how do you get public health care?

[Phoenix16]

This might sound like a really stupid question but after a few discussions on here I'm wondering how you do access public Heath care? I'm going to sound like a plonker I realize but I had a hysterectomy last year, I just followed the GP's instructions...go to this specialist....get these tests......did what he said, did what the specialist said , ended up paying a few $1000, just believed that was how it was. now my daughter is sick, went to a specialist $260 for 5 minute consult, blood tests...they asked if I had a confession card I said NO so just said you'll get a bill in the post???? I've never paid for a blood test yet so why now for my 5 year ol?? I just follow my GP's instructions but for some reason, I'm not getting anywhere close to the public system, I'm not sure what I need to do?

[Sammy1]

I had to pay to see a specalist for my son. However, I got part of it back through medicare. I have never ever had to pay for blood tests for either myself or my children.

Did you perhaps see a specialist straightaway privately rather than waiting? Do you have health insurance? That's all I can think of.

[Love Shoes]

I had blood tests done last year, I went to a blood specialist who bulk billed, I never got a bill.

It is all quite confusing ... maybe worth asking your medical insurance company this ?

​meant to say I gave them my Medicare card ...

​good luck Hun x

[Phoenix16]

I do have health insurance and I was naive and rather panicked after PR so got the top one I could but it only seems to activate once you're in hospital!! The specialist is private, I got referred initially, rang the specialist who said were not taking on any more patients??? Had to go back to GP get a referral to another pediatrician, all in all I've waited 5 months, however, my GP just refers me to private specialists full stop. My daughter had her required immunisation recently, $70, I'm not complaining, my GP is amazing and worth every penny but I'm starting to sorry about ongoing cost with my princess, she needs loads of tests and it seems all of them are pretty costly.

[Phoenix16]

I'm trying to budget because apparently until she is admitted to hospital (I'm avoiding this at all costs) we have to pay large amounts of cash as all tests are being referred am conduced in the private hospital.....

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[Love Shoes]

I do have health insurance and I was naive and rather panicked after PR so got the top one I could but it only seems to activate once you're in hospital!! The specialist is private, I got referred initially, rang the specialist who said were not taking on any more patients??? Had to go back to GP get a referral to another pediatrician, all in all I've waited 5 months, however, my GP just refers me to private specialists full stop. My daughter had her required immunisation recently, $70, I'm not complaining, my GP is amazing and worth every penny but I'm starting to sorry about ongoing cost with my princess, she needs loads of tests and it seems all of them are pretty costly.

 

 

:hug: hope she gets better very very soon, it must be very worrying for you x x off to sleep now, catch you tomorrow x x night, night x

[Sammy1]

I'm trying to budget because apparently until she is admitted to hospital (I'm avoiding this at all costs) we have to pay large amounts of cash as all tests are being referred am conduced in the private hospital.....

​

 

That would explain the costs then.

[Phoenix16]

That would explain the costs then.

 

Yup!! It seems now I'm down the private road got to stick with it, very much worth it to get to the bottom of to all but in future do I say to GP refer me PUBLIC??

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[Sammy1]

Yup!! It seems now I'm down the private road got to stick with it, very much worth it to get to the bottom of to all but in future do I say to GP refer me PUBLIC??

​

 

I wish I could answer that - perhaps have a chat with your GP ( or a different one if he/she is not helpful).

 

I do wish you the very best of luck though, having a sick child child is a very anxious time x

[Quoll]

A lot of specialists will only take private patients - the wait for a government one could be untenable unfortunately. All private health schemes only really kick in when you go into hospital do you haven't chosen a duff one - when you use the specialist in his office you get some back through Medicare. It probably makes little difference - if you pull the plug and ask for a public referral you could be waiting years unfortunately so it really depends on how quickly you want your child to access services. Sorry this is happening for you it's a complex system unfortunately and expensive!

[Petals]

The doctors and specialists decide who gets bulk billed and who does not, they tick the box on the form you take to the pathologist. Most GP's bulk bill blood tests however specialists do not and therefore we have to pay a gap fee after the medicare rebate for the test. As Quoll has said it all depends how quickly you want service. If you have an urgent problem the public system will deal with you pronto, it its something that is not deemed urgent or high priority there are waiting lists to see specialists. However if you do get treatment in a public hospital with a specialist you are on their list then and if you need further treatment the docs arrange it for you.

[Harpodom]

It may be that in your area, there IS NO PUBLIC SERVICE. Certainly that is the case here in Geelong for paediatrics, gynaecology and all medical specialties.

 

Then you are at the mercy of the specialist as to what their fees are. Most won't bulk bill and fees can be eye watering. You do get some (maybe half) back through medicare.

 

Aus isn't a great place to be poor and sick.

[Skani]

Yup!! It seems now I'm down the private road got to stick with it, very much worth it to get to the bottom of to all but in future do I say to GP refer me PUBLIC??

​

 

Have a talk to your GP and ask them to explain the system and your options.

It's very hard to give details here because so much depends on your exact location and which health resources are available in your area.

It may be that the public system is so busy in your area that your doctor prefers a quicker outcome through the private system. Or that the public system is so overloaded that he thinks you will get a better outcome in the private system.

 

It would probably be a good idea to take all your receipts to the Medicare office and check whether you have been paid all the Medicare refunds you are entitled to. Some medical practices enable the Medicare refund at the time of consultation, some don't. (The system is changing all the time so it can also be confusing for us who have lived with it for years).

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Sometimes, also, you can be entitled to extra refunds through your private insurance fund: the Medicare staff should be able to tell you whether that might be the case.

 

It is a confusing system: don't hesitate to tell people that this is all new to you, you do find it confusing...and could they please explain it.

[Skani]

It may be that in your area, there IS NO PUBLIC SERVICE. Certainly that is the case here in Geelong for paediatrics, gynaecology and all medical specialties.

 

Then you are at the mercy of the specialist as to what their fees are. Most won't bulk bill and fees can be eye watering. You do get some (maybe half) back through medicare.

 

Aus isn't a great place to be poor and sick.

 

It's a great place if you are poor enough to have concession cards. It's the most difficult for those who don't qualify for concessions but aren't rich either.

 

​It seems absurd that a city the size of Geelong doesn't have public facilities for the specialities you mention. Is it a case of "go to Melbourne or get stuffed"?

[NicF]

Ask your GP about going through the public service, but like the others have said it might be that there is no service or the waiting times are really long. I think it depends on the problem and which specialist you need to see though. My son needed to see a urologist and we went on the public system as it wasn't urgent and could happily wait for however long it took, but we actually got to see someone within a few weeks. I need to see a gynocologist and my GP warned me it could be months before I would get to see anyone through the public system so I've gone private, but the waiting time with the private gynocologist was still a couple of months.

[Harpodom]

It's a great place if you are poor enough to have concession cards. It's the most difficult for those who don't qualify for concessions but aren't rich either.

 

​It seems absurd that a city the size of Geelong doesn't have public facilities for the specialities you mention. Is it a case of "go to Melbourne or get stuffed"?

 

For those spcialities I mention, yes it is.

 

Having a concession card mean naff all if the specialist refuses to bulk bill as many of them do.

[calNgary]

Yup!! It seems now I'm down the private road got to stick with it, very much worth it to get to the bottom of to all but in future do I say to GP refer me PUBLIC??

​

 

When i first came i was referred into the private system, a friend said 'just ask' so on my next visit i asked to be crossed to the public system. It took a few months to 'get on the system/ waiting lists' and its been fine (and free) ever since. I also found public hospitals and care just as good as the private.

 

​ x

[newjez]

Generally I'd ask how long the waiting period would be if you went through medicare. GP's like to refer you to fee paying specialists. I'm sure there is no kick back, I'm sure they think they are doing the best thing for you, and they probably are. But they don't seem to appreciate the cost. Sometimes there is a long waiting period. Sometimes, (ie for suspected cancer) there is not. Depends on the severity and availability. Tell your doctors where you stand - and they should be able to work with you.

[ali]

Last year I had a number of tests requested by a haematologist - some were bulk billed but others did not have a medicare number and had to be payed for.