Does Medicare Cover Income Protection Forms?

gigi16 on 29/04/2020 - 11:49

Hello! Does anyone know about billing practices for doctors? I have been on income protection for a while and in the past doctors have always allowed a medicare rebate for my appointments (so I'd normally pay a bit out of pocket and get a bit back on medicare). Before that when I was on concession the whole thing was covered by medicare. Now I'm at a new GP and I have to pay for the whole thing out of pocket (my income protection doesn't pay for them either). I just find it weird that the many doctors I went to before this practice allowed the medicare portion and this practice doesn't. Which way is correct? Were doctors just being really nice to me before lol?

(Also FYI if it's the right thing to do I'll keep paying out of pocket, not trying to rip off the taxpayer, it's just a weird inconsistency that has happened). Given that my IP forms are required monthly, $80 per appointment (sometimes it will require two appointments to fill out) is a lot, hence me checking! I also live in a state that has pretty much no bulk billing practises anyway, so it will always cost me something.

THANKS!! :)

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Comments

  • jimbobaus on 29/04/2020 - 12:12

    Get a tax Invoice
    Go to My Gov
    log into Medicare
    Click the "claim" button
    Fill out details from invoice and they will credit the rebate back to your bank account.

    A LOT of doctors don't bill medicare directly, they bill you and you claim back yourself

    • gigi16 on 29/04/2020 - 12:28

      Thank you however it won't allow me to because the claim number itself isn't something you can claim :) a medical report is not claimable according to how he's filed it. So I guess that must be the way it is :(

      • jimbobaus on 29/04/2020 - 12:31

        You should still get a receipt for the payment.
        There is a code they use when its not rebatable which when you claim on medicare will show that its non claimable.

        All you need from the doc to claim is the receipt for payment which will have the provider codes etc that you need

        • gigi16 on 29/04/2020 - 12:33
          +1

          Yes i've tried the code on Medicare and it's said I can't proceed because it's not a claimable number.

          • DashCam AKA Rolts on 29/04/2020 - 13:15

            @gigi16: I think you have your answer.

            i've tried the code on Medicare and it's said I can't proceed because it's not a claimable number

            • gigi16 on 29/04/2020 - 13:17

              @DashCam AKA Rolts: Not really, because every doctor in the past just put it under a general consult so it was claimable. My question is as to whats correct under the regulations. So I guess my best bet is to call around other doctor's and see what the norm is.

              • DashCam AKA Rolts on 29/04/2020 - 13:23

                @gigi16: So what was happening previously was your doctor was doing you a favour by bulk billing a non-rebatable Medicare item.
                New doctor following legal requirements in not giving an incorrect item number and not jeopardising their practice.

  • bobbified on 29/04/2020 - 12:31

    I was in the same situation and I also didn't like paying the "gap" ($98-$3X = $6X) each time. The doctor also didn't like filling out the forms because they were multi-pages and took a while.

    I went back and spoke to the insurer about it. For the last 5-6 months, instead of me asking the doctors to fill out the form, the insurer sends the form and other requests for information directly to the doctor. The doctor bills the insurer directly for the time spent on the forms and I have nothing to do with the process anymore.

    What would your insurer say if you told them your doctor doesn't want to fill out the forms?

    • gigi16 on 29/04/2020 - 12:34

      Oh wow, well done to you ! Had no idea this would be possible. I could certainly try and say that or ask.

      • bobbified on 29/04/2020 - 12:35

        Good luck with it! =)

        • gigi16 on 29/04/2020 - 12:36

          Thanks <3

  • hashtagbargain on 29/04/2020 - 14:34

    I also live in a state that has pretty much no bulk billing practises anyway

    Curious, which state is this?

    • SimbaGirl on 29/04/2020 - 14:56

      Probably Tassie - we have very few bulk billing practices here at all.

      • gigi16 on 30/04/2020 - 14:27

        Yes Tassie Lol.

  • abc123z on 29/04/2020 - 19:06

    Just to clarify, are these appointments you are being charged for purely to fill out large volumes of paperwork for the income protection insurer?

    If so, I could understand that not being claimable on medicare but not an appointment related primarily to treatment for the actual medical condition for which you are on income protection (on which the Doctor perhaps is asked to sign something taking a minute or two).

    If being on income protection insurance can basically invalidate your medicare claims then it would be a significant issue with income protection insurance.

    It isn't being confused with workers compensation payments is it which I don't think is ever claimable on medicare (as paid for by employer/their insurer)?

    • gigi16 on 30/04/2020 - 14:31

      Hello - generally they have varied. Sometimes the ONLY purpose was to get the income protection form signed (four pages and pretty brief to be honest). Sometimes it's to get a referral or script update AND an income protection form signed. Sometimes its to provide the doctor with an update AND get my IP form signed. Generally speaking if the IP form was involved in anyway its been billed completely to me. Someone below explained the law and i think thats generally fine :) It seems in the past doctors were just being lazy/nice/ or wanted to keep patients on (some were really expensive GPs so i dont think they had high volumes of patients lol)

  • beatwixkid on 30/04/2020 - 07:19
    +2

    GP here. No- Income Protection, Superannuation forms etc are not covered by Medicare. Even 'clearance certificates' (not medical certificates) aren't!

    There are clear rulings on this as you are not seeking medical attention/management. Some GP's may bulk bill as they feel uncomfortable charging patients, or may justify billing Medicare if recording a medical examination to clarify for your continuing medical management in the future.

    So accept the GP charging you for their time to fill in a document with a private free as baseline, if they don't and bulk bill you then that's a bonus for you.

    • gigi16 on 30/04/2020 - 14:26

      Hello - thanks for your input good to have this confirmed. I just wanted to know and to explain the discrepancy between docs. :D

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