Medical Care & Options in Australia

[North to South]

Hi,

 

We're soon to be moving and really would appreciate a summary of what we need to do on arrival regards medical care and also likely costs.

 

We are a family of 3 and my daughter has eczema and requires hydromol as a moisturiser and a steroid cream to keep it under control, I suffer with mild asthma and require a purple and blue inhaler and my wife is the healthy one and only has the pill. I'm assuming that these medications will have to be paid for when we arrive ?? Where would you find out the cost of these so I can add it into the budget ?

 

We currently have private medical cover which has been beneficial for my daughters eczema and this year for me when I needed surgery, so we are considering taking this out for peace of mind so any recommendations on what companies to look at would be welcome ?

 

i have read on a few posts about doctors bulk billing but unsure what this means ?

 

i would welcome all advice on what a soon to be newbie should be doing and looking out for when we arrive.

 

looking forward to any posts and help

[blossom]

Bulk billing means the whole cost is passed onto Medicare. Most Drs don't bulk bill and you have to pay a 'gap'. I go to a bulk billing Dr so I don't know how much that is.

The pill is about $25 for 4 months worth.

[Quoll]

If you budget for the max per item (around $32 per month/fill) then you shouldnt go too far wrong and may be overestimating.

You dont have to go to a bulk billing practice you can pay the $30 co-payment at any surgery for a GP visit - you're more likely to get continuity of care that way. Specialists a bit more.

If you take out private health insurance then pre-existing conditions may have an exemption period before anything related to them is covered or, if it is really serious they may load your premiums to cover that condition. Medications are not covered by private health as a general rule, they are going to be out of pocket expenses. You may not get the same meds that you get in UK - others may be offered

[Marisawright]

We are a family of 3 and my daughter has eczema and requires hydromol as a moisturiser and a steroid cream to keep it under control, I suffer with mild asthma and require a purple and blue inhaler and my wife is the healthy one and only has the pill. I'm assuming that these medications will have to be paid for when we arrive ??

 

Yes, medications do have to be paid for. Is your purple inhaler Seretide? If so, it's about $32. You shouldn't need your blue (Ventolin) inhaler if you're on the right dose of Seretide and, since doctors in Australia are far more educated about asthma than British ones (as it's far more common here, unfortunately), they'll probably sort you out.

 

If you have a lot of medications you'll get the family Safety Net, which reduces the amount you pay for prescriptions.

 

I suggest you contact your current private insurance company and ask about transferring to a company in Australia, because some UK and Australian insurers have transfer agreements. If you just join when you get here, you'll have a waiting period for pre-existing ailments - whereas if you can get transferred you won't.

 

Bulk Billing - that means you go to the doctor, present your Medicare card and that covers the whole cost of your visit. Many of the bigger medical centres offer that - although the government is trying to force them to charge extra. It doesn't cover prescriptions.