Guest51810 Posted October 28, 2015 Author Share Posted October 28, 2015 I can't win. I leave it and I worry. But if I go and they do find something then they aren't going to be able to treat it and I'll potentially have to cancel my trip. Or I still go but I'm still in the same situation but this time I'll be turning up in Australia actually knowing there's something wrong with me and that'll muck up my insurance/Medicare. I don't even know if the hospital will X-ray me, they are already behind with their waiting times. I hate adding to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted October 28, 2015 Author Share Posted October 28, 2015 She also even didn't even listen to my chest! Surely they normally do that? I've had really bad colds/coughs this year. One it took me ages to recover and i almost went to the doctor about it to check incase I had a chest infection. Maybe it's something related to that. Otherwise it'll probably be hanging around with smokey joes most of my adult life! Mums totally guilt tripped about smoke in the house now, well she hasn't smoked properly in the house for the past year now she has those e cig things but before that. And gran does when she's down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Maybe you will get better service over here? Sounds like they are useless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted October 28, 2015 Author Share Posted October 28, 2015 I'm pretty sure I will get better service but it's just wether that service will cost me looooads lol. I could pay like a thousand to it but that's about it really. Otherwise I'd have to come home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest241083 Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 I can't win. I leave it and I worry. But if I go and they do find something then they aren't going to be able to treat it and I'll potentially have to cancel my trip. Or I still go but I'm still in the same situation but this time I'll be turning up in Australia actually knowing there's something wrong with me and that'll muck up my insurance/Medicare. I don't even know if the hospital will X-ray me, they are already behind with their waiting times. I hate adding to it ..........do what gives you peace of mind..... ..........research your options in both scenarios..... ..........then choose what's best for you,..... ...........your young.......the adventure will always be there...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 (edited) I can't win. I leave it and I worry. But if I go and they do find something then they aren't going to be able to treat it Why won't they be able to treat it? If it's an essential treatment, then they WILL treat it. That's the way the system works - you're covered under Medicare for essential treatment. So, if it turns out to be something serious, you'll be covered. If it turns out it's a minor thing that doesn't really need treatment but you want it fixed, then they'll charge you. Doctors take asthma very seriously in Australia. If you tell the doctor you've been wheezy and your peak flow is down, they'll treat it as essential! Edited October 28, 2015 by Marisawright Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted October 28, 2015 Author Share Posted October 28, 2015 It's just this bit that's confusing me - it's on several websites. Not included in Medicare - "treatment arranged before your trip to australia". So wouldn't a recommendation for X-ray and possibly a specialist be counted as that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumpingjellybean Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Anyway she wants me to go to a GP and get chest X-ray and then possibly go to a specialist depending on what they find. Just get the tests done when you get here. Chances are it is nothing too serious and you can sort it out here or when you return to the UK. But if it is more serious - then just return earlier than expected. Medicare here will cover; at least partly I believe. As soon as you get here just find a doctor who bulk bills - plenty around. I had several unexpected health issues on my year WHV including a hospital stay, x-rays and injections. And one backpacker I know ended up having an abortion here and another had to be treated for breast cancer and have surgery to remove a lump. They both did it on a WHV too. Honestly stop stressing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freckleface Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 It's just this bit that's confusing me - it's on several websites. Not included in Medicare - "treatment arranged before your trip to australia". So wouldn't a recommendation for X-ray and possibly a specialist be counted as that So far you haven't been given a treatment plan. An X-Ray is a diagnostic tool, not a treatment. I think it will only be an issue if you have the X-Ray in the UK and they want you to undergo some sort of treatment that is more than just prescribing additional medication. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted October 28, 2015 Author Share Posted October 28, 2015 Thanks guys. I'll just wait and get checked over there ASAP. I think you're probably right about X-rays here making the situation more complicated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freckleface Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Just get the tests done when you get here. Chances are it is nothing too serious and you can sort it out here or when you return to the UK. But if it is more serious - then just return earlier than expected. Medicare here will cover; at least partly I believe. As soon as you get here just find a doctor who bulk bills - plenty around. I had several unexpected health issues on my year WHV including a hospital stay, x-rays and injections. And one backpacker I know ended up having an abortion here and another had to be treated for breast cancer and have surgery to remove a lump. They both did it on a WHV too. Honestly stop stressing. Yes I think I would wait and go to a doctor in Aust as well. Partly because Aust doctors are so good with asthma etc. However Stace doesn't really know that and I think she is just a bit worried about the outcome of the tests and also about the potential cost of treatment (although I doubt she would be out of pocket much if anything at all). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docboat Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 If you do come here to get the check done, you might have to pay - but as you know, there are reciprocal care agreements in place between Medicare and NHS. But, if you do have to pay, the consult with a GP should be around $70, the low dose CT (do not go for a simple CXR - tells not a great deal) of the chest will cost $100+ and there are certainly imaging clinics which bulk bill. You might find, however, with good November weather in Sydney, that fresh air and warmth clears your chest right up. So no worries, enjoy the flight and relax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumpingjellybean Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Well I don't want to particularly walk around Singapore haze when at the moment it's almost at the high part of the unhealthy range but I suppose I'll just have to stay inside or wear a mask. As I have mentioned before, if haze too bad in Singapore, then stay inside. And perhaps spend a day in a hotel spa, or: https://www.insightguides.com/inspire-me/blog/5-things-to-do-indoors-in-singapore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted October 28, 2015 Author Share Posted October 28, 2015 Those sorts of prices sound fine! I could put aside $1000 for treatment if needed but doesn't sound like it would be that much. I've ticked lungs on my donar card but it doesn't sound like they'll want them lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish.01 Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 (edited) Those sorts of prices sound fine! I could put aside $1000 for treatment if needed but doesn't sound like it would be that much. I've ticked lungs on my donar card but it doesn't sound like they'll want them lol Very unlikely you will have to pay more than $45 or so gap for the GP (after rebate). If you go to a free (bulk bill) clinic it should be free. Ask he GP to refer you to a bilk billing X-ray clinic. You can go to the one of your choice. Many X-ray places bulk bill (i.e. no gap - totally free) for normal medicare card holders but people on a reciprocal agreement may not be bulk billed even at bulk bill clinics. Just ring and talk to the receptionists before booking and they will tell you the cost, if any. An example from http://www.ozrad.com/patient-info/medicare: "RHCA AND VISITOR CARD HOLDERS Patients with Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) or Visitor Medicare cards may be eligible for a Medicare rebate. However we may not be able to bulk-bill examinations for these card holders. In such cases patients will be charged a private fee which is payable at the time of the examination. You will then be able to take the account to a Medicare office and apply for a rebate." In this case you will be charged for the CT scan in full (guessing $100-$150) and then you take the bill to a medicare office and they will give you a rebate...guessing around $75-$85. Edited October 28, 2015 by fish.01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumpingjellybean Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 I'll be turning up in Australia actually knowing there's something wrong with me and that'll muck up my insurance/Medicare. FFS stop worrying! Sorry to say that but errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr You will NOT muck up your insurance / medicare. I will have to change my vote me thinks - from one year to minus nil hours at this rate !!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newjez Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 I got insurance a few days ago. I told them about the whole asthma thing, that I used to have it and that I'm currently getting tested. They obviously don't know about tonight though. I guess if I have to pay for a X-ray by myself it's not the end of the world but if I have to pay for specialists then I'll just have to come home. Maybe the ones who said I'll be back within a month or two were right. They've cursed me haha You don't know about tonight either. You've declared your asthma. Anything else may be nothing. That what insurance is for. Keep clean on the plane, use an antiseptic gel. It could be you are just coming down with a cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 (edited) It's just this bit that's confusing me - it's on several websites. Not included in Medicare - "treatment arranged before your trip to australia". So wouldn't a recommendation for X-ray and possibly a specialist be counted as that As Freckleface says, an X-ray is not a treatment. A specialist is not a treatment. They are just investigations to see if you need a treatment! I'm an asthmatic and I'd be curious to know what the doctor did during the spirometry test. Did she get you to blow, then give you your Ventolin, then get you to blow again? Edited October 28, 2015 by Marisawright Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted October 28, 2015 Author Share Posted October 28, 2015 It was asthma nurse and yes she made me do 2 different sets of tests. The first without a inhaler and the second with ventolin. They said there was a slight difference but not that much and she referred me to the doctor. So it was the doctor that said last night that there wasn't much change but I had a restrictive pattern that needs investigated. She didn't say what it could be but I did ask her if it could be serious and she hesitated for a few seconds and said it probably wouldn't be but I definitely couldn't wait months to get it checked. I'd put my results up but I don't think anybody would understand them anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted October 28, 2015 Author Share Posted October 28, 2015 Very unlikely you will have to pay more than $45 or so gap for the GP (after rebate). If you go to a free (bulk bill) clinic it should be free. Ask he GP to refer you to a bilk billing X-ray clinic. You can go to the one of your choice. Many X-ray places bulk bill (i.e. no gap - totally free) for normal medicare card holders but people on a reciprocal agreement may not be bulk billed even at bulk bill clinics. Just ring and talk to the receptionists before booking and they will tell you the cost, if any. An example from http://www.ozrad.com/patient-info/medicare: "RHCA AND VISITOR CARD HOLDERS Patients with Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) or Visitor Medicare cards may be eligible for a Medicare rebate. However we may not be able to bulk-bill examinations for these card holders. In such cases patients will be charged a private fee which is payable at the time of the examination. You will then be able to take the account to a Medicare office and apply for a rebate." In this case you will be charged for the CT scan in full (guessing $100-$150) and then you take the bill to a medicare office and they will give you a rebate...guessing around $75-$85. thanks fish. I'm totally fine with paying few hundred dollars if needed. It was when she started talking about specialists I just started thinking $$$$$$$ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish.01 Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 (edited) thanks fish. I'm totally fine with paying few hundred dollars if needed. It was when she started talking about specialists I just started thinking $$$$$$$ So if your GP does refer you to a specialist and you don't want to go to a public hospital outpatients to see a totally free public specialist, you can obviously also be referred to a private specialist...your choice. My numbers may be a little out of date because I don't go that often but the first visit to a private specialist is usually dearer, say around $175 with a $85 medicare rebate and then each subsequent visit might be $135 with a $85 medicare rebate. So note that the public medicare system rebates some of the cost of private specialists as well. Hopefully everyone on here can confirm/update the specialist amounts if I am too out-of-date...though I guess specialities do vary... Edited October 28, 2015 by fish.01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Londongal76 Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 I'm pretty sure if they thought it was in any way serious they'd have said you can't travel. They did to a friend of mine last year. The fact that they know you're going and are happy for you to get on a plane says it's unlikely. Stop stressing, go get some clean air in the sunshine and just register there and get a 2nd opinion from a GP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 I didn't realise it was asthma from our FB chat I thought it was something more serious, not that asthma isn't, I have asthma. I don't know what the reciprocal agreement covers but I thought it was for emergency medical health. So if you had an asthma attack you could go,straight to the hospital and wouldn't pay a penny. If you go to a GP here go to a bulk bill otherwise you will have $70 for the GP, who will refer you for an X-ray, you may get away with it being bulk billed but I doubt it, you will then go back to the GP for your results (pay again unless it's a bulk bill clinic) and if there is anything serious they would refer you to a specialist now to go on the public system forget it, unless it's cancer you will be waiting months, the best is to go private, costs vary between $165 - $350 the $350 is what Rob paid, mine are usually $165 but we get some back from Medicare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 I still think you should go to A and E if you think it's serious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted October 28, 2015 Author Share Posted October 28, 2015 No I don't find it serious as in I'm not going to stop breathing or anything, it's just it could obviously be something long term and that's why they want to investigate. Then again it could just be something like being too unfit or maybe I've got some sort of chest infection. I really don't know but I would hope if they thought it was anything really serious they would send me right down to the hospital for X-ray or tell me to post phone trip. I've got a ventilator inhaler now so that should help a bit for any bad days and then I'll get to the doctor ASAP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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