Nic938

Hi

Can anyone tell me if blood tests are covered by medicare?

Thanks

Nic

Shakmaty

Probably not, but it may depend on what the blood tests are for.

The site is fairly ambiguous, but it states "medical services which are not clinically necessary" are not covered while "tests and examinations by doctors needed to treat illnesses, including X-rays and pathology tests" are covered, so I'll let you make your own mind up as to whether they are clinically necessary or not. You can always ask medicare

http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/...at-cover.shtml

Nic938

I did look up medicare and like you say it is a bit ambiguous!

My 4 year old has very low iron and ferritous (think that is how it is spelt) and has had to have a blood test every two months. We thought after he had taken medication that it was going to be all good but a blood test this week has said that it has fallen again! He is now back on the medication but has to have a blood test done in 2 months. We leave for Oz in 5 weeks and not sure what to do.

Thanks for the reply.

Nic

breezeboylan

My OH had to have blood tests a while ago and TBH I cant remember if medicare covered it or not but if not it didn't cost much at all or I would have remembered so dont worry to much. I do know that he was attending the Dr and hospital for about 3 years all told in the U.K trying to get a diagnosis and nothing but with the first visit to a G.P here he was given blood tests and had a diagnoses about 3 days later
Tracie

Nic938

Thanks Tracie

My little one has been attending the hospital for best part of a year and still they have no idea why he cannot store any iron in his body everyone (even the doctor here) said the sooner we are out in Australia the better as they have wonderful paeditricians. I sure hope they are right. Just worried about leaving and not really knowing what is wrong with him.

Anyway, thanks for the reply much appreciated.

Nic

MartinLuther

I have a blood test approximately every 6 months and have not paid for one yet. As the blood test is part of a follow up then I don't pay for the doctor's visit either.

Wendy

Beat me to it

My doctors don't charge for kids check ups, tests or anything. Adults have to pay the gap fee, which is $15. I have been to the doctors 8 times in the past 6 months, and have paid one fee of $15 as the blood tests then subsequent check ups are all connected.

My last doctor didn't charge at all as they bulk billed.

I have severe Anaemia, and am currently in the middle of treatment for it. My levels are coming up a little, but I have been referred to a specialist as it's still not right. If what they think is wrong isn't then she has said that I will have to have more tests They don't leave you alone until they get to the bottom of what is wrong here!

Mrs Jackaroo

I have blood tests very frequently and as long as you can produce your medicare card (and you havent gone private) then they're covered. They just swipe my card and I sign - simple as

HTH

Rach xxxx

jad n rich

With X rays and blood tests it can come down to where you go, each company has a differnt policy on charging, like here one co in caloundra will do ultrasounds and scans bulk billed, another lot at buderim/kawana charge for same item. Wait for free ones is somewhat daunting, even with appointments patients are often standing room only.

Charging for kids ultrasounds X rays, paid for that recently too. Never paid for kids bloods, but have paid for mine on occasions.

Like most things medical, its up to the provider what they charge

jad n rich

[QUOTE=Wendy;5637058

I have severe Anaemia, and am currently in the middle of treatment for it. My levels are coming up a little, but I have been referred to a specialist as it's still not right. If what they think is wrong isn't then she has said that I will have to have more tests They don't leave you alone until they get to the bottom of what is wrong here![/QUOTE]


They get to the bottom alright Ongoing anemia has to be checked to make sure its not blood loss in the stool or elsewhere, poop tests and a colonoscopy are sometimes on the menu then, just to be sure.

Wendy

Yep, had them Thankfully not that.

Now they're looking at the other side. Have had ultrasounds, xrays, pee tests and next it's a gynaecologist visit. I've made sure they are all free

Nic938

Hi, thanks everyone for the replies.

This is such a long story, but to cut it short, my 4 year old for the last year has had blood in his poos and dripping into the toilet got to the bottom (pardon the pun) of that and it was a strepptoccocal infection and fissures! Think that is how it is spelt! Anyway, the infection and fissures cleared up in April but he was still having blood in stools. Went to see paediatric consultant who said they would send him to Leicester as very good paeditrician there and they would probably want to do an endoscopy. Went to Leicester and was out in 5 minutes with the paeditrician basically saying there is nothing wrong. I demanded a blood test and it came back saying he had very low iron levels (6) and he had to have an infusion of iron straight away. Put on iron for 2 months, had a blood test and everything fine with his levels, took him off the medication and his blood test done again on Monday. Doctor phoned me yesterday saying it had dropped really low again (8) and had to start medication again and do another blood test in two months. I am only worried as I have to go through all this from the beginning when we get to Oz in 5 weeks and I am so scared that no-one will get to the bottom of why my poor 4 year old has low iron, not great HB levels and has blood when he goes to the toilet.

Really sorry, thanks for reading, I just needed a rant.

Nic

NickyP

Make sure that you get medical reports and copies of any tests to take with you when you get here as that should speed things up.
I can't comment on other areas but where we are I haven't paid for any blood tests but the other tests (ie X-rays etc) have to be paid and claimed back. For children I just pay the gap between medicare and the hospital charges and apparently can claim this back on private cover but haven't got my head around that side of things.
Good luck as I know it must be a real worry.
Nicky

Nic938

Thanks Nicky

I have got all the paperwork that has went between myself, gp and the two consultants to take with me. Also copies of all his blood test and went in this morning to the gp's and got yesterdays results to take. I have to try and think positive and hope that a new doctor a new diagnosis hopefully.

I too cannot get my head around medicare and private health and hoping that when we get out there I meet a nice new expat who can fill me in on what we should do or have covered!

Thanks

Nic

Gems

My kids get free blood tests at local state hospital here in WA.

One was to check levels of medication in blood.
The other was to test for big range of things as has a rare condition.

Gems