I am going to be 17.5 weeks on 31st Dec. Is it going to be possible to claim back from medicare the 20 week management fee from medicare before the safety net changes. My saftey net is already up to $700 so we will get a fair bit of it back if we pay it prior to dec 31. I have asked 4 different people at medicare and noone can give me a straight answer and they have all said something different. One even said it is still in front of the senate and they can't comment.
As this is our first baby we are not sure how this fee structure works and if there is some kind of proof you take with you to medicare to prove you are further along than 20 weeks.
Sorry if this is a stupid question but we are very confused and medicare don't seem to know
will your ob let you pay the fee early?
A friend of mine is in a similar situation, and the ob says they cant make out the receipt until you are 20 weeks, so she will have to claim it in the new year
I asked my Ob about early payment too, so I could make the most of safety net / rebate before the changes too and was told that I couldn't make payment until my 20 week appointment at the earliest and I had to make payment at an actual appointment not just walk in and pay - I scrape in by about 10 days. Will be double checking next week when I go for next appointment.
Thanks guys, it's good to know of others in the same situation.
Thats what i thought. Luckily my OB is not super expensive. If only I had concieved the month before... lol!!! My DH is a bit of a tight arse but is very supportive of us going private so he understands our OOP maybe a around $2000 just would have been nice to avoid it for the sake of 2 weeks.. grrrr
I will have a chat with the receptionist and see what she says
Last edited by Mrs McAwesome; November 5th, 2009 at 12:30 PM.
: wanted to thank everyone for feedback
yeah i am grateful for the fact he is cheaper than most otherwise we would have had no choice but to go public.
Hollybolly - you must be on cloud nine. congrats on your bubs after 6 ivf cycles this little peanut was destined to be yours.
Unfortunately, according to my specialist, you do need to show proof (from your OB or Dr) of your due date....
We worked out that I will miss out on the benefit by 7 days
My specialist said there's really no way you can get past it - if he was to say my due date was a week earlier he can be liable for breaking the law
We can pay it earlier but medicare won't allow you to be reimbursed until you're 20 weeks +
Ironic thing for us is that I will be having an elective c/s (due to compications & my uterus' damage from past surgeries & issues)... and I'll be having the c/s 7-14 days earlier tham my due date
management fee/medicare safety net
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