Ping Pongers

[Bulya]

55 minutes ago, MacGyver said:

Off topic, but any sentence starting "Back in my NASA days..." really grabs your attention!

1976-1980 Orroral Valley Tracking Station 

[Ken]

23 hours ago, ramot said:

I like that I am not tied to one Drs practice, it makes sense to stay with your Dr if satisfied, but no problem here moving Dr. There are several 7 day Drs surgeries locally for drop in and a 24hr Dr. So far we have been lucky here, with very little disruption to face to face appointments, but of course unless you go to a bulk billed Dr, most of us have to pay. I’m sure there are good and bad stories from each system, so stay well everyone.

Yes that whole thing about having to get an appointment between 9 to 5 Monday to Friday (I think my surgery also did one evening a week and Saturday mornings but you had to book well in advance) is something that really bugged me about the NHS. 

[MARYROSE02]

On 06/11/2021 at 00:55, Ken said:

I didn't arrive here until I was 46 so I definitely don't think that's old - although I'm departing the Werribee area (we've just sold our house in Manor Lakes) and moving to the Gold Coast. I'm 55 now and still not too old for another new start!

Where are you going to live on the Gold Coast?  I went to Surfers for a holiday in July, 2020, and stayed for eight months. I'm half thinking of moving there though I've slipped back into my Sydney life.  It could be a winter escape thing,  May to Sept in Surfers.

[MARYROSE02]

15 hours ago, Ken said:

Yes that whole thing about having to get an appointment between 9 to 5 Monday to Friday (I think my surgery also did one evening a week and Saturday mornings but you had to book well in advance) is something that really bugged me about the NHS. 

My regular GP works Mon to Fri, mornings. He's gradually wound down his practice from 5 days to 5 mornings and retiring next month at 71.

It's always been reassuring knowing there's a 7 day, bulk billing, no appointment needed service not too far away in Bondi Jn. I noticed another medical centre there which operates 7 days from 7am to 10pm,  also bulk billing. They must take pressure off the A & E departments?

[ali]

11 hours ago, MARYROSE02 said:

My regular GP works Mon to Fri, mornings. He's gradually wound down his practice from 5 days to 5 mornings and retiring next month at 71.

It's always been reassuring knowing there's a 7 day, bulk billing, no appointment needed service not too far away in Bondi Jn. I noticed another medical centre there which operates 7 days from 7am to 10pm,  also bulk billing. They must take pressure off the A & E departments?

My GP is multi-practice and open 7 days a week and until 10pm at night.  They do minor procedures which as you say takes the weight off some ED's.  I book on line and can usually get in to see my preferred GP within a couple of days.

[Bulya]

I can walk to a medical centre on a Sunday, see a GP without an appointment, have an immediate X-ray in the same building and all at zero cost.  Chemist there can fill any script.  I’ve also been hospitalised seven times in the last three and a half years, chose my surgeon, private ward plus ambulance and walking sticks etc and again no cost no private medical.  I think it’s pretty damn good here…

[Blue Flu]

3 hours ago, Bulya said:

I can walk to a medical centre on a Sunday, see a GP without an appointment, have an immediate X-ray in the same building and all at zero cost.  Chemist there can fill any script.  I’ve also been hospitalised seven times in the last three and a half years, chose my surgeon, private ward plus ambulance and walking sticks etc and again no cost no private medical.  I think it’s pretty damn good here…

Begs the question without medical insurance just how are these things free? In Sydney as well. Here in inner Perth we must make an appointment to see desired doctor os usually a matter of days at least. We have both had x rays none free. ($200 + from memory) With no ambulance cover would pay a considerable amount. No idea how to chose surgeon either. Back in the seventies i recall so much was free as money was plentiful and had to be spent. I was told things tightened up progressively from the eighties till we have the situation of recent decade or so. That being the balancing up off value in having private insurance , which has steadily got worse to become of questionable value today. 

[Toots]

18 minutes ago, Blue Flu said:

Begs the question without medical insurance just how are these things free? In Sydney as well. Here in inner Perth we must make an appointment to see desired doctor os usually a matter of days at least. We have both had x rays none free. ($200 + from memory) With no ambulance cover would pay a considerable amount. No idea how to chose surgeon either. Back in the seventies i recall so much was free as money was plentiful and had to be spent. I was told things tightened up progressively from the eighties till we have the situation of recent decade or so. That being the balancing up off value in having private insurance , which has steadily got worse to become of questionable value today. 

I don't know why you were charged $200.  Medicare covers the X-rays a doctor needs to help them diagnose or treat an illness as long as it is considered medically necessary in a public hospital. This also includes other types of medical imaging techniques like CT Scans and MRIs.

[Marisawright]

6 minutes ago, Toots said:

I don't know why you were charged $200.  Medicare covers the X-rays a doctor needs to help them diagnose or treat an illness as long as it is considered medically necessary in a public hospital. This also includes other types of medical imaging techniques like CT Scans and MRIs.

Not in my experience.  I can't remember which one isn't covered - CTs or MRIs - but I know I've had to pay for them in the past.  Perhaps the key is that you only get it free in a public hospital? 

One trap that caught me out:  I have private health insurance but i always went to a bulk-billing doctor.  A couple of years ago, I decided I'd like more personal attention, and went to a doctor that didn't bulk bill.   She sent me for some blood tests at one of those pathology places.  I was shocked when they charged me a fee, because I'd always had them done free in the past.

They explained to me that if the referring doctor bulk-bills, then they also bulk bill.  If the referring doctor doesn't bulk bill, then neither do they. 

[Toots]

7 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

Not in my experience.  I can't remember which one isn't covered - CTs or MRIs - but I know I've had to pay for them in the past.  Perhaps the key is that you only get it free in a public hospital? 

One trap that caught me out:  I have private health insurance but i always went to a bulk-billing doctor.  A couple of years ago, I decided I'd like more personal attention, and went to a doctor that didn't bulk bill.   She sent me for some blood tests at one of those pathology places.  I was shocked when they charged me a fee, because I'd always had them done free in the past.

They explained to me that if the referring doctor bulk-bills, then they also bulk bill.  If the referring doctor doesn't bulk bill, then neither do they. 

We have never had to pay for any of those things.  Our GP sends us to a place at the top of our street which does x-rays, CT, MRI, ultrasound and mammography.  All bulk billed.  Yes our GP bulk bills.

[Marisawright]

1 minute ago, Toots said:

We have never had to pay for any of those things.  Our GP sends us to a place at the top of our street which does x-rays, CT, MRI, ultrasound and mammography.  All bulk billed.  Yes our GP bulk bills.

That's why, then.   If your GP didn't bulk bill, then you'd likely find you'd have to pay the gap at the clinic place too.  

It's one of the traps of the system, I guess, because the patient isn't told how it works.  For many years, I thought that you HAD to pay for specialist visits, because I never thought to question who the GP referred me to, and it was always a private specialist.  Not once was I ever asked, "do you want private or public?".  Eventually I discovered, by accident, that I could see a specialist in the public system for nothing, if I was prepared to wait a bit longer (and actually, it wasn't that long a wait - and the treatment was a lot better!).   

I do think it should be explained more. When I lived in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, I met quite a few pensioners who'd been delaying treatment because they couldn't afford specialist fees and the cost of tests etc.   They were all genteel ladies who had once been well-off, so of course they were still seeing their old doctor, who didn't bulk bill and who wouldn't have dreamed of referring his patients to the common-as-muck public system. They didn't even know they had that option because no one had told them.

[Blue Flu]

1 hour ago, Toots said:

I don't know why you were charged $200.  Medicare covers the X-rays a doctor needs to help them diagnose or treat an illness as long as it is considered medically necessary in a public hospital. This also includes other types of medical imaging techniques like CT Scans and MRIs.

I asked for an x ray as wasn't seeing improvement. (Private hospital.) Was given wrong treatment by doctor and failed to rectify after two further visits. Each visit cost's $80 . I think $35 is returned by government. I personally find little great about the system, unless take into own hands. All visits to the private hospital have been top drawer. But pay for the privilege. 

[Blue Flu]

51 minutes ago, Toots said:

We have never had to pay for any of those things.  Our GP sends us to a place at the top of our street which does x-rays, CT, MRI, ultrasound and mammography.  All bulk billed.  Yes our GP bulk bills.

No bulk billing  anywhere close to me. Hence not an option. I have a doctor now who does not charge me for a prescription. Which is about as good as it gets. Previously paid $70 for that. All of about four minutes. 

 

[ramot]

Perhaps different payment conditions in different states. In Qld, Mammogram free, x rays free, ultra sound free, cortisone injection free, plus  5 visits to various health professionals eg physiotherapist annually, and my Dr. doesn’t bulk bill. That’s all I’ve accessed since I got PR and Medicare. Pay the gap for heart specialist, which I also paid on my health fund before I got PR.

Edited November 10, 2021 by ramot

[calNgary]

I have scans, x rays, blood tests, endoscopy's etc arranged by my specialist every few months and have never paid. Last month with a referral from the GP i had to have x rays, ultrasound and a CT scan (different parts of the body), only the scan on my elbow was 'chargeable' and it cost $80, the CT and x ray were covered by Medicare. This was at a Sullivan clinic not my GP and they told me if i wanted to travel another 20 mins to a nearby town classed as rural ,the $80 isnt charged at all. 

 Cal x

[rammygirl]

Obviously depends. I injured my shoulder and needed physio, to get a rebate for that I needed to see the gp for a health care plan $37 out of pocket, ultrasound scan $180 out of pocket. That gave me 5 rebated sessions at $25. Took so long to get the healthcare plan I had already paid $92 per session for three sessions at the physio so almost worth it in the end.

I shopped around for the scan but that was the going rate with Medicare rebate and they were all booked well ahead anyway!

Oh and while at the gp he got me to book a skin check $37 and do routine bloods at least that was free including the follow up appointment. 

[Marisawright]

1 hour ago, Blue Flu said:

No bulk billing  anywhere close to me. Hence not an option. I have a doctor now who does not charge me for a prescription. Which is about as good as it gets. Previously paid $70 for that. All of about four minutes. 

 

But I assume you are old enough to claim the Safety Net.  Do you have a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card?

As I mentioned, one of the things that has surprised me enormously, is that the treatment I've received from specialists in the public health system has been far superior to the private ones.  Asthma specialist is a good example, the public clinic gave me not just better treatment but educational resources as well.  Also throat specialist:  I saw a private specialist for a few months with no improvement and he recommended an operation.  When I said I didn't have private health cover (I do now, didn't at the time), he stopped and said he'd refer me to the public system.  I was about to protest but decided maybe a second opinion might help.  Waited three months to see the public specialist.  Took a look in my throat, diagnosed the problem immediately, gave me a prescription, all solved in less than a week, no op necessary. 

[Skani]

2 hours ago, Marisawright said:

That's why, then.   If your GP didn't bulk bill, then you'd likely find you'd have to pay the gap at the clinic place too. 

That's not been my experience as I've been referred by my non bulk-billing GP and physiotherapist to a radiology clinic which bulk bills for most services. 

[Paul1Perth]

5 hours ago, Blue Flu said:

Begs the question without medical insurance just how are these things free? In Sydney as well. Here in inner Perth we must make an appointment to see desired doctor os usually a matter of days at least. We have both had x rays none free. ($200 + from memory) With no ambulance cover would pay a considerable amount. No idea how to chose surgeon either. Back in the seventies i recall so much was free as money was plentiful and had to be spent. I was told things tightened up progressively from the eighties till we have the situation of recent decade or so. That being the balancing up off value in having private insurance , which has steadily got worse to become of questionable value today. 

When I broke my leg 3 months back the X-rays, moon boot and treatment at the hospital, on the day and follow up, didn't cost me a thing. They gave me crutches too that had to be returned but no cost.

Our doctor bulk bills and if you're really ill he'll squeeze you in on the day you ring. Otherwise you have a few days wait. 

[Bulya]

5 hours ago, Blue Flu said:

Begs the question without medical insurance just how are these things free? In Sydney as well. Here in inner Perth we must make an appointment to see desired doctor os usually a matter of days at least. We have both had x rays none free. ($200 + from memory) With no ambulance cover would pay a considerable amount. No idea how to chose surgeon either. Back in the seventies i recall so much was free as money was plentiful and had to be spent. I was told things tightened up progressively from the eighties till we have the situation of recent decade or so. That being the balancing up off value in having private insurance , which has steadily got worse to become of questionable value today. 

Benefits of living in the ACT.  Can’t see any reason to pay private medical and still have to pay the gap.  Calvary even gave me several pairs on non-slip socks to take home on top of the walking sticks.  I donated the walking sticks to the physio section at the local walk-in medical centre when I’d finished with them. .  

[Quoll]

5 hours ago, Bulya said:

Benefits of living in the ACT.  Can’t see any reason to pay private medical and still have to pay the gap.  Calvary even gave me several pairs on non-slip socks to take home on top of the walking sticks.  I donated the walking sticks to the physio section at the local walk-in medical centre when I’d finished with them. .  

Not really a benefit living in ACT - the waiting lists for surgery aren't great. A while ago I was quoted 18 months for gall bladder surgery in public, 3 weeks in private. Another surgery I had (and would have slit my wrists if I hadn't) - 10 days with private and I probably would not ever have got to the top of the "elective" list. If you break a bone or have a heart attack then, yes, not too bad.

Edited November 10, 2021 by Quoll

[Bulya]

6 hours ago, Quoll said:

Not really a benefit living in ACT - the waiting lists for surgery aren't great. A while ago I was quoted 18 months for gall bladder surgery in public, 3 weeks in private. Another surgery I had (and would have slit my wrists if I hadn't) - 10 days with private and I probably would not ever have got to the top of the "elective" list. If you break a bone or have a heart attack then, yes, not too bad.

Waiting times aren’t being discussed .  

[Marisawright]

On 10/11/2021 at 16:19, Skani said:

That's not been my experience as I've been referred by my non bulk-billing GP and physiotherapist to a radiology clinic which bulk bills for most services. 

That's interesting.  I had my doubts myself, because I have seen non-bulk-billing doctors in the past and have never been asked to pay for pathology tests, though I have paid for x-rays and scans.  

[ali]

31 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

That's interesting.  I had my doubts myself, because I have seen non-bulk-billing doctors in the past and have never been asked to pay for pathology tests, though I have paid for x-rays and scans.  

I had to see a hematologist and some of the blood tests he requested weren't bulk billed

[Robert Dyson]

On 10/11/2021 at 12:02, Marisawright said:

They explained to me that if the referring doctor bulk-bills, then they also bulk bill.  If the referring doctor doesn't bulk bill, then neither do they. 

I've never paid for pathology or blood tests from any referring doctor, or anything for ultrasound or CT scans....but when i went private for an invasive procedure (to save a 9 month wait), i had to pay for everything, there were various bills coming through for months from people i didn't even know had been involved.  Insurance covered about half, medicare paid 25%, I paid the rest.