Ultrasound costs etc!!

[~Phoenix~]

Hi Elle

Where are you having it done? I'm going private too and I had mine at the Ultrasound for Women on Anzac Highway at 19+4 and think it was about $220-235. I had a followup one two weeks ago due to my placenta position & that one was $235 but that's it for me now hopefully.

Have you registered for Medicare Safety Net, not sure how the new system works from 1st Jan but my out of pockets costs added up to me getting a better rebate on my 20 week Ob fees I had to pay once I went past the threshold.

[Mrs Jak]

I know!!

I went public with my first and never had to pay a cent for anything. My last pregnancy we were private and this one too.

I even have to pay for blood tests because the Ob sends me to one that doesn't bulk bill. Not only do we pay for everything and now get less back from medicare, we also still pay the monthly fee to the healthcare fund to be private.

Sorry for the rant!

I'm pretty sure I pay at least $200 and previously have gone at 19 weeks and have been advised to go at 19 weeks again.

On a similar topic... I found out the other day that the medicare refund for the big fee (management fee) we pay the Ob at around 20 weeks has now been capped by medicare so we can only get around $400 back, even if we are over the safety net....

[Talia*L]

I'm pretty sure I pay at least $200 and previously have gone at 19 weeks and have been advised to go at 19 weeks again.

Why have you been advised to go again at 19 weeks? Unless there is a pressing medical need, why not go when you want to? Hold off til 24 weeks or even later if you want - they can do all the same checks, only they will be even more accurate!

[feeb]

Talia*L the scan is done between 18 and 20 weeks to determine if any abnormalities, during this time period people can choose to terminate if any problems found.

Often after 1 scan they want another done by someone more specialised or even and amnio and this can all take time, so leaving a scan later does not give you this time.

I went private and paid for scans but got a % back from medicare, all bloods were bulk billed. Did have to pay for bloods part of screening test as that is tested in a diff lab.

[Talia*L]

Talia*L the scan is done between 18 and 20 weeks to determine if any abnormalities, during this time period people can choose to terminate if any problems found.

Often after 1 scan they want another done by someone more specialised or even and amnio and this can all take time, so leaving a scan later does not give you this time.
.

Yes I'm aware of that - I mentioned it above. I just know from speaking to lots of women that many would not terminate at this point (not asking anyone to say whethether they would or wouldn't, such a personal decision!) - but my point is, if someone would go ahead with the pregnancy anyway, there is not much point in scanning so early, particularly when sometimes it requires an additional scan as the early one was not clear enough or advanced enough.

[~Phoenix~]

I've been lucky all my blood tests, and I've had a heap, have all been bulk billed. Have had to pay gaps on ultrasounds and coz of early bleeding have had to have a couple of them.

My Ob had an intial consulation fee of $147 which I got about $60 back for and the rest of appointments are bulk billed, except for her 20 week fee which was $1800 and I got just over $1100 back.

Did a double check with my private health insurer and had some bonus system on my hospital excess and as I haven't made a claim won't have to pay any when I go in.

So all in all my private Ob experience hasn't been so bad BUT I do have a couple of gripes lol the hospital I'm going to I have to supply my own nappies for length of stay, they only give you SIX to get through first day!! And they have limited clothing available so I have to supply that too - not that I mind so much on that but hey figured with what you get charged/pay for private health there would be some perks.

[~clover~]

Pheonix - I had my girls at a hospital here & they provided cloth, which I used, but I had DS elsewhere & also had to provide my own nappies. They let me have the first one

[~clover~]

Ah, where I live they aren't generous enough to bulk bill public patients, so we are expected to also pay full price & thats about what it is.
I was lucky & only paid the gap for my dating scan, which was $50, but my friend has just had the morphology scan done & paid about $80 gap. Thats for public & only coz we are on Medicare & health care cards, other wise price would've been $160 & about $220.