IVF Cost & safety net?

[Queenluxury]

Hi ladies,
I'm about to start my first IVF cycle in 3 weeks. My clinic charges $7,106 not included anesthetist, hospital stay for EPU & Transfer which will be around 2k.
I haven't yet reach Medicare safety net yet. Another $650 to go
Im so confused right now about how to calculate how much I will get back.

Cost of my IVF will be separate to 4 items. First one will be around $5,500 then 200, 900 & 500 = $7,100

1) is that mean I'll have to pay first item full cost ($ 5,500)and got rebate 80% back from the rest of the items? Or they will take $650 off 7,100 then rebate 80% back from $6,450 (7,100 - 650 )

2) any way I can reach safety net faster? I thinking to go see doctor everyday and ask for US or BT so I can reach safety net.

3) any waiting period for phi? I'm with medibank for 6 months already.

Thanks so much!

[myturn]

I get confused with the safety net as well... I just pay upfront and then medicare deposits the rebate directly into my account each time....I get it as a lump sum, so I'm not really sure how it's broken up....

But the clinic is really good at answer questions - so I reckon if you give your liaison officer a call and ask they should be able to tell you exactly how much you will pay when and what the rebate will be.

join us in the ltttc thread..... don't know what I'd do without the ladies in there !!
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...ml#post3122829

hopefully you won't be on your journey for very long - good luck!

[MummyNaomi]

Or they will take $650 off 7,100 then rebate 80% back from $6,450 (7,100 - 650 )

Pretty sure the above is the case. We hadn't hit the safety net yet when we cycled last year, but the cycle cost put us well over and we got back a lovely chunk

[Queenluxury]

Thanks Myturn.

Im so exciting to start the cycle & really really scared at the same time. Everynight I lay down on my bed & thinking about IVF & pray to get bfp til fall asleep. I just don't know how to cope with the stress during the cycle! Oh goshhh.....

[Queenluxury]

Mummynaomi : Do you phi cover the day surgery cost?

[Joeve]

My phi covered part of the day surgery costs for both egg pickup and transfer but not all of it.
I have just done my first cycle you will be fine the girls here are very helpful.

[myturn]

my PHI covered the EPU and ET costs (Egg Pick Up and Embryo Transfer) - I didn't pay anything out of pocket at all for them....

it is anxiety provoking - especially the first time, as you don't know what to expect... but it will all just happen, and if you go with the flow, it's easier to manage....

but especially... keep busy during the TWW... that's where the painful waiting is!!!

[MummyNaomi]

Mummynaomi : Do you phi cover the day surgery cost?

Yep !

[thirdtimelucky77]

Hi Queenluxury - good luck with your first cycle!!

I'm in Perth too - I agree with MummyNaomi - your IVF bill will take you too the Medicare safety net and you should get the 80% back less the $650. Hope that makes sense one thing I didn't know that the BB girls helped me understand - when you pay your out of pocket bill for your stim cycle and you get a receipt (after the initial Medicare contribution) make sure you send your receipt for your out of pocket payment to Medicare - I got a second rebate from Medicare on this - which was a further 1500! several of the BB ladies explained this to me at the time.

My phi fully covered the hospital component of the EPU and FET - I'm with HBF top table.. But there was a 12 month waiting period for assisted conception.

Best of luck with everything! Xx

[Queenluxury]

Thirdtimelucky77 : which clinic are you with? I'm with Hollywood
I will be paying full cost upfront then the medicate will rebate back straight into my bank account. So I need to bring a receipt of full cost that I paid to Medicare office, is that correct?

Btw Congratz to ur twins!! <3

[juniper76]

Unless they have changed it back (ha ha), you do NOT get 80% of your out-of-pocket back for IVF. The IVF rebates are capped, so there is a maximum rebate you receive and it depends heavily on how your clinic codes their invoices/receipts.

When they brought the caps in (thank you ALP), our out-of-pocket expense for IVF increased by $2000 per cycle (from roughly $2000 to $4000+). And if you're lucky enough to get a BFP, your average OB will cost you an extra $2000 too (unless you go public) thanks to the caps they added to OB services at the same time.

You can find details on the medicare website, but it would be easier to speak to your clinic. Our clinic had a factsheet they handed out to help couple estimate their expenses and staff were also available to talk through it.

[myturn]

Hi Queenluxury - good luck with your first cycle!!

I'm in Perth too - I agree with MummyNaomi - your IVF bill will take you too the Medicare safety net and you should get the 80% back less the $650. Hope that makes sense one thing I didn't know that the BB girls helped me understand - when you pay your out of pocket bill for your stim cycle and you get a receipt (after the initial Medicare contribution) make sure you send your receipt for your out of pocket payment to Medicare - I got a second rebate from Medicare on this - which was a further 1500! several of the BB ladies explained this to me at the time.

My phi fully covered the hospital component of the EPU and FET - I'm with HBF top table.. But there was a 12 month waiting period for assisted conception.

Best of luck with everything! Xx

I went to medicare and double checked this, and they said that everything would be done electronically and there would be no additional rebates???..... hmmm... maybe my clinic does it differently???

[Queenluxury]

Oh god.. The caps thing is confusing me!!
Why can't I just preg naturally ( ) so I won't have to go through IVF...stressed about getting bfp n the cost of treatment :'(

My clinic can do electronic claim for me also but I think I might go to Medicare office n do it myself.

[MummyNaomi]

Until next financial year (eg July 1), your medical expenses from THIS year (eg July 1, 2011 to June 30th, 2012) are eligible for 20% of out of pocket expenses rebated as part of your tax return. As of next year though, IVF (and I think OB fees) are exempt from this - or something like that It just gets harder and harder to afford!

[myturn]

Until next financial year (eg July 1), your medical expenses from THIS year (eg July 1, 2011 to June 30th, 2012) are eligible for 20% of out of pocket expenses rebated as part of your tax return. As of next year though, IVF (and I think OB fees) are exempt from this - or something like that It just gets harder and harder to afford!

ahhh... that's what the tax return thing is...! I asked the FS yesterday if there was some change with the medicare rebate on 1st july, and he said he hadn't hear anything... but that makes more sense that it's to do with the tax return....

good thing I've told my sister in law we are doing ivf.... as she is our accountant...

[nothing2lose]

It's 20 percent of your out of pocket expenses over $2000.

Queen luxury, it's not an automatic over the counter refund like normal claims. It takes a week or two to process.

[MummyNaomi]

Ahh thanks N2L, forgot the $2000 bit - and I think the threshold jumps up significantly next financial year, including exempted items

[nothing2lose]

Yeah, it doesn't amount to much Naomi. It sounds better than it is