topic Re: Financial Costs in Treatments and side effects

Financial Costs

SILLY — Thu, 05 May 2011 01:06:43 GMT

Recently received a low income health care card . It helps with pbs prescriptions but not with my most expensive one. I thought mris would now be free but found out I was wrong. My next one is for brain/sinuses/orbit .The normal cost is $225 for each area ,$675.Even before I said I had the health care card I was told they would do it for $350,which I must admit is a big discount. Health funds and Medicare do not offer refunds. I wonder what people do if they cannot afford this .

Re: Financial Costs

harker — Thu, 05 May 2011 08:55:02 GMT

It can cost a lot getting sick. I guess you have probably answered the question yourself. If you can't afford it, you don't get it done. Doctors can ask for services to be bulk billed. Have you asked about that? Overall, I think we are lucky to have the health system we do, though. I would hate to get sick in USA. In fact, going there might make me sick. H

Re: Financial Costs

SILLY — Thu, 05 May 2011 15:25:17 GMT

It isn't so much the doctors as my gp now bulk-bills me,but medications that are called private prescriptions and the mri.I agree some things in our system are reasonable,unlike the USA.Also, specialists are only now and again and radiation was bulk-billed.

Re: Financial Costs

harker — Fri, 06 May 2011 03:06:17 GMT

I had a full body CT scan that cost me hundreds and hundreds of dollars. Three years later I had another one to check on everything and it was bulk-billed. I think my oncologist made a decision to request bulk-billing for the second one. So all may not be lost! My observation is that doctors will do a lot to help you in managing finances/employers/insurance/super/etc if you leave it up to their professional judgment and not present with a demand for support. If you do present with a demand they are likely to back off and not use their leverage, because any support they offer needs to be based on their medical opinion, not on your financial needs. I am not saying that is what you are/have done. I am just saying that it is something to keep in mind. H

Re: Financial Costs

Braveb — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 09:33:31 GMT

Hi Silly and Harker, I was confused by this discussion because I have never been asked to pay for anything. I thought it was like this for all patients. I guess not. I had to pay for the initial colonoscopy (that found my tumour) but nothing since then (except stuff like parking at the hospital, Chinese herbs, acupuncture). All the big ticket items (MRIs, PET, chemoradiotherapy) have been covered. I'm wondering if there will be a point in my treatment where this may change? Ben

Re: Financial Costs

Deb1960 — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 09:46:25 GMT

Hi Silly, I have not had to pay for very much at all, a few meds and one test that my surgeon did in his rooms and even then I only paid some of the bill out of my pocket. Which state are you in? I am in Victoria. Are you using public or private hospitals? All my CT's & PET Scans and my chemo have cost me nothing, the hospital did not even charge me for any tests etc, what ever Medicare & Medibank Private pay them they accept as payment in full. Deb

Re: Financial Costs

oldhippy — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 12:27:29 GMT

For me so far its been relatively cheap - had to pay an initial excess of $300 for my health fund for day oncology, for the year, but everything else is bulk billed - got the PBS card, so far its all been covered. And I got a disabled parking sticker - like, WOW! - (hard to get excited, but helps a bit when you need a litre of milk and am feeling stuffed from Chemo) And I get Seniors Discount when I look real stuffed. again, like, WOW! There has to be a more equitable, rational way of doing this - you should not be hit so hard with costs - can you talk to your medicos about this, see if anyone can advocate for you. Cancer Nurse, Social Worker? Andrew the oldhippy.

Re: Financial Costs

harker — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 01:31:18 GMT

Benbravery I was a private patient of an oncologist who worked out of a number of private hospitals as well as with the public system, That's why the tests he ordered for me came with a component of out of pocket cost (that is, additional to medicare and private health fund rebates combined). That was my routine for three years and included having to pay out of pocket for each blood test (of which there were a lot, as you would be well aware). Two things happened though. One pathology company had a rule that oncology patients only paid the scheduled fee, which was pretty civilised of them. And another pathology company initiated a discussion about bulk-billing me 'from now on' because of my history. Those two things made a huge difference to my sense of wellbeing, as well as my bank account. More recently I have been in the public system as a renal patient. I was concerned that I might have to change oncologists and find one that would work with m6y renal team (dialysis, vascular surgery) but when I asked him about it he said he was quite happy to work in with my renal team at the public hospital. Again, this was a boost to my sense of security. Since I have been in the public system I have come to realise how fantastic out system is here in Australia. I could have every test that was ordered previously as a private patient and it would now be provided at no cost to me. And there is absolutely no sign at all within my medical team that they will make a business decision ahead of a patient care decision. None at all. I am glad I can see it like this. It feels really good. Maybe others have different experiences. PS. I have agreed for the public hospital to charge my health fund my costs and I have no out of pocket at all. So, I am not actually using up public resources (financial) as a private patient. Again, this makes me feel pretty good. H

Re: Financial Costs

oldhippy — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 07:34:36 GMT

Hi Ben, glad to see you have the financial stuff sorted out - really, dont need this sort of "real world" accounting garbage at this time in my life either! And I am really glad I kept up my private insurance! ......

Re: Financial Costs

Braveb — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 08:12:08 GMT

Hey, Just out of interest, a couple of questions: does your insurance premium change now that you have had cancer? And will they cover any treatments related to this cancer for ever? Ben

Re: Financial Costs

oldhippy — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 10:28:09 GMT

Hi Ben, no idea if the health insurance runs out, or turns into vaporware. But, given my life expectancy, dont think its going to be a problem. And if it is, well, will deal with it when it happens. No idea about the premiums going up either - never even thought of it. Travel insurance is different - anything cancer related is specifically excluded from coverage. BUT - it does cover you if the ship hits an iceberg, near Vietnam. Andrew the oldhippy

Re: Financial Costs

Sailor — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 10:59:26 GMT

Hi Everyone This has been an interesting read so thought I would contribute. I have been a private patient as I have private health care cover, but I have been treated for most of the time in public hospitals. So most of my costs have just been sent to my health insurer, apart from the $50 per day to a max of $250 hospital charge. (It is now $150 for the first time in any one year and nothing after that!). All of my specialists have either bulk billed me or charged me the medicare amount. So for most of the time I have very little out of pocket expenses. Recently I found a spreadsheet I had done at the end of my first treatment all those years ago. Including pharmacy costs, four days in hospital, lots of various scans over the six month period, weeks of radiotherapy and the initial pathology at the end I was $440.35 out of pocket. Currently my oncologist requests that I be bulk billed for all pathology and radiology. My surgeon who sees me every two months to conduct a minor procedure to keep bits of me working ensures that all my bills either go to medicare or health insurance. So apart from the pharmacy co-payment, which these days with the benefit of a health care card is a lot reduced, I am very little out of pocket. So I quite fervently thank the deity that I am treated in Australia and not North America or Europe. In North America I would be impoverished by now and having to sue my health fund to get treatment paid for, and the treatment wouldn't be available in Europe. Cheers Sailor I would not creep along the coast but steer Out in mid-sea, by guidance of the stars. George Elliot, Middle March

Re: Financial Costs

oldhippy — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:41:36 GMT

Sailor, thank you for that - its a pretty clear model/explanation of whats happening here. I dont track stuff, but reckon its been OK so far re costs. And I have always been a Neanderthal when it comes to money things anyway. Blind optimism (Cosmic Forces)works, most of the time. And I too am grateful we dont have the American model of health insurance - probably wouldn't still be here if we did! Andrew the oldhippy.

Re: Financial Costs

oldhippy — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:43:10 GMT

Sailor, thank you for that - its a pretty clear model/explanation of whats happening here, too. I dont track stuff, but reckon its been OK so far re costs. And I have always been a Neanderthal when it comes to money things anyway. Blind optimism (Cosmic Forces)works, most of the time. And I too am grateful we dont have the American model of health insurance - probably wouldn't still be here if we did! Andrew the oldhippy.

Re: Financial Costs

harker — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 23:18:15 GMT

ben I have cost my insurance people over $28,000 in the past two years. I can't get back the transaction record for the previous two years on the website but it was even higher as I had more tests, chemicals and specialists in those two years. I would say my insurer is $60,000+ out of pocket thanks to me. Don't mention it. I have not had any indication from them at all that they want to change things. The premiums have gone up of course, but that is an industry wide thing and not related to my circumstances. They will cover whatever is listed as a a claimable item. In all the four years I have only had one test that was not a claimable item. It was not a major one and I can't remember what it was. H

Re: Financial Costs

SILLY — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 01:39:50 GMT

I hope I didn't sound like a whinger in this conversation. I guess my only real complaint is that if you are in hospital an endless number of tests would cost you nothing but out of hospital it's different. The MRIs cannot be claimed through health funds or Medicare. I know we are lucky in this country as the situation in many others is far worse.

Re: Financial Costs

Braveb — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 01:52:17 GMT

Of course your didn't sound like a whinger! I think the messages from most people here indicate that we are all having our tests covered by Medicare or a health fund, both as an inpatient and outpatient. For example, I have yet to stay in the hospital but have had a bunch of CTs, PETs, MRIs, genetic testing and radiochemotherapy - all as an outpatient. I haven't had to pay for any of it. I wonder why you are being treated differently? Maybe you could give the group some more info about the types of tests you have had to pay for and the types of tests you have not. I checked your original question and it was about medications, have those been the biggest cost for you so far? Ben

Re: Financial Costs

caring_partner — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 02:22:38 GMT

My husband has private cover in a private hospital and has only had to pay small amounts like $90 out of pocket for scans and small amounts every few months for the oncologist.As he now has a pension card I have been told scans will be bulk billed. The only problem we have is he is having peritoneal drains now every few weeks and as he is classed as an inpatient and the ultrasound people charge 4 times the schedule fee and so we are out of pocket $270 each time. This wasn't such a problem when it was 3 months between drains but it is now down to 2 weeks. I did ask the diagnostic centre if they could review the charges but they said as it was inpatient that was what they charge. It has been suggested we book in as a public patient as it is the same site and uses the same diagnostic facilities. Its not that I am complaining about the care as it has been excellent but after paying for private health and then still having to outlay more every 2 weeks than a public patient seems unfair to me.

Re: Financial Costs

Loulou — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 07:31:14 GMT

My tests and hospital accomodation are covered as a private patient when in hospital (with an excess of $200.00 per year). However out of hospital the ultrasound tests are $240.00 each and I only get about $100 back from Medicare and cannot claim these through my Private Health Fund. My surgeons also don't bulk bill for outpatients and they are $180.00 per visit. Thankfully my chemo treatment was covered. The only reason I keep a record is that if you have in excess of $1500 out of pocket medical expenses each year you can claim 20% of that back with your tax.

Re: Financial Costs

SILLY — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 06:20:00 GMT

I agree that it is unfair and usually as an in-patient scans are covered by health funds, I thought.