23 days!

It has been ages since I've written anything here.
I've been on my third and final teaching round but now that is over. Only two more assignments to hand in and then it's all over. Whoo hoo!

Have you seen those private health insurance ads where the line is "Plus, you can get real benefits even when you’re not sick." (That is the one from Medibank.) And then they list 'therapies' such as:

• Myotherapy
• Homoeopathy
• Reflexology
• Shiatsu
• Chinese herbalism
• Western herbalism
• Alexander Technique
• Bowen Technique.

So the insurance company says that you can use these when your not sick. Does this imply that when you are sick that you shouldn't use these treatments? Do this imply that they know that the evidence shows that these 'therapies' don't cure anything they claim to cure?
They claim that you get real benefits. Interesting use of the word real. The only real benefit is the $300 or $100 rebate a year (depending on the therapy) you get if you happen to use the services and I think that is exactly what they mean by real benefit. Ie, it is cheaper for you. But hang on, is it really cheaper? You pay about $1000 a year (Medibank, MyOptions plan) and can get $300 back on these services. Do the math. So even if you do believe in quack remedies don't fall for the ads. If you don't trust the science, trust the maths.