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Hi I have private health insurance and of course Medicare cover but I have found that after 3 operations and 6 months of chemo my out of pocket expenses are around $6500.00. Any suggestions on ways to recover any of this outlay?
60 YO mother DX Aug 10, Multi focal DCIS. Nodes clear, lumpectomy, re-excision, right mastectomy and node clearance. Chemo AC and paclitaxel
49yo mother, DX Dec 2010, invasive lobular cancer, stage 2, grade II, lumpectomy, nodes clear, chemo, bilateral MX and expanders May 2011, silicone implants June 2011,Tamoxifen.
60 YO mother DX Aug 10, Multi focal DCIS. Nodes clear, lumpectomy, re-excision, right mastectomy and node clearance. Chemo AC and paclitaxel
49yo mother, DX Dec 2010, invasive lobular cancer, stage 2, grade II, lumpectomy, nodes clear, chemo, bilateral MX and expanders May 2011, silicone implants June 2011,Tamoxifen.
Hi Goggie,
I checked with my Dr before I had my mastectomy and asked if he operated under the no gap scheme before hand. I am in a private fund but can not afford out of pocket expenses.I am having a hysterectomy on the 19th of this mth and my Gyno charges within the Gap. It is not right when you are in a private fund and you have extra costs. could not beleive the extra cost for reconstruction even though I am in a private fund. I have decided to have it done public,although it is over 12mths waiting list.
This post was edited by Debbie at July 10, 2011 12:53:52 PM WATime"the Click Researcher 
Have you also applied for the centrelink carer payment for your partner of $55pwk (not asset tested) and the other carer payment which is income tested if you have no other income for yourself? I did not qualify for anything for myself as I have income insurance (lucky I paid it all these years) but my husband gets the carer payment. I also recomend people who have loans or mortgages speak to their bank as there may be some payment holiday, interest only or even waiver of interest in some severe cases, available if you speak to your bank. All these can help ease the strain of the extra expenses but unfortunately they do not reduce them.
69yr old Mother of 2 adult daughters and I have 6 g/kids. Diagnosed November 2014 with reoccurring BC. The journey continues..
the Click Researcher
69yr old Mother of 2 adult daughters and I have 6 g/kids. Diagnosed November 2014 with reoccurring BC. The journey continues..
49yo mother, DX Dec 2010, invasive lobular cancer, stage 2, grade II, lumpectomy, nodes clear, chemo, bilateral MX and expanders May 2011, silicone implants June 2011,Tamoxifen.
the Click Researcher
the Click Researcher
the Click Researcher
Hi Goggie, I had similar experience to you - 3 operations the last one being a mastectomy. I was in the private system with private ehalth insurance and it cost me about $5,000 an operation so just for medical expenses I was out of pocket by $15,000! I'm now transferring to the public system as even the on-going monitoring - cost of scanes etc is exhorbitant.
Kay
Hi I am a creative arts therapist. I had a mastecomy 2 years ago and am still undecided as to whether to have a reconstruction. I am doing a Doctorate in Experiential and Creative Arts Therapy exploring womne's experience of their bodies following a mastecomy. I have a blog http://breastlesslandscape. I'd love you to particpate in this is if you want. Kay
69yr old Mother of 2 adult daughters and I have 6 g/kids. Diagnosed November 2014 with reoccurring BC. The journey continues..
45 YO, DCIS, 4.5 cms, Nodes clear, LB mastectomy, expander surgery Feb 13.
35 YO. Diagnosed 4/06/2012. Wide excision left breast. 15 mm high grade DCIS with extensive areas of central necrosis. Nodes are clear. Margins are clear. Recommended Radiation followed by Tamoxifen. Treatment not commenced.
the Click Researcher
Hi Rhonda - I know you are actually referring to Radiation Oncology treatment (or radiotherapy) rather than radiology (scans, x-rays), as we have discussed this now extensively in our chat session today.
When receiving any treatment in the private system it's ALWAYS very important to ask about costs involved as the specialists may not be forthcoming with costs incurred and often assume that if you are choosing to have treatment in the private system, you will be aware of extra costs and be prepared to pay for them! Radiation therapy (radiotherapy) can be very expensive if treated privately, even with top private health cover.
As previously stated, many other costs can add up too – the ‘gap’ bills from hospital stays, the ‘extra’ payments for scans not covered by medicare, the ‘script’ fees when having chemo/medications. Financially this may become a tremendous burden, especially in addition to the very stressful trauma & disruption of having to deal with the diagnosis and treatments!!
You are entitled to receive treatment in the public system, covered by medicare. You may transfer from the private to the public system at any time. Even if you had private surgery or have started treatment privately, you can then transfer to the public sector.
Many people wonder what the difference is, and are concerned they cannot change systems or will suffer detrimentally if they attempt to change from private to public. So what is the difference??
I will attempt to summarise:
** - In the public system you are entitled to receive all latest treatments covered by medicare. In Australia this includes all recognised evidence-based treatments approved by medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme [PBS]; and access to current clinical trials conducted by the treating doctors/services. Treatment is delivered by an appointed treating team, which may include the consultant specialist or other senior doctors in the team. Access to treatment is based on urgency, and subject to strict regulations in attempt to ensure cancer treatment is not detrimentally delayed. Some wait-times may occur. When treatment is not considered urgent (e.g. delayed reconstruction, other non-cancer treatments), extended delays may occur.
** - As a private patient you can choose your Specialist, will see & receive treatment from (or at least directed by) the Consultant, will often have less ‘wait-time’ and can be more selective with dates/times (where fits the Specialist’s schedule), and can have treatment in a private hospital (generally has ‘nicer’ facilities than public hospitals).
** - As a private patient in a public hospital you have the choice of Specialist and can be treated by the Specialist rather than others in the team.
A public patient is fully covered by medicare (with occasional exception for some items) in a public hospital.
The costs incurred for private treatment will depend on the specific health fund, level of cover, hospital costs/ private consultant costs & ‘gap’ fees, type of treatments, choice of room for hospital stay (single or shared), and many other factors. To determine the costs, always check with each service and your private health fund before treatment commences.
Being treated privately or publicly is a choice subject to financial considerations. To be left in financial hardship can add significant and unnecessary additional stress. To transfer from private to public, or public to private, ask your treating specialist or GP to refer you. **If uncertain about aspects, discuss with your treating doctor, Breast Care Nurse, GP, Social Worker (at your treating hospital) or the Cancer Council (13 11 20). In WA, Breast Cancer Care WA (08 9324 3703) may also be able to help with advice.
Radiation therapy does not need to be given immediately after surgery (a delay of at least 4-6 weeks is required to allow healing), and is still effective even if not commenced until up to 16 weeks after surgery (NB: if also receiving chemotherapy, radiation treatment will not be given until chemo is completed - may be 4-6 months after surgery). Therefore some delay that may occur in transferring treatment is not likely to lead to detriment in cancer treatment, but please discuss with your treating team.
I hope this helps answer some queries. Please let me know if I can help in any way.
Love Glenys (Click Breast Care Nurse) xx
This post was edited by Glenys at July 27, 2012 10:31:36 PM WATime"
The Click Breast Care Nurse 
