rebnatoli

After looking at a few different medical centres I made an appointment with a Dr at one that said it did bulk billing which I thought meant you didn't pay for a normal Drs appointment - however when I phoned for an appointment the receptionist said I would be charged $49 and would be able to claim most back except $16.

So now I'm confused this doesn't sound like bulk billing to me - I had my eyetest done with bulk billing and it was free? Do you have to register at the medical centre first to get bulk billing?

Centurion

If they bulk bill this means that they claim to Medicare for the benefit payable at a service directly and you dont pay that portion.

If they dont bulk bill you pay the whole lot and then take your invoice down to a medicare centre and claim it back for cash there and then.

Ultimately you pay the same, bulk billing saves you a trip.

Pollyana

Some do a certain amount of bulk-billing, but not for all appointments, for example they may not do it for weekends.

comet555

I also noticed ads that said bulk billing, but after checking it was usually just for the kids.

So far we've all had doctors appointments. The kids have been bulk bulled but mine isn't. So within a doctors office they may bulk bill unders some situations but not others.

kt.2006

Hi

At the new Victoria Point Medical Centre I have not been charged for anything. They even have Xray, ultrasound and pathology departments. The only thing I have paid for has been a prescription at the chemist.

h1tvd

I've had 2 doctors appointments. 1st appointment - as it was explained to me the surgery has some bulk billing appointments - first come first served and these do not cost you anything. If you desperately need an appointment and cant wait for a bulk billed one then you get a normal appointment, pay $50 and can claim back about $30 something dollars from medicare. 2nd appointment - same as first but the first appointment had to be a normal appointment, then can qualify for bulk billing appointment. That doctor explained that the most common type of appointment not available through bulk billing with them is for post natal appointments and these do cost quite a lot.

Hope this helps.

rebnatoli

I think that's the one I was supposed to go to but booked the Victoria Point Surgery by accident!

Thanks to everyone else for the replies - guess it takes a bit of getting used to!

kt.2006

Easily done as there are so many around. I would recommend this one.

My son recently had an accident and we took him to the VP Medical Centre as it is like a mini hospital. He had stitches and went back to have the dressings changed every two days. I thought the treatment he received was excellent and the only thing we paid for was antibiotics .

Aussie_Pom

Could not agree more, went there yesterday with Daughter, best thing about the place is the excellent ventilation A/C system which means if you go in with a sprained ankle you leave with a sprained ankle not some air borne virus as well.

kt.2006

Very handy during the hot summer months too!

rebnatoli

We went over to have a look after going to the other place and will be booking our next appointment there - it looked nicer and the receptionists were friendly.

kt.2006

Not too sure about friendly receptionists (do they exist?) but the nurses were very friendly and the doctors seemed very good.