TakenThePlunge

So I've been referred to another specialist today, on phoning up they have no appointments before the 14th June - which in itself is ridiculous.

So my question is if my doctor has refered me to specialist X, can I just use the same referral to find specialist Y - or do I have to go back to my doctor to get another referral, so the bloodsucker (sorry doctor) can charge me another 50 bucks for writing a letter.

On a related issue how the hell do I get off this private treadmill - doctor charges me $X for referral, Specialist charges $X more, I get less than half of it back from Medicare and my private insurance doesn't seem to cover it.

I'm paying thousands and I still have to wait months - I'm almost fond of the NHS again...

roaringmouse

Go to a bulk billing doctor for that bit.

HelenTD

My GP gave me a referral for a consultant, but when I rang there were no appointments for the remainder of 2011 for new patients. I've rung the GP back, spoke to the practice manager and they will write a new referral once I've done a few phone calls to see who is taking new patients this year. Might be worth a try at your medical centre, as basically all the GP needs to do is change the consultant's name and address and re-sign the letter, so you might get away with no fee like I did.

Dorothy

If you want to go public you can expect to wait many many months. Our new patients (cardiology) are now getting appointments for new referrals in June.

jad n rich

The Doctor is probably well aware of the wait time ( 3 months is pretty normal for a private specialist) many many months or longer if you want public treatment. Specialists save a few spots for urgent ( category 1 matters ) and you dont want one of them


Ring the receptionist, tell her you want to speak to Doctor to discuss the wait time, but most others are probably the same or worse. Other thing you can do is get a cancellation if they come up.

As for the cost, once medicare/private have chipped in their pittance, only thing you can do is save receipts and at tax time any amount over $2000 you can claim back 20% on your tax - ( for the out of pocket amount only not the entire amount.

quoll

Unfortunately you arent on the private treadmill, you are on the run of the mill medical provision. If you say you want a bulk billing specialist you could be waiting until the cows come home unless you can get your foot in the door with an acute episode of something that would take you to A&E and get you seen by a registrar at least.

You havent even come close to private yet!!! That comes when your specialist tells you you need elective surgery and asks if you have private insurance. You say no, he says well, the wait list is 18 months and I wouldnt be doing the surgery, you say yes, he says I can do it next Thursday week and it will cost you another $2000 (pick figure to suit the surgery - my carpal tunnel just cost me $1500 out of pocket). Welcome to Australia, it's the way it is here.

fish.01

[QUOTE=TakenThePlunge;9278532].....
On a related issue how the hell do I get off this private treadmill - doctor charges me $X for referral, Specialist charges $X more, I get less than half of it back from Medicare and my private insurance doesn't seem to cover it...../QUOTE]

Private insurance is for hospital cover, not medical specialists.

To get on the public system you have to ask to be referred to a public hospital outpatients clinic when talking to your gp, otherwise you will be referred privately. Probably similar to the NHS the wait time depends on the speciality and the hospital. Some specialities have very good wait times and some have very bad ones. Sometimes the wait for a public specialist is the same as a private one so worth asking.

You can find out figures for elective surgery wait times for your hospital here: http://www.myhospitals.gov.au/

If you do go to a private specialist ask whether he can treat you as a No Gap patient if you need private hospital treatment. Your private insurance provider will usually have a list of specialists that are predisposed to taking on No Gap patients. I have never been refused when I have asked.

TakenThePlunge

Thanks everyone for the very helpful replies - I must say that the medical setup has been my least favorite aspect of Australia so far - but I will eventually get my head round it.

spalen

You can ring around all the other specialists in that discipline and see who has an appointment or offers you the best option - its private, you are paying, you make the choice. Its no different to purchasing from Coles or Woolworths.