thebardies

Hi guys, man i havent posted on here for ages!!!

I just have a quick question concerning my daughter. We are permanent residents here in Melbourne and have been here over a year now and loving every second of it. So far apart from my daughters immunisations we have not had any dealings with the health service and so i still find it all a bit confusing!

The situation is this... my daughter has a strawberry birth mark on the end of her nose. Now last time i went to the Dr with her for a jab the dr said that if it hadnt gone by the time she was 2 to come back and see him and he would refer her. Apparently this type of birth mark will disappear by the age of 9 but as it is on the face they like to treat it so the child doesnt get bullied at school.

What i would like to know if anyone has any experience of this is how much we would be looking at paying? If she is refered is it included under the medicare system? What with all these mortgage rate increases money is tight so i dont want to rush into anything that is going to cost a fortune. Obviously my daughters well being comes first and we will find the money from somewhere but i just want to be prapared!! I will sell a kidney if i have to!!

Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom, Jan

Wendy

I've been referred to a few specialists since being here, and I am always asked if I want private or public- if you go public you generally don't have to pay (except maybe small gap fees or whatever) but do go on a waiting list.

The most I have waited for an appointment was 12 weeks, but it would really depend on the specialist and how busy they are. I haven't paid for any treatment to any of them yet except for a prescription that I had to get for one appointment, all the rest were bulk billed.

thebardies

Brilliant. Thanks for that x

quoll

If it isnt growing and isnt a huge deformity then my guess is that it would be elective surgery and the waiting lists for cosmetic procedures under medicare could be anything from 3 months to 3 years and beyond - it depends on all the factors facing hospital waiting lists and relative urgency. Because it is a preexisting condition you wouldnt get private cover for it anyway - well not for at least a year IIRC. If it was a day surgery then it wouldnt cost much but if it involves skin grafts and all that palaver then it would be much more $$$$.

My son had one on his cheek when he was little and it went without surgery although a nose might be a different matter.

thebardies

Thanks for that reply. It is a relatively small red mark on the end of her nose. It looks like four raised angry bright red lumps. Most people just assume she has fallen over and im constantly getting asked "ah, what happened? did she have a fall?" We dont even notice it anymore and im sure it will go on its own. I am loathe to touch it as apparently laser surgery can leave a scar where as if it goes away on its own then there is no mark. It is just because as the Dr said children can be cruel and they like to get rid of them before they start school.

i guess i could go to the Dr and get put on a waiting list and in the mean time just see if it goes on its own. i would hate for my little darling to get bullied because of something i could have prevented but then again if i leave a scar thats worse!! Who knows!

thanks for the reply anyway. I will mull it over.