Wizard

Hi just wondering if anyone can clarify the medicare system for me.

We are Australian PR holders (validated August 2008) my son at the moment is having treatment for cancer (diagnosed after our validation trip). He is hopefully nearing the end of his treatment now and we still hope to emigrate as soon as all is well or as well as it can be under the circumstances! My question is concerning the costs with medicare. My son will have to have follow ups for the rest of his life and especially for the first three years he will need doctor consults and scans every few months. I am enquiring about whether you have to pay for these in Australian (obviously free here) or have to pay some of the cost? I have read a lot about medicare and looked it up on here but it is all very confusing and contradicting.

If anyone knows the answer it would be much appreciated as we will have to budget for that too!

Thanks!!

kar-kier

I have no idea, but didn't want to read and run! Hope your son is better soon!

jad n rich

It will really depend on where you get them done.

Some Doctors bulk bill, so you dont pay. Others charge and you get a portion back from medicare ( Pay $60, get back $33 - short consultation is a recent example ) .

Specialists rarely bulk bill, not even for kids, if you can access one through a hospital, ( sometimes, but big wait lists usually, maybe with cancer you will get a referal ??? but dont bank on it.

Scans - as with Doctors, they set their own charges/billing methods, but you can ring around, find out their costs beforehand, you might find one who bulkbills, rare but some do.

Hope your son goes well with his treatment.