Hi i know this sounds really stupid but do you still go to a doctor to get the pill in Australia or do buy it over the counter ? Its just that my doctor is being a complete arse and will only give me one months supply to take :curse:
Why i dont know i have always had my blood pressure taken and then given a years supply :curse::curse:

Go to a family planning clinic, and get a supply from there.

Here you will have to pay to see the doctor (unless you find one of the rare breed that bulk bills so its free) and then you will have to pay again for the pills.

I heard on the radio this morning how the standard Doc consulting fee will be going up, but as 80% of Australian's go to Doctor's who bulk bill, it won't affect too many people. Where on earth do people find these doctors!!? I think in the two years I've been here I've heard of one so far who bulk bills

at the risk of sounding stupid; what is 'bulk billing'?

You wont be on your UK practice's list once you migrate to Oz, so you wouldn't be entitled to receive any medication through them. Your timeline/status suggests that you're leaving in six days' time.....hopefully you'll be able to drop in to a family planning clinic before you leave.

Good luck with everything.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulk_billing

So the pill isn't free the same as in the UK then?

I'm gonna start stashing mine to take with me if it isn't free! My doctor doesn't know his ar$e from his elbow, I can get a prescription for 6 months then pop back to months later and get another 6 months!

No it's not free, barely anything is here unfortunately!!! I read somewhere that if you want to stock up then go to your doc, don't tell them you're emigrating but say you're going travelling for a year and they should hopefully give you a 12 month supply. Some might be a bit funny because you should get your bp checked routinely etc but you should be able to get at least 6 months out of them. Good luck.

That sounds like the best plan. Lots of pharmacies here do days when they give free bp tests. If you do get a year's worth then I'd have the bp done every now and then. FPC is the best bet for large quantities.

Hi

our Doctors Bulk Bill, But there English is crap

Billy

Priceless

Righto... and your spelling is?

A quick definition of Bulk Billing is where the Doctor charges the Government for your medical care, and you pay nothing.

You will find some locations where most doctors will Bulk Bill, and other areas where few doctors will bulk bill.

In the cheaper areas of Western Sydney, almost all doctors bulk billed, but in the more expensive areas of Sydney, very few doctors would consider it.

Due to recent legislation, we are now finding that more doctors are bulk billing for Children and Pensioners, due to financial incentives from the government for the Doctors to do this,

In essence when someone visits a Doctor, Medicare will pay 85% of the Medicare Schedule fee for services provided by the treating practitioner. Let's say that the "scheduled fee" is $38.00

If a Doctor fully bulk bills, they will not charge you, but they will get paid 85% of that $38 scheduled fee direct from the Medicare.
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Where exactly are you ?

I've been here since 2002, and only ever paid once, and that was my first doctors visit in QLD, before I found the Bulk Billers