GP Surgeries
Dec 12th 2007 | 11:36 am
#16
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,380
From: Perth, WA
Re: GP Surgeries
You don't have to go the Medicare office to claim fees back. You can download forms from their website, fill them in, attach the bill and receipt and Medicare will pay the money direct to your bank account.
Dec 12th 2007 | 11:41 am
#17
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,905
Re: GP Surgeries
If you are on a 457 you could qualify for medicare via agreement with a couple of counties. Not sure what country you are from but UK does have agreement so we get medicare card for the family.
I have used this for bulk bill doctor, hospital appointments, and get access to PBS (prescription scheme).
It supposed to be for necessary/emergency treatment only. However seams to cover most things.
GEMS
I have used this for bulk bill doctor, hospital appointments, and get access to PBS (prescription scheme).
It supposed to be for necessary/emergency treatment only. However seams to cover most things.
GEMS
Dec 12th 2007 | 1:00 pm
#18
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 130
From: Mt. Gambier, South Australia
Dec 13th 2007 | 7:10 am
#19
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 20
From: Lancaster UK
Re: GP Surgeries
If you find a doctor you like and want to stick with, then yes, I would register with them. If you have copies of your medical records then take them along with you but unless you have a very ordinary medical history I would just start from scratch and let them build up a history from here. Obviously if you have a pre-existing condition or significant intervention in the past then give them as much info as possible so you dont have to reinvent the wheel.
Suggest that for your first appointment, you ask for a long appointment - it doesnt cost you that much more financially (get a better medicare return for a long appointment!) and you have more time to give them the background for important features in your past.
We have other sorts of practices where the doctors are less stable (ie you wont necessarily get the same doctors every time you visit) and they tend to bulk bill - around here they are called "suburb" medical centre. The others are more stable practices IMHO.
My parents were always able to get a medicare card for their long stays in Aus so I assume you will still be entitled to basic medicare. Private health insurance is essentially irrelevant for community based medicine - it is generally to cover hospital admissions. One thing that private medicine will do is give you some rebate on very very expensive medicines which are prescribed as essential over a certain amount otherwise you still have to pay the basic cost.
Suggest that for your first appointment, you ask for a long appointment - it doesnt cost you that much more financially (get a better medicare return for a long appointment!) and you have more time to give them the background for important features in your past.
We have other sorts of practices where the doctors are less stable (ie you wont necessarily get the same doctors every time you visit) and they tend to bulk bill - around here they are called "suburb" medical centre. The others are more stable practices IMHO.
My parents were always able to get a medicare card for their long stays in Aus so I assume you will still be entitled to basic medicare. Private health insurance is essentially irrelevant for community based medicine - it is generally to cover hospital admissions. One thing that private medicine will do is give you some rebate on very very expensive medicines which are prescribed as essential over a certain amount otherwise you still have to pay the basic cost.
