Free health care my butt!

[Netix]

This is my third pg, and the first time i have been sent a bill for the downs syndrome blood test.. And I'm not talking about $30 or $40..... I'm talking over $100 !!!! While I was in the pathology, the two nurses were talking about paperwork to do with my test, to make sure that it was all done properly to make sure that the RCH would not Bill me for the test. But they have. Since when does this happen?

Just because I moved to the country, does that mean I have to pay for everything? I even need to pay to see the freeing ob! They don't do shared care around here. It costs me $53 to see the ob, I might get $20 back from Medicare (according to the medical clinic receptionist). Anyway, getting sidetracked. Actually no. I'm not. Sorry, I am so peeved about being entitled to free health care and being charged through the nose.

I'm also a negative blood type, and the ob (who happens to work at the only clinic in town with obs, so you have to pay, unless you have "the right letter on your health care card" - which I don't apparently), says that even tho ds was a positive blood group (im pretty sure he is), that i still need the anti-d injections. The first of which i am overdue for. I am quite sure that i have read that after you have a positive blood group baby that you don't need any anti d for future pregnancies. Am I correct? I don't even know where the f I am supposed to go for it. The ob just gave me a script or referral. Dunno, filed it and lost it on the shelf somewhere. I guess if i have to go to the pathology for it that i will get another Bill I can't afford.

Further whinging, did the depression questionnaire with the ob, and he wrote down that i have no issues at work. In the same appointment we talked about my boss (read my work thread) ! Um, hello! Are you stupid? He did, however pit on to "watch for fainting attacks during labour". Why? To knock me out and give me a ceasar?

And lastly, while i was in hospital at the start of December, I was reading some maternity info for that hospital, and it mentioned the vmr, so I asked when I would be getting mine (as I couldn't remember when i got them with the other two), and the mw said that they don't bother to use them anymore, cos the doctors don't bother to fill them in. Hello again! Isn't the point of the vmr to have this info about you and your unborn with you, where ever you may go? Anyway, she was right, cos my ob never fills them in. NOTHING has been filled in.

As you can tell, I am really annoyed at all this. It has got to the stage where I don't want to see my ob ever again (seriously) and am wondering what other town I can go to for my pg care. This has got to me so much that i am in tears.

[nothing2lose]

I think the thing to remember is we don't have 'free healthcare' in Australia. Some health care is subsidised through Medicare but we don't have universal no cost medical treatment.

Eta: I just wanted to add that I am not saying that to be mean or anything...I just think it helps to think of it a different way. Imagine how much everything would cost if it wasn't subsidised!! We are really, really lucky, even if we sometimes have to pay a little out of pocket.

[Netix]

Okay. But why do I now have to pay for the downs test?

[Little Chicken]

I have had to pay for the trisomy 21 test both times. As for the anti d injection, if you have had a previous positive blood group baby, then it is even more important you have the injection as you could have been sensitized to the positive blood group. I also had to pay for my ultrasounds with my second child, and my gp's appointments, (I shared care).

[nothing2lose]

It may be a mistake - definitely check it!! Or, the Government may have changed the criteria????? sorry, I really don't know....Unfortunately, I have not been blessed enough to have to have the test.

Hopefully, one of the girls who has had the test recently may be able to tell you.

ETA - maybe you are not paying for the 'test' but the consultation time with the OB???

[Me+him+bub]

I think it varies everywhere, I had to pay for all my blood tests and even scans which some where over $200 and I was public yet friends of mine were all bulk billed even without a health care card, I think maybe it depends on what the dr/ob writes on the referral? Also depends on the facility too. I know QLD x-ray you have to pay yet other places you don't. Google where else you can go get care from. Can you afford an independent middie perhaps?

[Little Chicken]

I didn't pay when I went through the maternity hospital, everything was free. But I paid for most things when I went through the GP.

[Olive]

I went public both times in metro Melbourne and paid for the downs test both times

[Bengal]

I paid $100 or more for the downs test

[Astrid]

Went public both times. RWH for DD1 and the local regional hospital for DD2. Both time had to pay for the 12 weeks, down syndrom testing. Think it was explained that it is optional, rather than standard, so therefore we pay.

Saw the private ob as a public patient (just how it worked down here) and did not have to pay a thing. So I would question about paying to see the Ob.

[Livinthedream]

I think the thing to remember is we don't have 'free healthcare' in Australia. Some health care is subsidised through Medicare but we don't have universal no cost medical treatment.

Eta: I just wanted to add that I am not saying that to be mean or anything...I just think it helps to think of it a different way. Imagine how much everything would cost if it wasn't subsidised!! We are really, really lucky, even if we sometimes have to pay a little out of pocket.

Exactly!!

[willow5]

I had to pay. They said it was because it wasn't essential and it was like an elective test.

[Trillian]

Last year the Government decided to change the bulk billing scheme for blood tests when they were ordered by a specialist Doctor, so instead of not paying when you had the blood test done, they send you an invoice for payment. If you have tests ordered by a GP then they are still bulk billed, it is only tests from specialists, unless they are part of an ongoing series of tests. I see a dermatologist and I have to have monthly blood tests because of the meds I was on and lucky for me the pathology place knew that they were on going tests so I didn't have to pay, but the few times they forgot to put that on there, I was invoiced for $155!. You can then take that to medicare and have them pay their bit and then you only pay the gap, but it is still bugger all. So I would be guesing that an Ob would be classed as a specialist Doctor.

[meow]

The NT test is considered optional so that's why you pay for it yourself.

[feeb]

Yes normal to be charged for combined screening test as it is optional and not offered by the hospital done via GP or OB.

Yes you need Anti D especially as you have other positive blood group children. Ring your hospital and find out how to go about it as I have only worked in hospitals to know that woman get it in pregnancy day stay units or in clinic.

Hope things improve for you in regards to OB.

[Maruschke]

When I had DD1 I didn't have to pay for any scans or BT's... now with the second bub I have to pay out of pocket for the scans... it is VERY difficult to find a bulk billing ultrasound clinic and even then they can only bulk bill you in certain situations.

[Miss.September]

Yep, I was shocked when the bill arrived the other day for it. Didn't get charged for it with DD. So overall, the scan cost $220 and the pathology bit just over $100. Frikken expensive scan! And that was on top of $220 for my inital ob appointment, with $90 per visit from now on.

It drives me mad that I'm private, have specified pregnancy as one of my "extras" and all that gets me is a bed in a private hospital. IMO, it should cover my appointments too, as it did when mum was having me (she tells me every time I have an appointment how in the old days pregnancy cover used to cover appointments and scans too).

So on top of the $160 per month we pay for our PHI, we're hit with these bills too, and we're supposed to be "better off" for having PHI? Bull ****.

[sloane]

i have paid for the NT screening both times (so about 18 weeks ago & before that 3 years ago). i didn't have to pay at the time i had the blood taken but i did pay when i had the u/s done & then a bill from the RCH (think it's the murdoch research institute that does the results?) for the pathology. the scan cost me around $200 & the pathology was about $120 from memory.