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.
This possible change by the g'vment certainly made us feel like our hand was being forced even more than the fact we had to do IVF in the first place. I remember it all kicking off in March, just as we were discussing how lucky we were to live somewhere that made it a little more accessible financially due to the rebate.
We did a first cycle and even though got two frosties, when it was unsuccessful decided on a full stim. cycle straight away, which was also unsuccessful but gave me another 2 frosties only.
After many discussions, DH wanted me to make final decision as he said I have to go through it physically, so instead of using our frosties, we've opted for a 3rd stim. cycle, which will be in Oct. It will be our last chance this year...and although our FS told us that it was not getting passed in senate etc, we can't take the risk financially, and seeing as we can scrape the money together now, we'll try.
The way I've read the reports in the media and on the gov'ment website, the latest proposal means that as long as the clinic doesn't charge in excess of 6000 for a basic IVF (without ICSI etc) then people won't be worse off. The thing is, if clinic's change their prices (mine issued a letter months ago, advising of price going up next year - hopefully they'll review that) people will shop around and go to the clinics that charge the 'average' 6000.
Has anyone heard any updates to this at all lately? I questioned MIVF about it but they said they had not been told anything and they woudl let us know when they know.
mitf I asked same question at my clinic last week and they all just say, they've been told to say that nothing changes as per the last letter earlier in year stating the amount it was going to go up by.
as far as i can see, all clinics are cashing in allowing everyone (me included) to do more stim (therefore more expensive) cycles this year...there must've been an influx in the last 3 months)....in the fear of what's gonna happen in Jan '10. whether their prices will come down/go up or remain the same...they won't disclose till they have to.
I'll be thinking with my feet though..they're nice there...but I know from friends that they're nice at other places.
i am trying to get dh to agree to do next ivf this year as it will effect us in a big way.
the stupid thing is the govenment says they want us to have more children, hence why the baby bonus was put up to $ 5000. the thing is we really want to have a child and some people are only getting pregnant for the govenment money, surely this is rediculous. if they want more babies then why cut the medicare rebate in the first place ?!
sorry for rant
From what I've read I've gotten the vibe that this government would actually like to get rid of the baby bonus but knows it would hurt them too much at the polls. I'm pretty sure the increase to $5000 was set in motion by the previous government (but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong).
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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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