Hi There,
I have just researched this myself whilst crunching some figures...
Ok, here are my findings: (sorry if TMI, as you probably already know most of this)
Medicare Safety net (SN) is available to all Medicare card holders - Singles are automatically registered for SN, couples and families need to register.
The SN year is per calendar year Jan - Dec. So it does put those who fall pregnany half way through the year at a huge disadvantage! :frown:
Once you reach $1000.00 out of pocket expenses, or Gap fees and after your medicare rebate (which is the scheduled fee Medicare says your doctor should be charging) you are entitled to a 80% discount on all futher services providing they are out of hospital.
EG. My Ob is going to charge me $3112.00 in Jan, so minus $1000.00 (safety net), minus $97.00 medicare rebate = $2015.00 out of pocket, Safety Net rebate is 80% of this amount. Any future trips to the OB in 2007 which usualy cost $80.00 are then going to cost me $16.00. SN can be used for specialists, sonographers, blood test etc, anything done out of hospital.
So to sum up - you have to loose $1000.00 out of pocket before you can get the discount of 80%.
AND now for the Tax rebate. You can claim 20% of all out of pocket expenses in your tax return once you are $1500.00 out of pocket- these expenses do not include monies you have recived in rebates from Medicare, including SN, they are the difference between the 80% rebate and the 100% cost.
The ATO website has more info on this.
Sorry if ive confussed anyone, please ask and i will try to clarify anything, im not the best at explaining sometimes!
Caro - I am in the same position - I am 20 weeks on the 2nd January! So far this year i am only $360 out of pocket so to ask to be billed this year is not good for us, seeing the visits will step up alot more next year as will the tests, scans etc...
WOW i wish my OB charged $1850.00 for planning and management! he is charging us $3112.00! I had to laugh, the Medicare shedule fee is advised at only $97.00!
I think no matter which way you look at it, we are all going to loose at least $1000.00. Our OB also charges another $1500.00 which is payable by week 32 and is NOT claimable on Medicare or Health insurance, it is the gap fee he charges for delivery, so basicaly, we are out of pocket $2900.00. Which is as we are very very happy with him and for a first bub, we just wanted the best, maybe next time if everything goes well, we will use the midwifes/share care as it probably won't be so daunting!
So are you saying that they can change the rebate from $97.00 to something higher? ive called Medicare and basically recorded verbatim what they told me. It is so confusing isn't it?
The lady told me that until i had spent $1000.00 (lost, gone, never to be seen again) i could not start to claim the 80% rebate.
Thanks everyone for your responses, very confusing but what i have worked out is that it is all good for as my first OB appointment is 2nd Jan so all expenses will be in the one year.
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