![]() ![]() Item numbers are assigned to all services covered by Medicare on the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS), including surgical and other therapeutic procedures performed by doctors, and tests and examinations like x-rays and blood tests. You’ll need this when you contact other providers to compare fees. When you ring your specialist’s rooms in advance of your first visit, make sure to ask them for your procedure’s item number. “We recommend telephoning the specialist’s rooms and asking for their fees ahead of your first appointment,” she says.Īll medical procedures, either in or out of hospital, have what’s known as a Medicare item number. She says the best time to find out about your specialists’ fees is before your first consultation – when you haven’t yet committed to seeing one particular doctor. Mayo says specialists should give you a breakdown of the estimated costs before your procedure – this is known as informed financial consent. The average gap was $1,000 and a third of these people hadn’t been informed of these charges in advance. This is known as the “gap” – and it’s one of the biggest out-of-pocket expenses for individuals.Ī 2019 survey of privately insured Australians who visited hospital in the past two years found that four out of 10 people had been charged a gap. However, some healthcare professionals charge more than what the government reimburses. In Australia, the Government pays a set fee for consultations with specialists (either in or outside a hospital) through Medicare. If left until afterwards, most people find it too late to canvass other options.ĬUA Health’s regulatory manager, Mayo Ishigami, recommends calling your specialist’s rooms and asking about consultation fees before your first visit. It also helps to have the conversation about your specialist’s fees before your first appointment. But it’s important to have a clear understanding of expected fees in advance of your procedure. Most of us squirm at the prospect of talking about money, especially to a healthcare provider. ![]() Ask about fees before your first doctor’s visit One of our CUA Health Insurance member experts has reviewed these findings and provided her top tips on how to manage and minimise these expenses.ġ. The Federal Government released a report in November 2018 which reviewed out-of-pocket healthcare costs. This will enable you to make an informed decision about your choice of healthcare provider and hospital, and go into your procedure with peace-of-mind about the costs associated with your care. We recommend gathering information in advance of your procedure to understand what fees will be covered by your health fund and Medicare, and what costs you’ll have to cover yourself, known as “out-of-pocket” expenses. It’s important to plan for the costs associated with your medical procedure, so you can focus on your recovery and not be concerned about unexpected charges. ![]()
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