General Medical issues thread

[VPS]

Well for me - one of my scripts is now half price - I used to pay $6.30 for one month and now I pay $6.30 for two months.

I've heard from a pharmacist friend who just had his best month ever that the pharmac_ Guild are advising them not to post holiday photos on social media - trust me the pharmacists I know are not doing it tough

 

[Pushka]

Started my SHCC application. Our super is still totally in accumulation phase so I can ignore it. We still receive (much smaller this year) incomes from the business. Kinda weird. We do pay tax while it's in this phase. But can take lump sums out. No implications.

 

[Pushka]

Well for me - one of my scripts is now half price - I used to pay $6.30 for one month and now I pay $6.30 for two months.

I've heard from a pharmacist friend who just had his best month ever that the pharmac_ Guild are advising them not to post holiday photos on social media - trust me the pharmacists I know are not doing it tough

didnt applications increase recently? Our pharmac_ today was swamped. And they did not cope well at all.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Well. I'm sorted!

As we'd claim child endowment in the 1980's, I have an ancient CRN. @TheRealTMA - maybe this applies to you. After a twenty minute hold during which I was reminded countless times to be polite, the operator, who knew her stuff, asked me questions, I gave a very old address (38 years ago where we had the kids) and she found me. She went through the ID check again, got me a link and now I'm in. Wow. I have a CRN that is 38 years old.

Unfortunately no, we (MRS) have to take the marriage certificate issued by BD&M into Centrelink to activate her Centerlink account. I've given up.

 

[Pushka]

Unfortunately no, we (MRS) have to take the marriage certificate issued by BD&M into Centrelink to activate her Centerlink account. I've given up.

So you never claimed child endowment or anything else if you had kids?

 

[TheRealTMA]

So you never claimed child endowment or anything else if you had kids?

No baby goats here Bru!

 

[MARTINE]

I tried but centrelink refuses to accept my marriage certificate. Change of name blah blah. Good for ATO. Health. But not Centrelink.

Another letter to your local member re the CL hassle I think

 

[tgh]

Swmbo, when asked, cannot remember how we acquired our card…save that it was a very long time ago.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Another letter to your local member re the CL hassle I think

That’s probably an equally useless exercise unfortunately. Remember RoboDebt. The unemployed or seniors or other Centrelink customers have nothing better to do with their lives than sit on hold on the phone to them for 90 minutes.

 

[Pushka]

That’s probably an equally useless exercise unfortunately. Remember RoboDebt. The unemployed or seniors or other Centrelink customers have nothing better to do with their lives than sit on hold on the phone to them for 90 minutes.

I was done and dusted in 25 minutes! Maybe I used the WP line?

 

[JohnK]

$6.30 for 30 x Pantoprazole 40mg

$6.30 for 30 x Pantoprazole 20mg

Why same price? Obviously $6.30 is minimum prescription fee. I'm seeing doctor tomorrow for care plan and I'm asking for new script for Pantoprazole 40mg.

 

[Pushka]

$6.30 for 30 x Pantoprazole 40mg

$6.30 for 30 x Pantoprazole 20mg

Why same price? Obviously $6.30 is minimum prescription fee. I'm seeing doctor tomorrow for care plan and I'm asking for new script for Pantoprazole 40mg.

I need to change pharmacies. $9.99 for 40mg for me, yesterday. With 6 scripts markups like that add up significantly.

 

[Flyfrequently]

I tried but centrelink refuses to accept my marriage certificate. Change of name blah blah. Good for ATO. Health. But not Centrelink.

Nuisance I know, but is it worth a visit to Centrelink @Pushka ?

I had issues with mine (middle name added 30+ years ago - go figure!) but they sorted it out that day.

 

[blackcat20]

I need to change pharmacies. $9.99 for 40mg for me, yesterday. With 6 scripts markups like that add up significantly.

Mine is $13.99

 

[VPS]

I need to change pharmacies. $9.99 for 40mg for me, yesterday. With 6 scripts markups like that add up significantly.

That would be with the SHCC for me and generic brand for me is $6.30 but if you want the genuine one I think it was $9.99

 

[Pushka]

That would be with the SHCC for me and generic brand for me is $6.30 but if you want the genuine one I think it was $9.99

I've just checked Chemist warehouse and they are advertising 60 days supply for $14 yet I didn't think it was on the list? SHCC card application submitted. We were on higher salary last year and above the limit but that isn't the case this year so hope they work that out with the paperwork.

 

[OzzRod]

Started my SHCC application. Our super is still totally in accumulation phase so I can ignore it. We still receive (much smaller this year) incomes from the business. Kinda weird. We do pay tax while it's in this phase. But can take lump sums out. No implications.

Tax yes, in accumulation phase but only 15% on fund earnings and it's all exempt from the SHCC income assessment. I'm happy to be in the same situation. Plus you can choose when/if/how much to withdraw as a lump sum. Swap to a pension and it counts as income and you're obliged to withdraw money every year, and may lose SHCC.

 

[Pushka]

Tax yes, in accumulation phase but only 15% on fund earnings and it's all exempt from the SHCC income assessment. I'm happy to be in the same situation. Plus you can choose when/if/how much to withdraw as a lump sum. Swap to a pension and it counts as income and you're obliged to withdraw money every year, and may lose SHCC.

Thanks for confirming my understanding. Brilliant. Probably not a great idea to check the tax it pays but I enjoy the ability to withdraw what I want and when I want. Processed within 5 days too.

 

[JohnK]

I need to change pharmacies. $9.99 for 40mg for me, yesterday. With 6 scripts markups like that add up significantly.

That was Chemist Warehouse but I've noticed that different Chemist Warehouse can charge different price for scripts.

Medicare care plan provides 5 free physio visits a year

- Just called one near by and they will charge me full price and I need to claim from Medicare? Seriously?
- Just called another where I've been before and they had 1-2 staff with surcharge and the rest $7 surcharge. Now they want $30 surcharge. Seriously?

I'll need to call around more to find someone who bulk bills. This is just getting out of control.

 

[Pushka]

That was Chemist Warehouse but I've noticed that different Chemist Warehouse can charge different price for scripts.

Medicare care plan provides 5 free physio visits a year

- Just called one near by and they will charge me full price and I need to claim from Medicare? Seriously?
- Just called another where I've been before and they had 1-2 staff with surcharge and the rest $7 surcharge. Now they want $30 surcharge. Seriously?

I'll need to call around more to find someone who bulk bills. This is just getting out of control.

It's supposed to be free.