How Do Podiatrist Charge?

Was reading the post on root canal which has gone wild within 24 hours.
Got me thinking about me overdue job: to get some inserts for my foot….

I had mine done 2 years ago and it seemed simple:
Went to one that's recommended by a friend, checked my feet, got me one pair of insert
"Not to worry, it wont cost you any out-of-pocket. Your Health Fund will cover for it.
I had a very busy work then so didnt bother doing any research.

Later I had been wondering as to how this works and been talking to people.
It seems like a common practice.
Regardless of who the Health Fund is, regardless of your age/gender, it works about the same.

So if my cover is for $500, the Podiatrist will swipe my card and use up the entire sum.
If my neighbour's cover is $300, the same would be done although we have exactly the same insert.

Is that how it works??

Pardon my ignorance, this is one area I really have no idea with. And Google only gave me contacts of podiatrists LOL.

Any sharing of personal experience much appreciated.

Comments

  • +2

    I came to make the joke "by the foot!"
    Which would be much funnier if we didn't use metric these days.

    All the extras cover insurers have a list of claimable items. My cover lists 110 options under podiatry, here is the first page:
    Plethysmography, regional |EF101
    Peripheral Flow Study (inc. Doppler) |EF104
    Muscle Testing |EF111
    Range of motion study & record of measur |EF114
    Computerised gait analysis with report |EF115
    Treatmill & Video gait analysis with rep |EF116
    Visual gait analysis with detailed repor |EF117
    Biomechanical Assessment |EF118
    Surgical assessment |EF119
    Hot/Cold Therapy |EF121

    Each item has a maximum rebate associated, so when you claim it, you get either the actual charge or the max rebate back, whichever is lower.
    If there is no 'gap', it just means the podiatrist charges less than the max rebate amount, so you have to pay no extra if you have headroom left in your annual limits.
    Note it is usual to claim multiple items as part of one consultation.

    • Haha Podiatrist charge by the foot!

      Many thanx for your sharing Miss Keggs.
      I will need to check my cover again, suffice to say hubby always got the top-shelf.
      Sister-inlaw paid a lot of money every year for the whole family, and thought I am lucky to have to pay nothing….

    • +1

      Ha, you missed using the post-analogue joke "by the digit".

  • +2

    The podiatrist I go to is part of a national chain. They have a no gap orthotics offer.
    It's interesting as if you bought it without insurance they have a "50% off" offer (always), which comes to $250. If you have PHI they claim the entire amount. Pretty dodgy.

    • This is exactly what I meant. Call if it untransparent, complicated, dodgy…. they just try to confuse me and make sure it doesn’t make sense?

      • What I did to counter is to request a bunch of services like nail cutting and other stuff like that. If they're going to use it all up, I might as well go for the full experience.

        I'm looking at getting orthotic sandals. Let's see if I'm still out of pocket hahah

        • Wow, really? cutting toe nails?

        • @Pumpkin_rrr: haha yeah might as well. They do a lot of things

    • Which chain if I may ask?

  • +1

    If my daughters last appointment is any indication… How do they charge? “like wounded bulls”…

    • Ouch! Hope you have a nice bank loan!

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