Ct scans cost and any rebate????

[sduffy]

Hi guys,anyone have an answer.

 

Hubby has to have a CT scan and have been advised that the cost is 548 dollars,which is nightmare scarey on one wage,with lots of other med probs we as a family have going on.

 

Have perused medicare benefits site ,but cant seem to lay my hands on if there will be a medicare refund.

 

Can anyone tell me.

 

Thanks Sue

[SWMBO]

Hi guys,anyone have an answer.

 

Hubby has to have a CT scan and have been advised that the cost is 548 dollars,which is nightmare scarey on one wage,with lots of other med probs we as a family have going on.

 

Have perused medicare benefits site ,but cant seem to lay my hands on if there will be a medicare refund.

 

Can anyone tell me.

 

Thanks Sue

can this Ct scan not be bulk billed .Most Benson outlets will bulk bill.

 

 

 

 

http://www.medscans.com.au/

 

 

 

Search on this page for bulk billing .

Edited February 8, 2013 by SWMBO
link not working

[catherine.c]

Ring wherever the CT is going to happen - they will tell you how much will be paid back to you by medicare as they will have been asked this often!

[Growler]

Can i ask sorry if my question is stupid, i thought with medicare that as long as your permanent residents then this would be covered,,,howcome you have to pay for this? Can someone advise as to what is covered and what the process of bulk billed and medicare refunding as im confused?

 

Thankyou..

 

 

 

can this Ct scan not be bulk billed .Most Benson outlets will bulk bill.

 

 

 

 

http://www.medscans.com.au/

 

 

 

Search on this page for bulk billing .

[sduffy]

Catherine,i have tried to ring back but seems to be engaged so i thought i would ask on here. I usually do ask but i think i went into shock when i heard the price.Why do some bulk bill for scans and some dont.Any one know?

 

Our GP doesnt bulk bill,is that why?

 

Sue

[jim and adel]

Can i ask sorry if my question is stupid, i thought with medicare that as long as your permanent residents then this would be covered,,,howcome you have to pay for this? Can someone advise as to what is covered and what the process of bulk billed and medicare refunding as im confused?

 

Thankyou..

 

Depends on circumstances but don't think that being covered for Medicare automatically means no cost. For us, we pay something for pretty much any visit to a doctor's surgery (I have two items on a repeat prescription that is only good for three repeats, so as well as expensive prescriptions I get hit each time I go back to the doc's for the next three prescriptions ...) We can't afford to actually be 'ill'

[sduffy]

You are so right,you cant afford to be ill here,especially with chronic illnesses.It certainly adds to the stress levels big time.

 

Sue

[Guest ffi&dyl]

I just had a CT scan done at Flinders Hospital a couple of weeks ago and Medicare covered all the costs, alo had an endoscopy and other tests over the last 4 months and not payed a penny.

Ffion

[cliffy]

Are you eligible for the Medicare Safety net?

In my experience there is a rebate from Medicare for CT scans, but there is always a gap to pay, even for concession card holders. If you ring the Radiology firm they will advise what the gap you have to pay is.

CT scans ordered in hospitals by consultants that you see through the Outpatients clinic usually are at no cost, but sometimes there is a very long wait to see the consultant.

[ShouldIStayOrShouldIGo]

Most medical tests and treatments can be bulk billed you just need to make this clear to your treating GP, that is, tell him at the time of your consultation you wish to be sent to a bulk billing clinic. He may have to do a bit of looking but there are plenty out there.

 

I've had all manner of xrays and scans and never been charged a cent.

 

Good luck.

[sduffy]

Ffion ,can i ask did you wait long for the appt for the scan.Was that ordered by a GP or the specialist who you were under in the hospital.

 

In addition does your GP bulk bill,i am just wandering if thats why we have to pay as our GP doesnt bulk bill.It seems so variable here.

 

Many thanks Sue

[Guest ffi&dyl]

Hi Sue, my scan was ordered by my specialist got it done within a couple of days.

Yes my GP, Fountain Valley Medical Centre, Happy Valley bulk bills, never had to pay a penny there.

 

Ffion

[sduffy]

Perhaps that is the key,the bulk billing aspect.

 

Thanks for the info Ffion.

 

Sue

[Diane]

Ffion ,can i ask did you wait long for the appt for the scan.Was that ordered by a GP or the specialist who you were under in the hospital.

 

In addition does your GP bulk bill,i am just wandering if thats why we have to pay as our GP doesnt bulk bill.It seems so variable here.

 

Many thanks Sue

 

Go to another one. You don't have to stick with one GP here so unless there's a particular reason (i.e. you adore the doctor you see there) then find another one who does bulk bill. Our local surgery started charging a gap fee, but I have found if I have a word with whatever doc I see, they can put it through so there's no gap. Don't understand how it works, but have always found the docs themselves are very flexible - it's the receptionists that aren't!

[Rich & Chit]

We've just transfered to a bulk bill doctor as we got fed up, every time we need new prescription, we pay the gap just to see the doctor, all she has to do is give me new prescription(eventhough I asked the receptionist for a "short consultation). At least I can add that extra $ to pay for the meds:smile:

[Anne B]

Perhaps that is the key,the bulk billing aspect.

 

 

Although I don't understand the system at all, I don't think whether your GP bulk bills or not has anything to do with it. Our GP doesn't bulk bill, but when my son had to have various scans for a sporting injury we didn't have to pay a thing. It all depends on the clinic/provider that you are sent to. Although we live in the western suburbs, we were sent all the way down to the southern suburbs for one of the scans, just because that particular place bulk billed and we wouldn't have to pay - otherwise going somewhere else it would have cost hundreds!!

 

I must admit I am tempted to change doctors to one who bulk bills, but the service where I go is excellent and today I went to get a prescription and was told there was no charge - I really don't understand it. But I dread getting seriously ill, that would cost a fortune !!!

[ShouldIStayOrShouldIGo]

Anne, try Bensons at Woodville they do bulk bill for CT scans when requested by your GP

[Guest JayandEm]

I had an mri scan with a dye injection and didn't pay anything. Also had injections in my hip socket and physio and didn't pay for that either. I was referred to the repat hospital by my doctor who does not bulk bill. The doctor at the repat arranged the mri at the finders. I suppose the only downside of not going private is you wait longer for your appointments. Saying that, i had my appointment at the repat three months after my referral and i thought that was pretty quick!

[Guest Vladimir]

Hi folks, I am a newbie in Adelaide, so trying to familiarize myself with the health care system. Am I correct that some GPs are assigned to some medical institutions like hospitals and some are not. Both of em can do bulk bill and some of em don't. Further medical analysis and treatment by a specialists can also be covered by the Medicare or not. And generally, it is possible to find a bulk-billing GP and then a bulk-billing specialist having a reference from the GP. If it is true then why some people with the Medicare are treated by doctors who don't do bulk billing and have to pay a lot of $$$? What are the reasons - better quality, no waiting list...?

[Lazy Cow]

Hi folks, I am a newbie in Adelaide, so trying to familiarize myself with the health care system. .?

 

This might help

 

http://www.mydr.com.au/first-aid-self-care/australian-health-system-how-it-works

 

LC

[Lazy Cow]

Once, when we kinda bypassed the doctor (for speed) we found that things like blood tests, scans etc attracted a gap payment although the majority was covered by Medicare.

 

One doctor, who had come to the end of any help he could offer, suggested we phone around to find a specialist that could see us quickly. He gave us two letters of referral - one to the doctor he suggested and one untitled so we could choose our own. This was a far cheaper option than going without a letter.

 

So, I suppose our experience has been that we haven't had to pay for anything for tests when it's been an emergency or when our doctor has given /sent a letter of referral.

 

I don't have a definitive answer though, just that it seems a lot cheaper if any work is ordered by someone we have been sent to via the 'ordinary' route. That said, it can take a tad longer so, as with most things, it's down to the consumer.

 

Good luck and best wishes to your OH.

 

LC

[catherine.c]

My own experience has been that I see a GP who sometimes bills me and sometimes does not, depending on reason for visit - was bulk billed for prescriptions / receiving results / very short appointments, but paid a gap for investigation of a dodgy knee. The X ray I had to pay part of but then the private consultant and public MRI were bulk billed.

When I was unable to get an appointment with my GP I went to an open all hours bulk billing GP and the waiting period (2 hours) and subsequent care was sub standard to my normal GP.

Waiting periods for some things are ridiculously long, my daughter is still waiting for a public appointment with an ENT specialist 3 years after having her tonsils out privately - obviously they do not know that she has had them out, I am just interested to see how long they will take to give her an appointment! This is despite her GP writing at the time that she was an urgent case - they told us then that her wait would be at least 2 years (hence paid privately).

However, after a trip to Flinders (public) ED, my husband has found the follow on appointments and care to be excellent.

Around 50% of people in Australia have private health cover, I think the system would be as broke as the NHS if we all stayed in the public sector and with SA health really struggling to make ends meet I can only see the public sector suffering.

I am writing this after a 12 hour night shift (in a private hospital) so it probably makes no sense .... Nite all zzzzz