know those things.
But you said that you pass the threshold for paying the surcharge. That's 1% of 93,000 - $930 at a minimum.
Yes, i am ignoring the rebate, and also any potential lifetime loading excess (and again, guess what, lifetime loading is another 'force'. Force you to do something, or you will pay more in the future. You could have avoided it if you bought it earlier).
That's 1% of 93,000 - $930 at a minimum.
Less the cost of private insurance.
You could have avoided it if you bought it earlier
Paying 20 years of unused insurance doesn't sound like money saving to me.
@SBOB: It is considered a saving when you will get taxed more than the cost of it if you don't have it.
Is this a troll post?
Nah some people genuinely aren't all there unfortunately.
Ban the use of scam in titles.
Content is always so underwhelming…