Cost of reconstruction

Hi Marnie, have you thought of using your private insurance if you have it, but having your surgery through a public hospital? I think this way you could significantly reduce or even remove any out of pocket expenses, but still have your surgery in a timely manner. My mum recently did this and had an awesome experience. The care she received was excellent, and she had no out of pocket expenses. Good luck, Kate x

@Marni

I saw a Plastic Surgeon yesterday and this is what he quoted. I have private health cover. But additional to this is an Anaesthetist $700/hr ohhhh thats right LOL what a joke!!!! x 6hrs so total out of pocket is just under $10,000. Now heres the weird part....I received this quote today by email...UMMMMM Im not going as a private patient or a private hospital. Im going public and he's put me category 2 which means in 90 days, he wanted to put me category 1 asap as I had a recurrence, though Im fine now. Going public??? I have no fees at all....so am waiting for the Secretary to call back on monday as to why she sent that to me. Hmmmm... Melinda xo

SURGEON'S FEE                                                            

Total Fee:                       $8,397.50

Estimated Rebate:        $3,173.20

Out of Pocket Cost:       $5,224.30

@KatyJoy this is the quote I received and that takes into account private health cover, there is a massive out of pocket, if you go as a private patient. Uuuugh....Ive always been private, but Im not this time, I cannot afford that. 

@melclarity, that's ridiculous! I don't understand how with any other sort of insurance, you pay an excess and you're covered. I don't know about you, but I do not have tens of thousands of dollars just lying around so that I can afford to use my private insurance that I have paid thousands of dollars for over many years. Many people have private health insurance but the out of pocket expenses make it prohibitive to use, it is so wrong

How do you find a surgeon that will work in a public hospital? My surgeon (who did my bi-lateral mastectomy) recommended me to the private plastic surgeon so now I trust her and am nervous to go elsewhere. I was told today that the wait time at the local public hospital is about 2 years before the surgery can be done. My $11K quote already has the medicare and BUPA rebates deducted. Basically the private insurance covers the scheduled fees only (and the hospital when I pay my excess) but it doesn't cover the plastic surgeons own additional fees which are an extra $8k!! Has anyone had a reconstruction in a public hospital that they are happy with? Thanks for all your responses it's great to be able to ask all these questions xx

@KatyJoy

Its beyond ridiculous!!!! This is why Ive opted for public and I trust my Surgeon implicitly after 5yrs so he wouldnt suggest this hospital if he wasnt confident Id be well cared for. Im in Melbourne! But totally agree how stupid! and NO I definitely dont have that sort of money lying around and whats worse is because most health funds deem reconstruction as cosmetic. Furious!!!! how dare they in our situation!!! 

@KatyJoy Exactly! My private health insurance doesn't cover the surgeons additional fees which is exactly what you would hope private health insurance is for.

@Marni

Im in Melbourne, Ive had a Surgeon for 5yrs and he referred me to a Plastic Surgeon who he works in conjuction with, so he does the Mastectomy and the Plastic Surgeon does the Reconstruction. Now the Plastic Surgeon is private BUT...they all generally work out of one public hospital, do some research. It absolutely is not worth going private, that i discussed with my Surgeon and so this is the path theyre taking me and thankfully in Melbourne and because Im a recurrence, I can be asap if I want or 90 days I said instead. 

That's great @ melclarity so glad you've got good are that's free! 

@Marni you'll find they also dont cover the Anaesthethist either or only part of, they generally charge 3 times the average quota just disgusting. I use my private health cover for ever!thing else, but it isnt worth it for this...its disgusting.