Luckily we havent really had the chance to find out !!! i mean none of us have been too poorly, but i can tell you that i had to go to the doctors and that cost me $50 (now gone upto $57) which i got back $37 from medicare and then my prescription for antibiotics was $20 that included a repeat prescription. So i guess medicare for small things - but would hate to see the price if we broke a leg or worse, we are going to sort out health insurance as a family package that covers dentist/doctors etc my husband recently went to the dentist with bad tooth ache and it was cheaper for him to have the tooth ripped out so he did ... ooouch !!!! ($200 for the extraction)
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My daughter got referred in the UK to see an orthodontist - there was a 12 - 18 month waiting list for an assessment, but she would have got the treatment for free.
Here, she saw the school dentist - 2 weeks later we've seen a specialist $50, she's been for x-rays (no charge as bulk billed), and goes back this week. I think the braces will cost us about $4,000 (from what others have told me....gulp), but we won't qualify under private health cover as there's usually a 12 month wait for making a claim.
GP's usally bulk bill children and older people
Ali
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many thanks for your reply - it is much appreciated - is this the same for illness and if given a choice which would you prefer to have out of the two?
Gizmo - cheers you have been a great help with my questions - is there a 'waiting period' for private health cover and does it cover all costs or just a percentage (ie u pay 1st £50.00)
We're still looking into private health cover - there are so many. We definatley want ambulance cover to be included as this can cost upto $500 per trip if you ever need one. Some of the stuff we're looking at do have an excess charge
Ali
__________________ I am toopositive to be doubtful, too optimistic to be fearful and too determined to be defeated!
Yes you can get ambulance cover on its own so I would recommend that. If you're a fairly healthy young family that don't wear glasses and only use the dentist for check-ups, then I think you'll be fine with just Medicare, it still covers you as a public patient in a public hospital, I had significant orthopaedic surgery following a motorcycle accident and never paid a penny.
Prescriptions are a bit more awkward. Each item has its own price but there is a cap. Remember that under Medicare, prescriptions can be cheaper than in the UK. The tablets that I take here in the UK cost the standard $6.85 NHS charge for one month's supply, but the same tablets in Australia are $6.65 for 50 tablets, so they are in fact substantially cheaper.
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If your in Queensland ambulance costs are included in your bills ,rates bill i think.Because of my medical condition i have seen the Dr a few times here and see a specialist on tuesday ,mine dont bulk bill so i end up with a gap of approx $12 that comes out of my pocket when i have an appointment, but the service i have recived is second to none.I just go to the 'shop' next door for blood test (f.o.c)and they take the results round ,it does seem pretty efficent so far,,
Cal x
Medicare .v. NHS
Hi Fluff
