A journey through Perth health

[portlaunay 22]

I thought I'd post my wife's journey through the health care system as some kind of reference. It may allay fears and concerns, it may just help people prepare.

 

My wife came out in June 2011 and myself and the kids followed in August. It all happened so quickly; job offer in February to departure flew by so we took out basic medical insurance to satisfy the visa requirements.

 

When we arrived we didn't register for Medicare. We didn't really understand the system and TBH it wasn't high on our list of priorities; finding a home, job etc came much higher.

 

In late November it was observed that my wife ©, was losing weight but her stomach always appeared swollen. She revealed that she'd noticed a lump.

 

We had not registered with a GP but were by that time in permanent accommodation. We had friends recommend a couple of surgery's who bulk bill and C trotted off to register and see a doc. This was early December.

 

For an effective diagnosis an ultrasound was required. These kinds of services are provided by specialist private clinics and somewhat conveniently there was one next to the surgery. She walked in and had an appointment straight away, waited for her films and went back to the doc who saw her immediately. She was told she wasn't pregnant (Hoorah!), but needed a referral to a specialist. She was given a list of different specialists that she would have to call and make an appointment with. Once this was done the GP would pass over her notes and draw up an official referral letter.

 

Now, at this stage we still had no Medicare so we were paying all the bills and thinking we would be able to claim back from our health insurance. It wasn't as expensive as we'd feared, certainly nothing like the states. A quick call to our insurers revealed something we hadn't anticipated; that because we had been with them for less than 12 months they would not cover the costs.

We got all the necessary together and registered with Medicare.

 

The specialists on the list she'd been given proved fruitless. One was on holiday for weeks, one had retired, one no longer practiced and the other could see her, in two months! During these phone calls she was asking for alternatives and someone 'knew-of-someone-who-might-be-able-to-see-her' kind of conversation. Any lead was worth a try. She booked an appointment and the GP drafted the referral. By now it was early-January.

 

The specialist confirmed the diagnosis and the course of treatment would have to be surgery. It was no problem though, he could operate the following Thursday. Well, fantastic in one respect but this was private so, the cost? Wow! Too much. He was actually very good and insisted our insurance should cover her - there's no way this was a pre-existing condition, they should pay but she would have to wait for a date in a public hospital. He drafted a letter and we waited. Meanwhile he referred her Kaleeya for surgery. Weeks passed and a lot of back and forth with the insurance co - they wanted more evidence and letter from the GP etc until finally, after about 3 weeks they agreed to pay but only if she had the surgery in a public hospital. So, we were back to waiting for an appointment in the public system.

 

Unfortunately Kaleeya triaged C on her notes and came back with the first available appointment as end of March. This was just to see someone, not for surgery. By now C looked like she was having twins. The tumor was around the size of a babies head and causing considerable pain and discomfort. It was affecting her mobility, concentration and her moods. There was no way she could wait until March and of course we did the worst thing and Googled as much info as possible, the most sensational of which was that, if malignant, she might only have 6 months!

 

She took matters into her own hands and phoned around every hospital. Finally, a wonderful specialist at Joondalup agreed to see her very quickly. So, two weeks ago we sat in her office and she took the most detailed history. She was extraordinarily professional, very straight and clear and that was so reassuring. "We need to get this out.," she said, "we can operate on Monday?"

Incredible, after all this time she was offered surgery in three days time, all on Medicare. The alternative was another week and, for a variety of reasons she opted for today, Tuesday 21st.

 

Sorry for the long post but the crux of it is, the difference between here and the NHS is that, in our experience, you have to do all the legwork.

All the referrals, chasing for letters and notes and scans, all you.

 

In our opinion, unless you can afford the most expensive medical insurance it's just not worth anything. Even if we had been with them 12 months they may not have covered her. We cancelled our policy.

 

The healthcare professionals, all the reception staff, everyone we've met has been fantastic but our advice would be, if you aren't happy with the info you're getting, or things are moving too slowly, get on the phone, no one will do it for you. Being in control of all of this process is a little alien at first but it's actually very good, at least you know what's going on all the time and because you form the links in the chain you don't have to wait weeks for the results of a test, they do it while you wait and give it to you, it's yours.

 

Big day today. We're all very scared. None of us has had surgery before. I love my wife, she's an incredibly inspirational woman.

[jackboots 50]

I hope it all goes well and your wife makes a full recovery as soon as .

[JaynBev 10]

Best of wishes to your wife & thanks for the info. Hope all goes well today & she makes a speedy recovery.

 

We're considering our options currently on this & are looking at basic cover to include ambulances as we've seen that Medicare does seem to cover most of what you need anyway.

[phil 14]

Hope all goes well and she gets better soon.

 

My insurance experience has kind of been the opposite. We've got a baby on the way and I was concerned that the "not having been here for 12 months" thing would result in large expense. But they've been very good and say they'll pay out their part. I've also have family members here who've received a lot better treatment for some long-standing conditions through their insurance than they got through Medicare. My advice would be that it is worth reading up on what/how Medicare covers you for and what you'd get extra with an insurer.

[Guest wolfy 1]

hope your wife is fine and glad she finally got sorted. x x

[Guest Tigger69]

Thanks for the info, very useful knowing how to handle any medical situations. I hope all is well with your wife and wish her a speedy recovery.

[portlaunay 22]

Thanks all. In surgery now so sitting for a few hours with a laptop and bad coffee for company.

 

 

Hope all goes well and she gets better soon.

 

My insurance experience has kind of been the opposite. We've got a baby on the way and I was concerned that the "not having been here for 12 months" thing would result in large expense. But they've been very good and say they'll pay out their part. I've also have family members here who've received a lot better treatment for some long-standing conditions through their insurance than they got through Medicare. My advice would be that it is worth reading up on what/how Medicare covers you for and what you'd get extra with an insurer.

 

Good to hear a positive story, I know nothing about this stuff really but I will tell you of a friend whose daughter had a baby on private medical here in Perth.

She had a natural birth, baby was fine and the service they received before and during was excellent, they were even treated to a candle-lit dinner in their room the night she arrived. The insurance rep visited them in their room and was very reassuring about their cover.

Wind forward three months and bills have begun to drop through their letter box. It's all stuff that the insurance is now refusing to pay.

 

An example is a hefty bill for an obstetrician who visited them the day the baby arrived. He came into their room and asked if he could check on the baby and of course they agreed, why would you say no, he's a professional with a duty of care to his patients. They now have to pay his bill and the reason the insurance company has given is that the baby had already been declared fit and healthy, as far as they are concerned there was no need for the obstetrician to visit again and because they said yes, they have to pay. There are other things like food bills and medication and they're in a bit of a battle with the insurance company now.

 

Sorry, I don't mean to scare monger but please make sure you check what precisely is covered and what is not.

[piccolo 10]

Hope the surgery goes well for your wife and you're back enjoying the streets of Freo soon!

 

That's interesting re the maternity care. Think I'd just go public to a birthing centre instead then on Medicare.

[scoon101 10]

good luck hope all goes well !!

Bess wishes matt and jane xx

[Guest Mrs Fast Twist]

Good luck to Mrs Portlaunay xx thanks for that story, we will take heed. I had brain surgery in July of last year here in the UK for a rare brain condition called Chiari Malformation Type I. I have had what they call a successful surgery, but I am still left with underlying symptoms which I will have for the rest of my life. We will be thinking very carefully about medical cover once we manage to get out there (next summer hopefully) as the last thing I need is stress about medical bills should I need any further cover xx

[ali 189]

Hope the surgery went well - give her a hug from us here on PP ... and one for you too xxx

[portlaunay 22]

Well, she's home.

Surgery went well, one minor problem but on the whole pretty good.

Medical staff at Joondalup were outstanding, I mean just lovely, lovely people and great professionals.

Agency nurses on the ward were diabolical, really shocking and just shouldn't be in practice.

The substantive nurses were tremendous though so, on the whole, a really positive experience.

A couple of check-ups and six weeks off work should see her right albeit with a fancy scar that our son is very envious of.

No path lab results yet but we were told if there was anything untoward we'd know before the week was out and it's all been quiet.

 

 

Thanks for everyone's kind words.

[Scot01 11]

can I just clarify - do you mean medicare which I thought everyone had to had and is not optional- or medibank private - which is the private health fund?

[portlaunay 22]

I'm the luckiest man alive. Mrs p had the final all clear this week. The consultant revealed that she was very surprised that it wasn't very grave news that she had to pass on but the path lab came back with a benign tumor. My wife looks stunning and she's a remarkable woman whom I love very much.

A big thanks to all the healthcare professionals at Joondalup you do a wonderful and difficult job but through all the hardship we hope you realise the difference you make to people's lives every day.

[elfie 11]

Best wishes to mrs portlaunay from across the waters and a very speedy recovery

love and light

mary

[LoveOz 10]

Im so pleased to hear that every thing went well.

How scary for you all. Your wife is very brave.

 

Hope your wife has a fast recovery

 

LO

[Philpom 10]

We have had the experience of one child born in the public hospital and one born in the private hospital here in Bunbury. To be honest, compared to Holles St Maternity Hospital in Dublin, the public hospital here was a million times better and the treatment from the nurses and doctors a million times better. The private hospital meant that I could stay in the room with my wife after the baby was born and at the end all we had to pay at the end was the $250 excess that the health policy didn't cover. I have also had surgery in the public hospital here and was seen pretty quickly and booked in the following week. Public hospital waiting list in Perth are a lot longer than they are in Bunbury, but the only catch is that you have to wait a bit longer to see a specialist down here.

 

Everyones experience of private health insurance will be different and I am not advocating for either for or against, but the longer you do have it, the more they cover you for financially.

 

Portlaunay I hope the wife's surgery went well.

 

Picollo, seeing you are moving to Bunbury, whether you go to public or private down here is neither here nor there as they use a shared health campus. The only difference is that public means you will be sharing a room with 3 others and private you will get a room to yourself. If you opt to go down the caesarean route in the public side in Bunbury then they try and give you a room to yourself. Another option is to go as a private patient in the public hospital, that way you get a room to yourself and you don't have to pay a cent.

[liverpoolloo 10]

I'm the luckiest man alive. Mrs p had the final all clear this week. The consultant revealed that she was very surprised that it wasn't very grave news that she had to pass on but the path lab came back with a benign tumor. My wife looks stunning and she's a remarkable woman whom I love very much.

A big thanks to all the healthcare professionals at Joondalup you do a wonderful and difficult job but through all the hardship we hope you realise the difference you make to people's lives every day.

 

I am applying for a 143 parent visa and hope to hear on getting a CO July time, imagine my shock when a lump was discovered in my right breast in Jan, i had allsorts going through my mind especially going through the visa process, i can honestly say i was traumatised by the whole ordeal of mammogram, ultra sound scans, biopsy, then surgery to remove it, i felt intense releif to hear it was benign and discharged from the consultant with no further follow up appointments necessary, i then went through a period of feeling guilty for feeling so happy and releived i was ok because i knew some ladies i seen in the waiting room of the clinic and then the hospital did not get good news, none of the ladies ever spoke in the waiting rooms as they too were terrified of what they would find out or were going to go through if the news wasn't good. My consultant has written me a letter to take to my medical explaining the biopsy was benign so i hope all goes smoothly from here on. I understand the extreme trauma you and you wife went through and the jubilation and intense releif on hearing the good news her tumour was benign. I am 55yrs this year and although i have a son in Perth i am making this move alone which is daunting to say the least, but having had this hiccup i realise our chances and good fortune in life have to be grasped , we are never to old to try something new, and you only Fail if you never Try. Good luck to you and your family for the futue and i wish you all you hope for from here on. Ann

[Guest honitel]

I hope for good in you both and hope everything will went good.