Forum Discussion

arpie's avatar
arpie
Member
7 years ago

No Gap Providers in each State ...... Who DOESN'T Charge Out of Pocket expenses?

Many of us get caught out by the biggish Gap Fees charged by so many of the health providers so I thought some sort of list may be helpful to everyone?  Mine is currently $6000 Out of Pocket & climbing ..... 

Assuming this post will become quite 'long' .... the Towns & Cities won't be alphabetical (or even by state ...)  Just use the 'search' function ..... Hold down the Control (or Command button on Mac) & "F" simultaneously and type in the name of your home town, closest large town or major closest 'city' and it should find it - just click on the arrows to go from one post to another .....

I live in Forster, so Port Macquarie (1hr+ drive) or Newcastle (2hr Drive) would be my closest big Cities, with Taree (1/2hr Drive) is the closest Big Town.

I'll start off in NSW ......

Port Macquarie Base Hospital for Radiation & Oncology - Gap Free  ... Not sure about Ultrasounds/3D Mammograms etc - I will find out when I have mine done there next year .... Also Low Cost accomodation at the Rotary Lodge (200m walk from the Cancer Centre.)  WELL worth making contact if you are having treatment there for your Mon-Fri accommodation - you can stay over for weekends as well, if not wanting to go home for weekends.  IPTASS rebates available if you live 100k+ away from your Health Service Provider.

Taree - Oncology - Gap Free

There WERE Gaps charged at the Radiology Dept in Taree (across the road from the Hospital) for some procedures .... so maybe ask first if you are referred there - or ring Port Macq/Newcastle to see if they are Gap Free.


costs
treatment
  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    7 years ago
    SA 
    Melissa Bochner doesn’t charge a gap for surgery and after the initial visit. The anaesthetists who work with her also don’t charge a gap for their services for cancer patients. She’s a wonderful surgeon who I’d highly recommend for her caring nature and surgical skills. She also works in the public system. I’ve had multiple surgeries with her. 

  • Sister's avatar
    Sister
    Member
    7 years ago
    SA
    Dr Jim Kollias while he does usually charge a gap for consultation, is open to genuine financial hardship.  He didn't charge a gap for surgery.  He is a really good, caring surgeon and also works in the public system.
  • jewel-ee's avatar
    jewel-ee
    Member
    7 years ago
    Gold Coast
    Gold Coast Radiology will provide bulk billed ultrasound - dependent on what particular ultrasound is required - just check when making your appointment. Also check if they will bulk bill MRIs and CTs.
  • arpie's avatar
    arpie
    Member
    7 years ago
    In this weekend's paper ..... an APP to find Specialist's Gap Fees


  • kmakm's avatar
    kmakm
    Member
    7 years ago
    Fascinating! I've used something similar to find tradies...
  • Vangirl's avatar
    Vangirl
    Member
    7 years ago
    Can I ask a stoopid question? I am a UK expat and haven't had a whole lot to do with the Australian health system up until now. I'm being treated as a public "povvo" patient and haven't had to pay for anything so far other than prescription drugs. Does the gap only apply for private patients?
  • June1952's avatar
    June1952
    Member
    7 years ago
    This is an interesting subject @arpie
    We've had private health cover since the 70s (yep, shows my age).  We always ask about the gap fees if we can.  We had a letter from the health fund last week to say that doctors treating private patients in a public hospital can now charge out of pockets fees.  Lots of other ''little'' changes but I've not managed to absorb the differences.  One difference was if the matter was an emergency or ''pre-planned''.
    Maybe we all need to double check the health insurance before going to any medico.
    Hope all are well.  Summer  
  • arpie's avatar
    arpie
    Member
    7 years ago
    @Vangirl  - yes, generally if you are in the public system, you don't have the choice of surgeons or where your surgery will occur - and usually  don't have to pay any 'gap fee' and receive excellent treatment & results!

    Those of us who've paid Private Insurance FOREVER . ... are often surprised when we get charged massive Gap Fees!  They keep changing the rules tho, e en with Private Insurance (as @Summerhill38 mentions above)  

    With my surgery, I had about a $3000 gap fee, there was $500 gap with my pathology fee, $500 because my surgeon's hospital wasn't on NIB's 'list' ...... there was a $100+ gap with my Ultrasound/mammogram/Biopsy day .... another gap with other procedures ..... about $6,000 all up so far .... 

    These days, when you ring to check if a specialist is available for your procedure - the first question they ask is "Do you have Private Cover?''  Then they start slogging you!


  • Vangirl's avatar
    Vangirl
    Member
    7 years ago
    @arpie So the taxpayer is covering all my treatment costs even though I have handed over about $70 a month to private health insurers over the last 12 years (in order to avoid paying the Medicare surcharge, because that works out to more than $70 per month).

    If the government didn't economically disincentivise me, I most likely would have paid the surcharge and the money could have gone at least some way towards covering the cost of my treatment.

    Makes no sense to me. Although it has been a pleasant surprise.