I called our Fertility Clinic to say that we wanted to make an appointment to go through our first ICSI procedure in February 2010... but the patient coordinator started telling me that a lot of people are going to go through the procedure in December rather than putting it off for next year.
I am soooo confused and I don't know what to do? Hubby and I would be more $$$ prepared if we waited til Feb... but it's a bit of a catch 22 because we will end up having to pay more...
The most frustrating bit is not knowing what the final figures will be - and how they'll impact us in the long run.
The information I found yesterday says they are proposing to increase the base Medicare rebate (ie before the Saftey Net) by $1100 for the first cycle and $900 for all subsequent cycles. In other words, you'll get less back from Medicare if you're not lucky enough to have it work first time. It didn't specify whether that was the first cycle ever or the first cycle each year. Probably ever if I had to guess... I read this in the Senate Hansard for the proceedings from 9 September:
(I didn't put the link directly to that day's proceedings because it's quite a large PDF. Just click on the date in question or right-click to download the PDF.)
As someone who has dealt (sometimes badly) with multiple IVF BFN's and is staring down the barrel of IVF#4, I can't help but feel it adds insult to injury. But it's also only $200 (ha! I never thought I'd say "only $200") so I guess it could be worse.
My FS told me the good news yesterday at my appointment that the safety net being dropped is looking like it will no longer be an issue and he said in fact we may be less out of pocket. YAY.
Fatboyslim - sounds like your nurse might not have been aware of the potential changes yet.
Registered User
But it's also only $200 (ha! I never thought I'd say "only $200") so I guess it could be worse.
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