Expensive Blood Test and Swab Test Bills

Major Packer on 07/06/2017 - 21:12
Last edited 08/06/2017 - 08:36

Hi everyone,

My girlfriend doesn't have Medicare, only private insurance. A couple weeks ago she is concern about her health status decided went to see a doctor. The doctor performed a swab test at the spot and refer her to do a blood test at an external pathology place.

A few weeks later, she went back to the doctor again to check the result, the doctor told her that they didn't collect enough sample for the swab test, so it can't be analysed, hence there is no result. However, the blood test result came back.

Last week, the pathology billed her $500 for the blood test and $200 for the swab test. She was shocked because she was not expecting to be this expensive.

It doesn't seem fair because she was not been told, by the doctor nor the pathologist that it would cost $500 and $200 to do the tests. They grabbed her private health insurance card so she thought that it's covered.

With the swab test, it's unfair that they still charging her because it's not her fault that not enough sample was collected.

If it's buying stuff from the shop I would have told her to check with ACCC, but it's not. What can she do?

Thanks.

Health & Beauty

Comments

  • chumlee on 07/06/2017 - 21:45

    Does she not have medicare as she is not a resident/citizen?

    • [Deactivated] on 07/06/2017 - 22:11
      -5

      why does that matter?

      • airal3rt on 07/06/2017 - 22:50
        +3

        Because resident/citizenship status effects her access to the healthcare system… not rocket science to see that's a relevant question.

        • [Deactivated] on 07/06/2017 - 23:55
          -5

          Read the question. My girlfriend doesn't have Medicare. So why would you want to know why she hasn't got it.

      • chumlee on 08/06/2017 - 06:28

        Just wanted to get an understanding of why your girlfriend doesn't have medicare cover so I can potentially give you the correct advice

    • ggkfc on 08/06/2017 - 09:16

      Pretty much this, people dont realize all those tests your doctor order you costs the government money so you dont pay anything. She doesnt qualify so she has to pay for her bills!

  • KitchenSink on 07/06/2017 - 21:50

    The staff at reception would ask for a medicare card. If she couldn't produce one then the staff would of told her that it would cost her before seeing the doctor. Twice since she went back.

    Going to be harsh, but you are going to have to foot the bill for it. She should of been notified at least twice for the 2 times she visited to see the doctor

    • Major Packer on 07/06/2017 - 22:31
      +1

      The bills for visiting the doctor were paid, it's the bill from the pathology

      • KitchenSink on 07/06/2017 - 23:06
        +1

        Ahh right, I skimmed read that. Sorry my bad..I need covfefe…coffee

  • burningrage on 07/06/2017 - 21:50
    +3

    Correct me if I am wrong but GP initiated blood and swipe test would be considered outpatient and since Private Health Insurance does not cover outpatient, hence why the cost.

    Although I am finding the test cost quite exorbitant.

    Your avenue would be to complaint to the pathologists on the grounds of no cost disclosure as normally you would/should have been advised of it given your gf residency.

    Private Health Insurance supplements Medicare. It doesn't substitute it so if you don't have medicare, usually having PHI is next to useless for outpatient expenses unless you plan to go to hospital. The exception to this as far as i know is OSHC as it is meant to replicate medicare.

    • Major Packer on 07/06/2017 - 22:35

      You are right.

      Thanks, we will try complaint to the pathologists.

  • garetz on 07/06/2017 - 21:54
    +2

    Whenever you get any kind of test done, you should always confirm the cost with the doctor first. That way if they say $50, then comes back $500, you can do something about it. However if you didnt find out beforehand, there is very little you can do.

    Expensive lesson for your girlfriend but you cant mess around with these things. If she had medicare she might of been able to bulk bill, but most tests of this nature is not covered under private health insurance.

    Maybe she should contact her private health insurer and ask them what they can cover.

    • Major Packer on 07/06/2017 - 22:39

      The thing is she actually asked her doctor and the doctor said 'I don't know'. Then the pathologist asked for her private insurance card, that is why she thought that she might be covered by her policy so didn't ask again.

      Thanks. Will definitely check with the private health insurer.

      • Azrael169 on 08/06/2017 - 00:37
        +3

        As a Doctor myself (GP) we have no knowledge of the costs of pathology tests. The tests would be set by the individual pathology companies themselves, usually they are performed at the medicare rebate-able price.

        Having said that though, $500 for blood tests and $200 for a ?swipe test (do you mean swab?) seems excessive. Unless of course it was 'alternative' medicine (eg naturopath or non science based). In which case some of those tests are astronomically expensive.

        • citygal on 08/06/2017 - 01:11

          I was once told by Laverty Pathology that Medicare patients and private patients are charged at a completely different rate. Private patients who don't have Medicare can be charged hundreds more per test.

        • garetz on 08/06/2017 - 02:17
          +1

          @citygal: That's actually true. Government sets rates for medicare rebate-able tests, while they can charge whatever they want to private patients.

        • Major Packer on 08/06/2017 - 07:51

          Yes, swab test is what I meant. I will correct that, thanks.

      • garetz on 08/06/2017 - 02:18
        +1

        If he doesnt know, then ask him to find out, my GP knows all the costs associated with each test. I wouldn't go back to that doctor if i was you. Go see a different doctor. Maybe you have friends that can recommend one locally for you.

  • holdenmg on 07/06/2017 - 22:01
    +1

    Ask the Doctor or Pathology Labs:
    "Does my Private Insurance cover these tests"

    Ask the Private Insurer:
    "Does my Private Insurance cover these Pathology or will there be a Gap and if so, how much will it cost me?"

    • citygal on 08/06/2017 - 01:09

      Doctor or pathology lab usually don't have knowledge about whether private insurance covers the tests because different people may sign up under different insurance plans. But my understanding is that private insurance in AUS only cover in-patient service (i.e. you are hospitalised). If the girlfriend buys travel insurance from some other countries, it can be a different story.

  • minniethemoocher on 07/06/2017 - 22:21
    +1

    I suggest contacting the pathology provider. They also rip you off if your doctor doesn't pick bulk bill even if you are covered by medicare. You may be able to negotiate a lower price.

    • Azrael169 on 08/06/2017 - 00:40

      Even if you are covered by medicare it dosnt cover all pathology tests. Tests for non medical purposes (employment medicals) or for pseudo-science naturopath crap (selenium levels, MTHFR gene and all the other stuff naturopaths want) should not be covered by medicare/tax payer.

    • Limitless on 08/06/2017 - 10:05
      +1

      Yep have been burnt before by a doctor not ticking the bulk bill box. Worth making sure your doctor is aware of this or better yet getting a doctor who cares about the cost enough to know to tick the damn box!

      Obviously not applicable in this situation but worth warning others

  • citygal on 08/06/2017 - 00:21
    +2

    What visa does she have? If she holds student visa, she should have OSHC.. If she holds visitor visa, she should have OVHC. That's the mandatory requirements of her visa. OSHC and OVHC will cover her pathologist bill.

    • Major Packer on 08/06/2017 - 07:56

      She is on a temporary working visa and she has OVHC. Would it only cover the bill partially?

      • citygal on 08/06/2017 - 10:11

        Talk to the pathology provider and provide her OVHC number. They usually can bring the cost down so OVHC can fully cover you. Check with them first.

  • subydooby on 08/06/2017 - 08:20
    +1

    Better get used to expensive pathology tests for everyone what with the government not increasing what they pay pathology providers for testing, more private pathology labs, less labs bulk billing, increasing costs for the pathology services, less competition and less consumer choice especially in regional areas etc.

    Remember you don't have to go to the pathology service on the request slip or the one in the clinic, you can go to any service, ask to be bulk billed or tick the box on the request slip yourself. Some tests will always cost especially esoteric and rare ones but some tests costs vary widely between different service providers. Of course if you're a patient in a private hospital you don't have a choice.

    • Major Packer on 08/06/2017 - 08:37

      I didn't know you can go to any pathology I have always used the one on the slip. Very useful info, thanks

    • Baysew on 08/06/2017 - 09:12

      ask to be bulk billed

      But

      My girlfriend doesn't have Medicare

      • Major Packer on 09/06/2017 - 12:33

        This is for me, I have always just used the one on the slip.

    • Love a bargain on 08/06/2017 - 14:02

      Yes, you don't have to use the pathology centre on the pathology request. & you can ring up the ones with collecting centres in your area about the costs before deciding which one to use. (I've done that for a blood test that's not covered by Medicare.)

      Obviously it's not possible to do this with samples collected by the doctor. So it pays to find a doctor in a clinic with a bulk- billing (or less expensive for non- residents) pathology centre attached.

      & the same goes for radiology.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/06/2017 - 09:09

    Moral of the story - there's free sexual health clinics all over Australia (even for overseas visitors) and the blood tests are free too. Heck, you don't even have to give your real name.

    • citygal on 08/06/2017 - 15:07

      I guess it's only for particular tests that are related to sexual health?

      • [Deactivated] on 08/06/2017 - 16:58
        +3

        Just need to put the right spin on it, eg "I had a one night stand and now I think my cholesterol is through the roof. Can you check me for herpes and cholesterol?"

  • Seraphin7 on 08/06/2017 - 10:39

    Did your girlfriend/you ask for a price for the tests up front?

    • Major Packer on 09/06/2017 - 12:32

      She should have but didn't.

  • JackyS on 10/06/2017 - 13:49

    Having been overseas students for many years, private health DOES NOT cover anything that's included in medicare. That's why all overseas student requires to buy OSHC as part of their visa conditions. OSHC covers everything medicare covers.

    If you don't have that, and also don't have travel insurance (assuming you are not PR/citizen), that's it's really on you. From another perspective, even if you know the cost up-front, are you going to refuse the pathology tests even it's recommended by your doctor?

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join