General Medical issues thread

[Quickstatus]

It's supposed to be free

Medicare care plan provides 5 free physio visits a year

Nowhere does Medicare says any Medicare Schedule related services are free. Its free if the provider bulkbills
For physios I believe its $58 if bulkbilled.

 

[Pushka]

Nowhere does Medicare says any Medicare Schedule related services are free. Its free if the provider bulkbills
For physios I believe its $58 if bulkbilled.

It's free on a medical care plan my Doctor told me. Five visits. Just randomly picking a physio - it clearly isn't.

 

[mrsterryn]

It's free on a medical care plan my Doctor told me. Five visits.

I always just got a discount on physio of about $20 per visit. The rest I paid

 

[Quickstatus]

It's free on a medical care plan my Doctor told me. Five visits.

See Item 10960 Medicare Schedule

 

[Pushka]

See Item 10960 Medicare Schedule

Thanks. I did some more searching. That schedule isn't too bad but picking a random physio clinic the gap is much higher. Glad I didn't bother getting one. Dr keeps suggesting it.

 

[VPS]

I have 5 physio visits a year and they charge me the full amount $80 and I get $58 back so still cheaper than paying for the physio. I'm happy to pay the gap for a physio I know and trust

 

[Quickstatus]

Dr keeps suggesting it.

Well at $58x5 = $290 discount on whatever they charge

 

[ellen10]

My sister in law and her husband have just moved back from the UK after living there 25 years. They can’t believe that they have to pay a gap to go to the doctor, or that the scripts aren’t free. They have paid nothing for any medical treatment whilst in the UK. And he was on a very good wage over there.

 

[Flashback]

My sister in law and her husband have just moved back from the UK after living there 25 years. They can’t believe that they have to pay a gap to go to the doctor, or that the scripts aren’t free. They have paid nothing for any medical treatment whilst in the UK. And he was on a very good wage over there.

There is no such thing as free scripts. The closest is a PPC where you pay a fixed amount per year (same cost for everyone unless you have certain allowances and anyone can just go online and buy it) and get unlimited prescriptions in that 12 month period.

 

[Quickstatus]

They have paid nothing for any medical treatment whilst in the UK

Check out NHS ewaiting/delays/backlogs
There is also a reason why there has been a infux of British junior Drs coming to AU rather than the other way round (and its not the weather)

 

[drron]

Well Mrsdrron should be OK as when we lived in Maitland they gave her the invalid pension. Person with the same name living in Sydney

 

[ellen10]

There is no such thing as free scripts. The closest is a PPC where you pay a fixed amount per year (same cost for everyone unless you have certain allowances and anyone can just go online and buy it) and get unlimited prescriptions in that 12 month period.

They are staying with us atm. I will quiz them about their statement, they were boasting that they got 6 months worth of feee prescriptions before they left too! they are at the doctors atm , complaining that they have to pay $88 for the consult.

 

[ellen10]

Check out NHS ewaiting/delays/backlogs
There is also a reason why there has been a infux of British junior Drs coming to AU rather than the other way round (and its not the weather)

They were also boasting that she has had two sinus ops recently, the last one even did a nice little plastic surgery on her nose and made it look cuter.
Also boasted that she got a free Cpat machine too.
I’m sure the NHS system has many problems, they just aren’t happy with paying over here.

 

[Flashback]

They were also boasting that she has had two sinus ops recently, the last one even did a nice little plastic surgery on her nose and made it look cuter.
Also boasted that she got a free Cpat machine too.
I’m sure the NHS system has many problems, they just aren’t happy with paying over here.

For some of the items they may have had private insurance? Often a perk offered by companies (attracts benefit in kind tax of course). IME few people just go out and buy their own PHI, instead relying on the NHS.

 

[Quickstatus]

They were also boasting that she has had two sinus ops recently, the last one even did a nice little plastic surgery on her nose and made it look cuter.
Also boasted that she got a free Cpat machine too.

Good luck if they can get it for free... But for the rest is a long wait.

 

[TheRealTMA]

It's free on a medical care plan my Doctor told me. Five visits. Just randomly picking a physio - it clearly isn't.

Always been free for my 5 visits with plan from GP.

 

[Pushka]

Rheumatologists don't like inflammation do they. Have to go back to 5mg pred for five months now. Until I see her again. And I thought I was doing good. Also thinks I have a BCC on bridge of my nose.

Post automatically merged: Oct 19, 2023

Always been free for my 5 visits with plan from GP.

So you think it is supposed to be free?

 

[TheRealTMA]

So you think it is supposed to be free?

Was for me! (twice). 5 free visits funded bt Medicare available each year is my understanding based on 12 months ago referral.

 

[Flashback]

Was for me! (twice). 5 free visits funded bt Medicare available each year is my understanding based on 12 months ago referral.

I think that's the key thing, referral required. You can't just go in and start using?

 

[TheRealTMA]

I think that's the key thing, referral required. You can't just go in and start using?

Yes, you can't just pop into a physiotherapist and ask for it. The GP has to prepare a management plan then send the referral. Preparation of the management plan is lucrative for the GPs and is generally bulk billed.