Laparoscopy cost in a private hospital???

Hi there, I do not have private health insurance.I was at my gyno for the first time today due to pelvic burning and he said I have to have a laparoscopy done asap (he isnt 100% sure but is thinking I have endometriosis).He said I have to go private as a public system would refuse me treatment due to my weight ( can they do this?).. anyways he said it would cost $1100.I am on the disablity pension so i freaked out, I cannot stand up for longer than 15 minutes without ending up in excruciating pain and have no way of paying $1100... i said i didnt know how i would get the money and he said ring me if u do. I ended up at my fiance's mums house as she lives in the suburb next to my gyno and i was too upset to drive 30 minutes to my place.She said she will lend me the money... I said no 20 times then realised I dont really have a choice.Anyways I just called my gyno to tell him and i said how much if any would we get back from medicare and he said nothing the $1100 is what medicare dont cover. he was acting really rushed and seemed irritated I was asking stuff.Im wondering does anyone know how much the actual cost is? do u pay the actual cost then go to medicare or just the $1100?

Im so sad and angry, I told my old gp 3.5 years about this pain and he fobbed me off.Now its a million times worse and for all I know its everywhere in there and I cant have a baby.

Anyways my operation is in 2 weeks apparently.He didnt even tell me where I am having it.

Endometeriosis will be a lovely addition to my PCOS and IR :wall:

Thanks for reading

Shae

Hi Shae,

Even with a public hospital I think you might still have out of pocket expenses, but I don't know for sure.

Have you called the Royal Womens Hospital to enquire - they have endo specialists there, so they would be able advise on the $$ and on the weight q as well.

I had the same thing done as a girlfriend she got her treatment done by the same doctor as me as well.
I had mine done locally and ended up being out of pocket 400.00 she travelled to the public hospital 40 minutes and it was all free under medicare.
You may have to wait thru the public sector but you will have no bill at the end. Honey dont stress ring the womens and talk to them and that gyno shouldnt practise honestly he prob didnt know much but he should of least told you to talk to his reception staff!
Laps that much obviously he is un aware that any medical procedure done publically or privatley can be claimed lol with the exception of plastics that are done purely by request and not medical necessary
Bec

Hi Shae,

I think Bec G is right that the out of pockets for public hospital should be around 400-500 dollars only. I just had my laparoscopy last week in private and all I have seen out of pocket so far is a couple of hundred but I am yet to see my anaethesists bill :(

You can get the codes of the items the doctor/anaethesist will perform and call medicare to see what is covered.

All the best for it.

Take care,
Miss Tash

Hi Shae,

RayRay offered a good suggestion. Ring the Women's Hospital and have a chat to to someone and get a second opinion if possible. You can also find out what the wait would be like to have the op done through the public system.

Miss Tash's idea of getting the item numbers is good too. At least you will know exactly what you are going to be up for.

The only way to diagnose endo is with a lap and they can treat it on the spot. I had mine done privately and it cost $1500.00 at Freemasons in Melbourne. A fair bit of the cost was taken by Medicare and my PHI covered the bit that was left (sorry, can't remember proportions now). Then I was out of pocket for anaesthetist's fees and that was about it.

Out of pocket medical expenses can also be claimed at the end of the financial year but you are probably aware of that.

Good luck. I hope you can get it sorted soon.

Mel

Hi Shae,
I had a laparotomy last year in a private hospital without private health insurance. Different procedure I know, but I thought the breakdown of my cost may help you. With no health insurance I could not claim anything for the actual hospital fees through medicare. The hospital was $620 per night and they needed two nights payment at check in as that is what I was estimated to stay, plus the cost of the procedure which was $866.00. Total as I walked in the door $2106. I needed to stay an additional night so I had to pay the extra $620 before I left.
My gyno charged $480 for the laparotomy, $353.95 was claimable through medicare.
The assisting charged $163, $56.05 was claimable through medicare.
The anaesthesist charged $800, ($560 if paid within 14 days), $182.25 was claimable through medicare.
We were able to claim ALL of this as out of pocket medical expense as we were way over the safety net at tax time - they calculate it as a %. You don't get it back but it does result in less tax needing to be paid.
I think I would get a second opinion just based on you don't seem comfortable with your gyno.
Best of luck and I hope you get everything sorted out quickly.

I am sorry for what you are going through .When I had my laproscopy nothing was covered by the medicare safety net - as it only covers outpatient expenses I was told. But it does count to the medical expenses threshold for tax purposes over $1500 you get 20% back above the $1500 only and only if you pay tax to offset.

I was out of pocket most for anaethetist -not sure of surgeon because she had no gap arrangement with health fund.

I was a day only surgery so I didn't stay overnight but it was about $400 odd.

I was over the threshold too because of IVF. It would go to the Women's Hospital - they can't refuse you treatment for weight issues if it is endometriosis as they is not a weight related disease.It is painful and you deserve better. :hug:

Through public system I had a hysteroscopy & curette and I had NO OUT of Pocket expenses at all - you would find it rare to pay as a public patient in public hospital.

I am sure they would have women's health clinic in most major hospitals - with gynae/obstetrics. Ask your GP for a referral or turn up at casulty in pain and say you can't take it anymore.

It you are having problems TTC with PCOS you would be best to try the public fertility clinics too - they might have some options for you.

Thanks for your responses everyone. Its now 6 days till im supposed to be having the laparoscopy, i have recieved NO information from them as to pre op appointments or if i need to do anything to prepare for it despite calling them twice and being told its on its way.When i rang today I was told I am also having a hysteroscopy but the gyno has not put a date in my file.Now I have nfi whats going on. I am very close to ditching him and going elsewhere but what stops me is I want it done asap, im tired of this pain, I want to be able to stand up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I dont know what im going to do, but that you for all the advice its given me lots to consider and another few options.

If I dont get the information tomorrow as promised I will go elsewhere i think.

Thanks again

Shae

Hi Shae.
They can't just "tell you" that your having a hysterectomy - is it required? Has it been discussed with your before?
I wouldn't wait until tomorrow to start making phone calls, as the quality of care you are receiving sounds terrible.

I had a lap done in november, private hospital without PHI

From memory the surgeon fee was ~$1250, anaethetist ~$700, and surgery room ~$650

Wouldn't have been so bad if the operation actually worked instead of making it much worse lol

Hope it works out ok for you

Hi Shae

My endo specialist does both private clinic and also is one of the head surgeons at the Royal Womens and he is brilliant. Definately give the pelvic pain unit a call there ASAP. You certainly don't need someone rushing you into a hysterectomy. Let me know if you want further details.

The other thing is with the level of pain you have they should at least give you some pain relief until your surgery, what is wrong with these doctors?? it's just plain madness.
I have had endo for years and have always been able to get some pain relief organised.

All the best, if you want further details let me know.

I went in under medicare for day surgery and it didn't cost me a cent. The only thing I had to pay for was the gyno visits before hand but I got part back thru medicare and the rest thru private health insurance. Would of cost me more to go through private than public

Gosh, I can't read, I thought you said hysterectomy, not hysteroscopy and I even double checked when I was doing my post to make sure.

It's very normal to have a hysteroscopy with lap, but he still should have told you at the time of your consultation. I have had one with every lap.

My lap with endo removal was 4500 all up in a private hospital with no health cover. The gynae's fee was the cheapest, then there was the anesithist, the operating room hire, the two night stay in hosptial (I ended up needing it because there was a huge removal and I had to have a stomach drain, so you really need to have money aside just in case you need to stay in) and then all the other things they do. I even got charged for the catherder.

It was way better than my public hosptial surgery and I was glad to pay for it, but I was in an area where the public hospitals were terrible.

Hello everyone,---------------HELP need QUICK REPLY NOW I AM SCEDULED FOR SURGERY NEXT WEEK!!!!!
I am new to this site and need info. NOW as I am schedulef for a hysterecomy and lap for endo next week. I am on medicare part A and B and have a secondary inusrance private plan not supplemental. I read on the medicare site that these are considereed non-emergency and hysterectomies are not covered etc untles medically necesaary. I am in a panic now. I have no money and am dependin on medicare to pay for my hosptial fees. I have several fibroids in my utersu and one the size of an orange outside it, endo or cyst on one of my ovareis and possiobe endo. I have been on disablity for 3 years and with chronic pain for 3 years from nerve damage but my period for 2 weeks each month leaves me suicidal with the nerve pain worse. My first and second opionons said oh take LUPRON and I said No this is the drug from Hell and my current doc said he would not put anyone on this drug. I am paying for the surgery myself as he is a non medicare doctor, I NEED TO KNOW CAN MEDICARE DENY MY HOSPITAL FEES FOR ANY REASON TO BE COVERED BECAUSE OF THIS SURGERY EVEN IF I AM PAYING HIM MYSELF FROM A LOAN I HAD TO GET. the hosptial told me the OR fees and time will be ajobut $24,000 and $3,000 each day after that. I am in a panic cos I need to get this done in the hope i get my life back and free of pelvic pain due to the premenstrual symtoms where i am out of my mind. Can anuyone tell me for sure if Medicare will not cover my hospital and other fees . they only have private rooms at this place he does surgery and medicare only covers semi- but told me if that is all they have they will cover it. the hosptial said medicare does cover the private rooms as it is all they have and they have a contract with medicare. Medicare willnot tell me any;;thing . If I end up paying ofr the hospital and other stuff it will run into about $40,000 and I have only $5,000 put aside adn no more. HELP should i cancel my surgery cos this cost will have me so stressed and my family cannot support me any;more financially. I am not working cos of my pelvic pain. Does anyone know for sure if they cover hysterectomy and lapororposcy...I need an answer very very soon as I wil have to cancel my surgtery cos of money and financial burden wich i just cannot pay at all. I am so stressed over this I am now on blood pressure tabs. What do I do I have called medicare but they tell me nothing. Will they say No it was not an emergyency or necessary.............I do not know wha tto do but am scared in not having the surgery cos I have had a bad expericie of pain and bleeding that was n ot a period etc but bright red blood just flowing out of me last month after a severe abdoninal pain then it stopeed after 3 days.....................HELP I Need some knowledge on this or anyone who knows for sure would help me know what to do. it s sad to think you need surgery but may not be able to live cos of someone denying you coverage. really scary...HELP