Health Care?

[jenr]

Nicole just rang she went for a blood test last week at the local pathology that used to bulk bill she got a bill and just took it to Medicare and got less than half of it back?
She is in Private Health but she cant afford to pay for blood tests up front which is what they are all asking?
They said if she had a Health care Card she wouldnt have to pay.
Does anyone know if can you have a Health care card if you are on a low wage BUT you are in Private Health as well?

[lucyloo]

Yes you can Jen. :yes:

[Sunny]

Yeah im pretty sure you can. You just apply through centrelink, its the low income health care card i think.

[jenr]

Thanks girls I just text her she is going to go in to Centrelink and see them?
Its a strange system she joined Private Health a couple of years ago but her Doc said if he referred her for an MRI through Private Health she would have to pay a lot and wont get much back BUT when she goes to see the specialist and he refers her for the MRI she will get most of it back?
We need a Dummies Guide to understanding the Health System??:hehe:

[Mandi]

I heard about this the other week Jen that Sullivan & Nicolades Pathologies are beginning to charge customers for blood work because the government has discontinued their funding. They won't be charging people who have follow up or long term blood work done though (apparently).

[Sunny]

Jen i'd tell her to ring them, save her trying to go in person.

[jenr]

I heard about this the other week Jen that Sullivan & Nicolades Pathologies are beginning to charge customers for blood work because the government has discontinued their funding. They won't be charging people who have follow up or long term blood work done though (apparently).

Yes apparently as from July 1st they started charging for blood work?
Thanks Sunny I will tell her!

[Heather]

I have a health care card....and private insurance ( basic hospital only).
My Doctor has ordered many xrays, blood tests, Ultrasounds over the past two years and I have not had to pay for anything.

[jenr]

Nicole just went to Centrelink and they gave her some forms to fill out they said she should be fine to get the Health Care card.

[old woman]

?do you get any free or do you all have to have some sort of medical insurance? what about dentists? were very short of those, in some areas you can wait two years just to get on a waiting list!!

[jenr]

We have a Medicare System where you can get bulkbilled ( you dont have to pay)to see the Doc
BUT it is s loonnnggg wait?
I think there is a free dental as well but I would say that is the same situation?

[Naomi]

Private health won't cover tests and things (unless you are an inpatient in hospital, it may cover some hospital costs and dr costs).

[old woman]

some ppl have contributions stopped out of their wages for private health care, usually bupa.is that similar to your scheme?
i pay about six pounds a month for a hospital plan that gives me money if im actually in hospital,if i was to be off work sick, with the flu(god forbid) say, i dont get paid, i would just get sick pay from the dept of health, thats about 10/11 pounds a day, and its not paid for the first three days of illness.

[Perfectly Precious]

IMO the health system is too complicated LMAO well for me anyway! And charging for blood tests is ridiculous

[Sunny]

It is a very complicated system, and near impossible to keep up to date with which is irronic considering the waiting lists...lol

[miss kiki]

bloodwork and regular check ups and procedures are expensive. :yes:
luckily i work in a hospital, so my hospital insurance pays for all my bloodwork and procedures! thankfully!

[Melinda]

I dont think its fair to pay for blood tests....gees some people would put off having them for that reason.

[lucyloo]

I dont think its fair to pay for blood tests....gees some people would put off having them for that reason.

I agree, and that would be dangerous for some.

[Nicole83]

I dont think its fair to pay for blood tests....gees some people would put off having them for that reason.


neither do I, especially having to pay nearly $150 for one! I'm lucky when I was getting all those blood tests earlier in the year that it didn't cost me anything or else I'd be very upset.

[jenr]

Hi Cole:waves:

[Nicole83]

hey mum

[Melinda]

neither do I, especially having to pay nearly $150 for one! I'm lucky when I was getting all those blood tests earlier in the year that it didn't cost me anything or else I'd be very upset.


thats a disgrace having to pay that.....just not right IMO.

[Perfectly Precious]

especially having to pay nearly $150 for one! .

What :blink: I thought they would cost like $50 or something :blink:
Does it depend on what the test is for?

[jenr]

A 16 year old girl who has a severe case of swine flu was flown from Townsville Hospital to the Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney today because they dont have the resources up here to treat serious cases?
God help us if it gets worse so far 5 people have died in Townsville from swine flu ( yes they are in the hi risk category) in the last 2 weeks?:brow:

[Perfectly Precious]

wow....5 people! Isn't the QLD tally for deaths only at 13? You have half of them........thats awful and sad at the same time :(

[jenr]

We have a high indigenous population they are in the high risk I know 2 of the deaths were Palm Islanders:(