Just Another First Timer

Looks like radiation will be waiting for a while surgeon thinks that they will want to offer me chemotherapy first as tumour is 15mm and is a grade 3 tumour. Makes my head spin

Hi there

i chose to go private for my radiotherapy as it was closer to work for me. I paid $400 out of pocket for 33 treatments. It was cheaper for me than going public (parking, toll roads, extra petrol and time off work) They sent the invoices to Medicare so the money was in my account before deducted it . I think it was about $65 per week that was deducted out of my account on top of the Medicare money. The radio oncologist fees were on top of this and also the scan to set up where the radiation needed to be done. All up, I was about $800 out of pocket. Hope this helps. Good luck. Karen xox

Hi Freitagsm,  I live in regional Qld and am all too aware of the $$ cost of having BC that our city sisters don't have to necessarily deal with.  Are you registered with the Medicare Safety net?  If not you can do this on-line.  Also, after your consult with your private radiation onco the staff will be able to give you an estimate of your expenses.

I'm sorry to say that my experience has seen me pay double what you were told. 

My public rad clinic is Royal Brisbane, approx. a 2hr drive each way for me.  This was never an option, I'm not retired - we need me to keep on working to help pay the mortgage and send one to school and the other to uni.  I am going to a private clinic that is only a half an hour drive. 

The cost of private radiation will probably vary from clinic to clinic and state to state.   The cost also varies as to how many 'fields' they are treating - I have 6.  

I am now on the Medicare safety net and my Medicare recognised out of pocket expenses due to BC has reached the $2k mark which means Medicare picks up 100% of the schedule fee - at least I think this is what happened as the whole medicare billing thing frankly has me confused. 

My first week I was out of pocket around $300.  Last week my $1700 weekly bill saw a return of $1620 from Medicare - yay.  Be reminded thought that you don't see any money from Medicare until you pay the provider 100%. 

My clinic offers payment plans- I'm sure yours will do the same if you need.  I am fortunate that my family can live with the cost as we have good credit card limits :).  However, I was stunned with my first bill for the CT and planning that came in at $2400!  I saw only $1600 back from Medicare.  I wonder how those on a fixed income afford it and afford to eat.

Enough of the negatives!  A big bonus with going to a private clinic will probably be that you are given an actual appointment time.  i.e. 8.00 means your in at 8.00. which is very important if your trying to hold down a job.  And its not difficult changing appointment times!  Come and see the nurses any time - no appt. Free tea coffee and bickies.  Super up beat staff - though I'd say this is the same in the public system.  Oh yeah, and  free parking.

I do sincerely hope that the cost is something you  can cope with as it's bad enough having the diagnosis to start with but having to deal with  the financial pressure is  a whole other kettle of fish.

Good luck to you.

I wouldn't want to be away from my home for 6 weeks, and although it is another expense I think I would go with the private option.  As you are travelling an hour to treatment you may be eligible for some travel cost reimbursement.  I travelling over 100kms each day for 5 weeks and I can claim back some of the cost.  It may not be much, but we find these days that every little bit counts.    Lorraine

Hi Freitagsm, as my local area only had a private radiation clinic at the time of my treatment in 2012 (it now has a public one), I also went private rather than travel the hour & a half or so daily to other places as I had also had a pretty torrid time with chemo and was still having 3 wkly herceptin so didn't think I could cope with the extra travel etc. Also I had two children to look after and was trying to work (part-time). The downside was the cost. Over 6 weeks, including the initial set up etc my total out of pocket costs were just over $2,000. Although the care was excellent and there were no delays or interruptions to treatment, it was still an expense we could have done without given all the other costs we'd had, but at the time we felt we didn't have much choice. Best of luck thinking over your options and all the very best for your treatment. Jane xx

Thanks all for your comments. The closest radiation to me is a private one so that is where the issue is. I could come to Melbourne but that would mean being away from home for 6 weeks.

HI,

I am having radiation at the moment through the public system I do not have to pay for treatment either, it is all covered by medicare. Also because of the distance I have to travel I can also claim back some of the travel cost.    Lorraine

Hi

i had radiation at Peter Mac in Melbourne and didn't have to pay anything either.  Parking was discounted or available in side street.

good luck! 

Lx

Hi Freitagsm,

I had my radiation done via the Mater public hospital and didn't have to pay anything at all.  They even gave us free parking, which was a big saving!

cheers

Mira