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Specialist bills (Read 1453 times)
bogarde73
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Specialist bills
Aug 9th, 2017 at 10:53am
 
Five years ago Debra Balhatchet underwent surgery in a private hospital to remove a life-threatening tumour. Despite having top-tier private medical cover, the surgery cost her $10,000.

Debra, 38, from the Gold Coast, says she would have opted for a public hospital if she had been made aware of the "gap" expenses that she would incur by going private.

She recalls the first question the radiologist asked her immediately after examining the scan was whether she had private medical cover.

"At this stage I knew nothing of what was going on and I just said 'yes' and then I was immediately put into a private hospital," Balhatchet says.

"He did not give me an option; he didn't say these are your options – public or private.


"If only I had known that it would cost me $10,000 I would have gone public, definitely, because I would have been seen immediately as it was life threatening and it would not have cost me as much."

Unfortunately the surgeon was unable to remove all of the tumour and Balhatchet is supposed to have an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) every six months to check on whether her tumour is growing.

Even though she has maintained her top-level cover, she is out-of-pocket to the tune of $600 each time she has an MRI, so Balhatchet is having it only every 12 months.

It seems there are plenty of people who will avoid seeing a medical specialist because of the cost, a survey of 2000 people by comparison site Finder suggests.

Two out of five respondents say they have avoided seeing a medical specialist due to the costs.

The survey also found that women (47 per cent) are much more likely than men (35 per cent) to have dodged a specialist visit because it was too expensive.

The costs of seeing private specialists are putting off many people, says Bessie Hassan, the money expert at Finder. Specialist doctors are often the ones who diagnose more serious conditions.

"I doubt this is a decision made lightly but it seems people really do put a price-tag on their health, " Hassan says.

"A referral should be taken seriously. If you are worried about affording the secondary appointment or resulting surgery, ask about what government services are available."

A report by the University of Melbourne, published in the Medical Journal of Australia in March, which analysed Medicare claims for an initial consultation in 11 non-surgical specialties, found out-of-pocket costs for patients could vary up to 400 per cent within each specialty.
The research found that neurologists, endocrinologists, rheumatologists and allergy and immunology specialists are charging some of the highest prices for private consultations outside the public health system.

"Private health cover gives patients the option to choose their own specialist, seek treatment in a private hospital, and greater flexibility in terms of when they would like to be treated," Hassan says.

"However, there can still be a gap fee so it's best to ask your doctor for a cost estimate and then check with your health insurer to find out how much your rebate will be for that treatment, and whether it's included in your policy."

Peter Sivey, an associate professor at RMIT University, wrote last year that it is difficult to find out exactly what the costs are going to be for specialists.

"Outside of public hospitals, most clinical health services are essentially private markets," he says.

While the government, through Medicare, provides subsidies to reduce the cost burden on patients, the government does not regulate prices.

"Doctors can charge what they like – or what the market will bear," he says.

The fees of local GPs are easily ascertained but specialist prices are more obscure, he says.

"Patients often rely on their GP to make the choice of specialist for them through the referral process, with little or no discussion of prices," he says. 
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bogarde73
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Re: Specialist bills
Reply #1 - Aug 9th, 2017 at 10:59am
 
I have some problems with this story from SMH Business.

First obvious thing is she says the radiologist "put her in the private hospital".
Don't believe it. She would have been referred to a surgeon who would have told her what he was going to do and what it would cost . . .or if she wasn't, she should have asked her GP to refer her to one who would.

My experience with specialists is always they tell you, in advance of your appointment usually, what they charge and certainly what they will charge for a hospital procedure AND what your fund will pay towards it.

Of course there will be shonks, but anyone who's complaining about this kind of experience would probably buy the Sydney Harbour Bridge from you as well.
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cods
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Re: Specialist bills
Reply #2 - Aug 11th, 2017 at 7:48am
 
I always find it interesting how aussies have no trouble going overseas for holidays booking cruises right left and centre..updating their cars mobiles.ipads.gadgets galore......but when it comes to their health.....they bitch like hell.....

she had a LIFE THREATENING BRAIN TUMOUR...the fact she had a surgeon and a hospital that would do the operation   doesnt factor into it.... Roll Eyes Roll Eyes Roll Eyes

at 38 she has many years ahead of perfectly normal living...... isnt that worth every cent?..
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John Smith
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Re: Specialist bills
Reply #3 - Aug 11th, 2017 at 8:05am
 
private health insurance is a con
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bogarde73
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Re: Specialist bills
Reply #4 - Aug 12th, 2017 at 8:01am
 
Typical leftist hyperbole.

A con is something illegal. Health insurance is a perfectly respectable & legal business transaction.
And there are millions of people who are grateful for the speedy access it gives them to a range of quality medical services.
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John Smith
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Re: Specialist bills
Reply #5 - Aug 12th, 2017 at 8:04am
 
bogarde73 wrote on Aug 12th, 2017 at 8:01am:
Typical leftist hyperbole.

A con is something illegal. Health insurance is a perfectly respectable & legal business transaction.
And there are millions of people who are grateful for the speedy access it gives them to a range of quality medical services.


it's a con .... what else would you call something that you pay thousands for every year so as to not get stuck with a big bill, only to get stuck with a big bill when you do need it.

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bogarde73
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Re: Specialist bills
Reply #6 - Aug 12th, 2017 at 11:46am
 
What I would call a con is someone like yourself who deliberately misrepresents a situation on the basis of a dubious example simply to back up an ideological position.
That example, probably fictitious, quoted by a journalist with an obvious agenda does not represent the true picture as I have experienced it for many years nor as it has been experienced by a wide circle of acquaintances and family.
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