If you don't ask the question, you deserve to be fleeced
In last week's newsletter, we brought you the Private Health Insurane hack that saved blogger Bek Day $4000. Bek's story involved using the website HealthShare to be forewarned of upcoming surgical costs and avoid over-charging specialists.
Well, 70-year-old Grahame Lonnie went one step further and asked his doctor for a discount. Mr Lonnie explained that he couldn't afford to pay for another hip replacement - the sixth one in his life.
His surgeon’s response was a startling admission. "She said: 'Don't worry about it... I've made enough money from you to do this one for free'.
Julie Medew writing for the Sydney Morning Herald this week reports the rise of several price comparison websites that publish specialist doctors' fees (see below).
HCF’s recent Hospital Patient Experience Survey found a number of patients experienced bill shock, not knowing in advance the cost of procedures or the make-up of extra charges they might receive.
HCF’s Cindy Shay says a lot of people are unlikely to change once they’ve seen a specialist; they find it too overwhelming to ask. But Mr Lonnie disagreed. "If you don't ask the question, you deserve to be fleeced," he said.
Our FiftyUp Club poll this week left no doubt as to how our members feel about out-of-pocket expenses.
- The fees specialists charge should be able to be compared against each other so we can decide which specialist to choose – 8%
- Specialists should not be able to charge higher than the Medical Benefits Schedule amount – 9%
- Private Health Insurance should cover all medical expenses otherwise what is the point of having it? – 83%
Linda from VIC commented:
“Working in the industry everything you said is true....however these specialists go to school for 8 years sometimes more depending on what they choose to specialise in, then they have to keep up to date they have overheads and staff to pay. Then the federal government come along and say you can only charge x amount for say a hip replacement when the surgeon can be on his feet for a couple of hours...
Yes there are some doctors that can charge like a wounded bull which is why you ring around to find out what out of pockets you may have.
Do your homework and make sure you have what you need covered. Read the fine print and don’t believe everything you are told...Good health to all
Click here to see the current members offer with HCF
Click here to listen to the interview with Margaret Wenham about health costs
Websites where you can find out more about specialists’ fees:
