GP clinic wants to know if we have private health insurance.

The Buyer on 25/10/2023 - 15:44

We've just moved into a new area and the GP clinic here, on the new patient registration form my wife needs to fill out and return tomorrow has a question:

"Do you have Private Health Insurance? If yes, please see reception for payment process"

I'm curious why the question considering no Private Health Insurance her covers GP fees?

This clinic Bulk Bills.

Of course we're going to tell them what we have (basic hospital and extras cover with Bupa) but still leaves me curious what difference it would make to the clinic.

Thanks in advance

Health & Beauty

Comments

  • bdl on 25/10/2023 - 15:48
    +16

    Ask them.

    • bdl on 25/10/2023 - 15:59
      +1

      Some vaccines aren't on the PBS and can be claimed via PHI, maybe they process the claims for you (?)

    • Protractor on 25/10/2023 - 16:26
      -4

      Another punter who doesn't know the way here. First step find your self in a situation (real or imagined)
      Go off half cocked and post here
      Disappear without providing a meaningful update. You can't expect ppl to pick up the phone and ask a simple question of the ppl at the other end of said situation.
      Hands must be held, and lives outsourced to the random many

      • The Buyer on 25/10/2023 - 16:33
        +2

        What the heck are you going on about? "half cocked" "real or imagined" "hands must be held" ?

        r u k ?

        • Protractor on 25/10/2023 - 17:26
          -1

          ru>o< k?

        • jacross on 26/10/2023 - 07:43

          Ha guaranteed OP does exactly as described.

      • screensaver on 25/10/2023 - 16:55
        +5

        another self appointed gate keeper

        • Protractor on 25/10/2023 - 17:27
          -2

          Nope. Not even close. I'm an observer. What I wrote is what happens.If you read some of the current most popular threads and miss that, then you need a comprehension upgrade

          • The Buyer on 25/10/2023 - 20:29
            +4

            @Protractor: You must be the life of every party you attend.

            • Protractor on 25/10/2023 - 20:31
              -2

              @The Buyer: I'm paid to attend. They even tip me in BTC.
              Have you studied the trend you are part of here yet?

    • The Buyer on 25/10/2023 - 16:30
      +1

      My wife did ask the receptionist but she didn't know and suggested we ask the GP on our first consultation.

      I'm not gonna ask because it doesn't bother me either way, I'm just curious if anybody here who works in the area knows definitively.

      • bdl on 25/10/2023 - 17:28
        +9

        Please ask because us Ozbargainers want to know the answer

      • ausdday on 25/10/2023 - 18:05
        +1

        I am guessing it's a generic form. Some patients aren't covered by medicare but by their private health insurance, e.g. students will have OSHC that covers GP visit. And temporary residents might have private insurance that include GP visits.

        • Switchblade88 on 25/10/2023 - 20:04
          +1

          Generic forms don't have a 'see the receptionist about milking the value out of you' clause

  • Fredfloresjr on 25/10/2023 - 15:54
    -6

    So GP can milk both the Gov't and your private health insurer.

    • The Buyer on 25/10/2023 - 16:35

      The wife is a little more cynical than I so thats what she suggested.

      But I countered that GP fees aren't covered by any PHI policies in Australia (by law apparently).

    • larndis on 26/10/2023 - 12:30

      PHI doesn't cover anything eligible for medicare

  • 87percent on 25/10/2023 - 15:56
    +2

    Why does everyone think businesses are out to get them? The other day there was a post about someone asking about payment method confirmation, plumbers gouging people, etc etc

    • Nugs on 25/10/2023 - 16:00
      +15

      Because it happens?
      .

    • Stopback on 25/10/2023 - 20:35
      -1

      Business are out to get you.

      Get a scan at a medical hospital.

      Mention you work at the same hosptial. Boom discount.

      • bargaino on 26/10/2023 - 01:02
        +1

        I find you can often get a discount just by asking nicely.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 25/10/2023 - 15:59
    +1

    Isn’t it for procedures that aren’t covered/subsidised under Medicare

    • Muzeeb on 25/10/2023 - 16:04

      PHI will only cover procedures in a hospital not at a clinic (I may be wrong. Again)

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 25/10/2023 - 16:06

        Not sure. Just I know my private health will pay a percent of my eczema creams if I submit a pharmacy invoice. So thought it might be something similar in this case

        • Muzeeb on 25/10/2023 - 16:07
          +1

          That might be part of extras cover, not hospital (I may be wrong. Again)

          • Jimothy Wongingtons on 25/10/2023 - 16:19

            @Muzeeb: You know what yes haha my bad yes extras .

            • [Deactivated] on 25/10/2023 - 16:36

              @Jimothy Wongingtons: That doesn't have anything to do with your GP tho - even if they prescribe it.

          • bdl on 25/10/2023 - 17:29
            +1

            @Muzeeb: Yes that's claiming against the extras. :) Blood pressure monitors are another thing the GP can write a letter for and PHI will cover :)

        • Stewardo on 25/10/2023 - 17:02
          +1

          Or the specialist they refer you too.

      • The Buyer on 25/10/2023 - 16:38
        +1

        No, you are right.

        https://www.health.gov.au/topics/private-health-insurance/wh…

        "Private health insurers can’t cover out-of-hospital Medicare services. However, they might cover some of the services Medicare doesn’t, like physiotherapy and other allied health services not on the MBS."

        • psdillon on 26/10/2023 - 21:23

          I bet they have a physiotherapist or similar renting a room and giving referral kickbacks.

  • [Deactivated] on 25/10/2023 - 16:37

    Mine did as well and it seems to be a data gathering exercise.

    • The Buyer on 25/10/2023 - 16:39

      I thought that too at first but then the follow up to the question is "If yes, please see reception for payment process"

      • [Deactivated] on 25/10/2023 - 16:44
        +4

        hmmm … I was told that it is a pro-forma questionnaire that some medical centres don't amend for their circumstances. It is meant to cover those practices that offer additional modalities, ie. podiatry, physio, etc which can be claimed via private health insurance.

        • bdl on 25/10/2023 - 17:36

          That makes sense

        • The Buyer on 25/10/2023 - 17:52

          Mmm yes that makes sense. Thank you.

    • bmerigan on 25/10/2023 - 22:24

      Agree. My dentist's form asks about for details of where and what I do for work.

      • downbythecreek on 26/10/2023 - 11:13

        I'm a dentist, I have data like this on my form but it's just so I can give myself some talking points at our first appointment and give me a rudimentary idea about your values, education etc. For example, if someone tells me they're a doctor, I'm going to use higher level scientific concepts than if they tell me they're a Lawyer. I also offer discounts to specific professions.

        The data I collect isn't sold, or used for anything other than your appointments (and contact details are used to send reminders) its simply stored as per legal requirements.

        • larndis on 26/10/2023 - 12:33
          +5

          Which occupation do I say I'm in to get discount (asking for a friend)?

          • downbythecreek on 26/10/2023 - 14:38
            +2

            @larndis: Other registered healthcare workers (not Chiropractors or Osteopaths)

        • Eeples on 29/10/2023 - 03:17

          How does knowing what someone does for work give you an insight in to their values?

          • downbythecreek on 29/10/2023 - 08:27

            @Eeples: Well, it's just a rudimentary idea right, for example somemone who is a local business owner booking first appointment of the day may be more time sensitive and want me to be more direct than someone like a public servant booking in at 10am.

  • jv on 25/10/2023 - 16:55
    +1

    Private Health Insurance her covers GP fees?

    Ours paid for some vaccines.

  • apple2016 on 25/10/2023 - 16:57
    +1

    Your GP can provide referrals(public vs private) based on your private health insurance status. It can sometimes include services like scans, physio etc i think.

    • bdl on 25/10/2023 - 17:30

      Referrals are independent of whether you hold PHI or not.

      They can write a health care plan including physio but that still comes from medicare, PHI not involved with that.

  • Bourb on 25/10/2023 - 17:31
    +1

    Specialist Referrals.
    Some Specialists only work in Private Hospitals, so normally your GP wouldn't refer a 'no PHI' patient to them.

    • bdl on 25/10/2023 - 17:36

      A patient could always pay out of pocket when visiting such a specialist, though.

      • freefall101 on 25/10/2023 - 17:47
        +1

        My GP clinic has specialists in the building and they use the same receptionist.

  • 7ekn00 on 25/10/2023 - 17:52
    +2

    If you tick yes, you get charged more of a gap ;) It's a gotcha question!

    Plead poor and tick No and you have a chance at being bulk billed :P

    (source: aunty was a receptionist for years and she used to say "if you are ever asked, deny having private health" as her practice would charge private health patients a fee and bulk bill everybody else)

    • plmko on 25/10/2023 - 17:58

      Kind of weird, people have health insurance for many reasons.

      • 7ekn00 on 25/10/2023 - 18:29

        Yeah, but some GPs obviously assume if you have PHI you are happy to pay, no matter the reason you have it!

        She worked at multiple clinics (for the same company) around VIC and that was the policy across all clinic (some 20+ years ago now though) :/

  • Meho2026 on 25/10/2023 - 18:40

    What was the question before that?
    Was it do you have a Medicare card?

    No Medicare card but overseas visitor health cover, means GP consultations might be covered or partially covered but you have to pay upfront or a gap.

    • The Buyer on 25/10/2023 - 20:28

      Yes.

      Medicare number: ——— etc

      Then lists all the various concessions like Pension, Health Care Card etc with tick boxes.

      • xuqi on 26/10/2023 - 01:01

        It could also aid GP consider treatment options if/when medical issues arise that may require for e.g. hopitalisation or specialist treatment (private vs. medicare options).

  • kaleidoscope on 26/10/2023 - 00:34
    +1

    It's a standard question from every clinic I've visited… I think it's for both data gathering as well cover for certain things that medicare does not. (such as physio, specialists etc..) It basically makes the process & recommendations easier.

    • bargaino on 26/10/2023 - 01:04
      +1

      It also makes a difference to referrals.

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