Ever felt a jolt of sticker shock when a medical specialist hands you the bill? If you’re an older Australian, chances are you have – and you’re not alone. Nearly two million Australians each year are delaying or skipping specialist care altogether, faced with a harsh choice: pay exorbitant fees or endure months (even years) on a public waitlist. It’s a cruel bind that’s left many seniors wondering if Australia’s much-vaunted healthcare system is still “fit for purpose” in their golden years.

Credit: Seniors Discount Club

The Rising Cost of Seeing a Specialist​

To put it bluntly, seeing a specialist privately can cost an arm and a leg. Unlike GP visits, which are often bulk-billed or inexpensive, only about one-third of specialist appointments are free – the rest slug patients with out-of-pocket charges. In fact, Australians paid an average of roughly $300 out-of-pocket per specialist visit in 2023, according to the Grattan Institute. That might have been pocket change to some when they were working, but for retirees on fixed incomes it’s a serious hit.

What’s truly alarming is the pace of increase. A recent independent report by the Grattan Institute (a respected Aussie think-tank) found that out-of-pocket costs for specialists have soared about 75% (in real terms) since 2010. That’s faster than inflation, faster than many pensions have grown – faster than most of us can manage. No wonder seniors are feeling the pinch.

“The whole system is pretty much broken, it’s been left on autopilot,” says Peter Breadon, Grattan’s health program director. He notes that specialist fees are a problem only getting worse, with many patients forced into a lose-lose decision: “They’ve either got to front up for really high out-of-pocket fees in a private clinic or wait months or sometimes even years… in a public clinic.” In other words, pay now or pay later (with your health).

Consider some eyebrow-raising examples uncovered by Grattan’s report. About one in five Australians who saw a specialist last year got hit with an “extreme” fee, defined as more than triple the official Medicare-scheduled rate. These aren’t just a few high-flying surgeons in Sydney – even fields like psychiatry and cardiology saw some doctors charging three times what Medicare deems fair. For instance, psychiatrists with extreme fees left patients about $670 out-of-pocket on the first consult, on average. Cardiologists and endocrinologists weren’t far behind at around $370 out-of-pocket for an initial visit. And remember, Medicare might only refund a small fraction of those sums – the rest comes straight from the patient’s wallet.


How many doctors charge these jaw-dropping rates? Thankfully, only a minority – roughly 4% of specialists are “extreme fee” chargers, according to Grattan. But those few can cause a lot of pain: more than 20% of patients ended up with an extreme bill in 2023. And it only takes one $600 or $900 bill to blow a hole in a senior’s budget.


For older Australians, who typically need specialists more often (hello, cataracts and creaky knees!), this trend is especially worrying. National Seniors Australia, an advocacy group for older people, bluntly says “the private health system is not fit for purpose and specialists’ fees must be reined in.” They’ve been warning for years that unless something changes, private healthcare – which many seniors rely on to avoid public hospital queues – could become unaffordable for retirees.

Why Are Specialist Fees So High?​

So, how did we get here? How can a 15-minute specialist consult sometimes cost as much as a weekend getaway? There are several intertwined reasons, according to health experts:

• Freedom to Charge (and Lack of Oversight): In Australia’s private system, specialists essentially can charge whatever they like – it’s an open market. Medicare sets a recommended Schedule Fee for each service and pays a rebate (usually 85% of that fee for out-of-hospital services), but there’s no law capping what doctors charge above that. Many specialists do charge around the Medicare rate, but others charge double, triple, or more, especially in wealthier city areas where patients might afford it. It’s a classic case of “if you can get away with it, why not?” – except it’s patients who pay the price.
• Medicare Rebates Not Keeping Up: On the flip side, doctors argue (with some merit) that Medicare rebates have barely budged while the cost of running a practice has skyrocketed. Think about rent, medical equipment, staff wages – these go up each year, but for a long stretch from 2013 to 2022, Medicare fees were frozen or barely indexed. A recent analysis of dermatology clinics found initial consult fees rose 41% from 2017 to 2025 (about $61 extra), yet the Medicare rebate for that consult rose only $11 in the same period. Specialists say that gap keeps widening, forcing them to either absorb costs or pass them to patients – and many chose the latter. “Medicare has failed to keep pace with… rising costs. The gap between maintaining a practice and Medicare indexation continues to widen,” a spokesperson for the Dermatologists’ College noted. In plain terms, the government’s contribution hasn’t kept up, so patients get stuck with bigger bills.
• Workforce Shortages & Training Bottlenecks: Australia has an ageing population with more chronic illnesses, meaning demand for specialists is higher than ever. But supply isn’t catching up. Training a specialist takes many years, and training positions for new specialists are tightly limited – often tied to available funding and hospital teaching slots. The Grattan Institute argues that in a truly competitive market, more doctors would enter high-fee fields, increasing supply and driving prices down. But because our pipeline of new specialists is bottlenecked, some areas of specialty care have little competition. This is especially true outside big cities or in less “popular” specialties. Fewer doctors available means those who are there can charge more. And patients, especially in regional areas, often have no alternative but to pay or go without. It’s a bit like having only one plumber in town during a pipe burst – you’ll pay whatever they ask.
• Geography and the “Postcode Lottery”: There’s a stark inequity in specialist access depending on where you live. Wealthier suburbs tend to have more specialists (and more who work solely private), whereas rural and low-income areas have fewer doctors. A “postcode lottery” is how the Grattan report described it – people in affluent communities get about 25% more specialist services than those in poorer communities, despite being healthier on average. Meanwhile, Tasmanians and many rural/regional Aussies get far fewer specialist appointments per capita. With scarcity comes higher fees: research shows doctors often set prices based on the competition (or lack thereof) in their area and the wealth of the local population. If you’re in an area with few specialists or high average income, expect to pay more. Older Australians in regional towns know this all too well – you might wait a year for a public specialist, or drive to the city and pay through the nose privately.

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• Private Health Insurance Gaps: Many seniors maintain private health insurance for peace of mind, assuming it covers “everything”. The reality? Private insurance does not cover outpatient specialist consultations. It only kicks in if you’re admitted to hospital. So when you see a cardiologist or orthopedic surgeon in their private rooms, the bill is on you (minus whatever Medicare pays back). Over 55% of Australians have private hospital cover, including a lot of over-60s, but that doesn’t spare them from these out-of-pocket fees. In fact, health funds themselves have complained that the growing gap costs are deterring people from seeing specialists at all. If people can’t afford the consult, they won’t proceed to elective surgeries in private hospitals – which is part of why our private hospitals aren’t as busy as you’d expect given an ageing population. It’s a vicious circle: you pay expensive premiums for insurance, yet still face hefty bills to use it.
• A Cost-of-Living Squeeze: We can’t ignore the broader context. Australia is going through a cost-of-living crunch, with everything from groceries to electricity getting pricier. For those on the Age Pension or living off retirement savings, budgets are tight. Being slugged with a $500 specialist fee is especially painful now. Patient advocates point out cases of “price gouging” – like some anaesthetists allegedly waiting until the day of surgery to tell patients about extra fees, knowing patients will feel too captive to back out. “We need to stamp out this sort of price gouging, especially during a cost-of-living crisis,” argues Dr. Rachel David, CEO of Private Healthcare Australia. Her organization, which represents health insurers, has seen first-hand reports of $950 first-time consult fees for psychiatrists and similarly shocking charges in other fields. When every dollar counts for older Australians, such surprises can be devastating.

Credit: Seniors Discount Club

All these factors combine to create a “perfect storm”: specialists can charge high fees and often feel justified doing so, while patients (especially older ones) are left footing bigger bills or skipping care entirely. Even the Australian Medical Association (AMA) admits things are out of whack. “Across many parts of Medicare, the cost of providing care has outstripped the growth in Medicare rebates,” says AMA President Dr. Danielle McMullen, noting that workforce shortages and under-resourced public clinics also drive up private costs. The AMA doesn’t condone “egregious” fees, she says, but they maintain that the solution isn’t simply vilifying doctors – it’s strengthening the public system so people aren’t forced to choose private in the first place. (We’ll come back to that point later.)

Stories from the Frontline: Seniors Caught in the Middle​

It’s easy to get lost in the numbers, but what does this actually mean for older Australians seeking care? Real-life stories paint a sobering picture of the human impact behind the dollar signs.


Take Angus Witherby, a 72-year-old from regional New South Wales. When Angus was diagnosed with prostate cancer, he was referred to a specialist in Sydney. He waited six months for that private specialist appointment – there were no closer options – and during that time, his cancer spread beyond the prostate. The delay turned a routine operation into a much more complex one. Angus’s outcome worsened; as he puts it, “the delay meant the cancer escaped… I’m left with a 25–30% chance of recurrence.” This is exactly the nightmare scenario of long waits that seniors fear.

And what about the cost? Angus paid about $1,500 for initial consultations and tests for that specialist, and got only a few hundred back from Medicare. Then came surgery. He was told it would mean around $5,000 out-of-pocket in the private system. Facing a cancer that needed prompt surgery, Angus had to make a tough call: “It really came down to, did I pay the ATO what I owed them, or did I have the operation?” He jokes darkly that if he skipped the surgery, the tax office wouldn’t get any money anyway – because he wouldn’t be around to pay. Needless to say, he chose surgery and deferred the tax bill. But not everyone has that option.


Now Angus is looking at needing a hip replacement and has been told the public hospital wait could be five to eight years. That’s effectively no choice at all – he’ll likely have to scrape together savings to go private yet again. His frustration echoes many seniors’: “The medical system in Australia has fundamentally failed… so many people are doing without. It’s a very expensive, complex system that’s not producing good outcomes despite vast sums of money. We need to rethink it and do it differently.”


For others, the financial strain hits just as hard as the medical worries. The Grattan report highlighted that people are taking on debt or skimping on essentials to afford specialist care. We’ve heard of retirees putting specialist bills on credit cards, delaying home repairs, even cutting back on groceries or heating to save for that eye specialist or rheumatologist appointment. It’s a heartbreaking reality in a country that prides itself on a “fair go” and universal Medicare.


Mental health care is another area of concern. As mentioned, psychiatrists often charge high fees, and one in ten patients seeing a psychiatrist ended up $400 out-of-pocket for the first visit alone. For an older person on a part-pension, $400 might be the difference between seeing a shrink or suffering in silence. The result? Many simply forego the help. In fact, surveys by the ABS and health groups show 10% to 20% of Australians referred to a specialist don’t go, largely because of cost. That includes a lot of older folk with conditions that, if untreated, can worsen and lead to hospital stays – the very outcome everyone wants to avoid.


It’s not all doom and gloom: not every specialist charges the earth, and some do bulk-bill pensioners or offer discounts. But given the stats, these compassionate providers are the exception, not the rule, in private practice. The prevailing trend is clear: specialist care is becoming a luxury that many seniors struggle to afford. And when older Australians delay care, small health issues can snowball into big ones. As Dr. Rachel David warns, if people don’t see a specialist when they need to, minor conditions can escalate into emergencies – meaning an eventual trip to the ER and even higher costs to the system.

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Is the Government Doing Anything About It?​

By now you might be thinking: Surely the government sees this and is taking action? Yes… and no. The issue of specialist fees has been on the radar, but it hasn’t gotten the same attention as, say, GP bulk-billing or hospital funding. That said, here’s what is happening (and what’s not) on the policy front:

• No Immediate Medicare Rebate Boost: First off, don’t hold your breath for a big jump in Medicare rebates for specialist visits. When asked recently if the government would raise rebates to ease patients’ out-of-pocket burden, Health Minister Mark Butler flatly said, “That’s not on the table right now.” The government’s reasoning is that simply upping the rebate might not help if certain doctors just increase their fees in response, negating the benefit. (The Grattan Institute backs this concern, noting evidence that doctors often hike prices when they know patients have additional subsidy.) Instead, Butler says the priority is transparency and competition – give patients tools to shop around, and theoretically the market will curb the worst offenders.
• Shining Light on Fees (Transparency): The flagship move by the Albanese government has been to upgrade the Medical Costs Finder website – basically a public database of doctor fees. It launched a few years back, but hardly any specialists used it voluntarily (fewer than 100 bothered listing their fees). Now the plan is to make participation mandatory for about 11,000 specialists across Australia. By late 2025, we should see a beefed-up site where you can search a procedure or consult (say, “initial cardiologist visit in Melbourne”) and see what each specialist charges on average, alongside the national average. Butler has committed around $7 million to get this system cranking. “We’ll publish the fees each individual specialist is charging for common services,” he promises, so patients “have the best possible information… and can make an informed choice”. Health insurers and consumer advocates are applauding this; Private Healthcare Australia says “transparency is the first step” to reform, allowing patients to compare prices and avoid sky-high chargers. Will it magically slash fees? Probably not overnight. But it could shame some outliers into moderating their prices, and it empowers savvy patients (and GPs who refer) to seek better value.
• Naming and Shaming & Other Tough Measures: Beyond just transparency, the Grattan Institute’s report goes further, urging government to “name and shame” specialists who overcharge and even strip them of Medicare funding. In practice, that might mean if Dr. X consistently charges triple the norm, the government could say “we won’t pay rebates for Dr. X’s services anymore.” That’s a bold approach – essentially a financial sanction. Minister Butler hasn’t embraced this Medicare rebate claw-back idea (yet), likely because it’s controversial and could face pushback from the medical lobby. But the mere fact it’s on the table signals how serious the problem is. Nobody used to talk about penalizing doctors for high fees, but now a mainstream think-tank and even some politicians are saying it might be time for hardball tactics. It remains to be seen if any government has the appetite to actually do this.
• Workforce and Training Expansion: On a more positive front, there are moves to address the specialist shortage. Butler highlights that more doctors have been entering training in the last two years than at any time in the past decade – partly due to government funding for more medical school places and training positions. The federal and state governments are being urged to set clear targets for specialist training and fund more slots, especially in fields and regions that are undersupplied. Think more dermatologists, more psychiatrists, more rural surgeons. These changes won’t produce new specialists overnight (it takes 10+ years to train a fully qualified specialist), but the idea is to start loosening the bottleneck. If successful, in the long run it could increase competition and availability, which might gently moderate fees and reduce wait times.
• Boosting Public Clinics: Another policy angle is to relieve pressure by investing in public hospital outpatient clinics, which provide specialist care at low cost or free. The Grattan report called for an extra $500 million a year targeted at areas with the worst access. This could fund more specialist positions in public hospitals or outreach clinics, meaning more opportunities for seniors to see, say, a cardiologist as a public patient rather than going private. The federal government has signaled some willingness here – healthcare deals with states often include components for “reducing waiting lists.” Whether a dedicated fund for specialist clinics emerges is unclear, but it’s on the wish list. AMA’s Dr. McMullen also emphasizes this: a stronger public system provides a “genuine choice for people who can’t afford to pay”. That way, private specialists can be a luxury, not the only option.
• Private Health Insurance Rebate and Reforms: Many older Australians will remember the days of a 30% rebate on private health insurance premiums – essentially a government subsidy to make insurance affordable. That rebate has been eroded (it’s now income-tested and smaller for most). National Seniors Australia is lobbying to increase the Private Health Insurance Rebate for low-income older people, hoping to keep seniors in private cover and ease their costs. The idea is if more seniors keep their insurance, they’ll use private hospitals more (taking pressure off public ones) and possibly have some gap fees covered through “no-gap” arrangements. Speaking of gaps, about 97% of procedures for privately insured patients are under “no gap or known gap” arrangements, according to AMA data. That means if you do get to the point of surgery with insurance, you likely won’t face surprise bills. The big hurdle is reaching that point – i.e., affording the initial consults. Some have suggested allowing health funds to cover specialist consult fees (currently illegal due to Medicare rules). For example, Members Health Fund Alliance (another industry group) wants insurers to be allowed to cover GP visits, which could open the door to covering specialist visits too. The government hasn’t indicated any move on this yet – it would be a major policy shift and could undermine Medicare’s primacy. But it’s an idea floating around as we search for relief from out-of-pocket costs.
• Specialist Fee Disclosure Website Upgrade: One concrete thing happening as we speak – Minister Butler’s “specialist price disclosure” initiative. By requiring every non-GP specialist to submit their fee data, the Medical Costs Finder will soon show average fees and out-of-pocket costs for each doctor and procedure. This is expected by next year (and the Minister says it will go ahead regardless of politics, with bipartisan hope). The aim is transparency, but also a subtle nudge: if Dr. Smith sees her name showing as charging double the local average for knee consults, perhaps Dr. Smith might reconsider her fees to avoid scaring off patients. It’s like TripAdvisor for medical costs – not exactly a price control, but shining sunlight on a realm that’s been pretty opaque.
• Indexation of Medicare: While an immediate big rebate hike is off the table, the government has at least resumed yearly indexation of Medicare fees after the long freeze. In the 2023 federal budget, they even made a significant investment by increasing bulk-billing incentives (though mostly for GPs, children and pensioners). There’s hope that over time Medicare rebates for specialists will inch up more with inflation. But as Grattan noted, even if Medicare covers a bit more, it won’t stop the worst price-gougers. It might, however, ease pressure on the more moderate doctors and reduce modest gaps.
• Inquiry into Private Health System: National Seniors and others are calling for a big-picture solution – an independent inquiry or Productivity Commission review of the private health system “from head to tail”. Essentially, step back and look at all the cogs: insurance, fees, training, public-private balance. The idea is to diagnose why the system isn’t delivering affordable care and to overhaul it. As one National Seniors brief put it, evidence is mounting that the system “must be reviewed… to find out what’s broken and how to fix it”. So far, the government hasn’t announced such a review, but pressure is growing. Even the AMA is talking about a “Private Health System Authority” to bring all parties together for reform discussions. When doctors, patients, and policy wonks all agree something’s got to change, maybe that tipping point for a major review is near.

Credit: Online Marketing / Unsplash

Experts and Advocates Weigh In​

With seniors’ health on the line, everyone’s got an opinion on the cure. Here are a few perspectives from leading voices:

• Grattan Institute (Peter Breadon): The think-tank that blew the lid off this issue is pushing a suite of reforms. Breadon’s team recommends boosting specialist training positions, investing in public outpatient services, and holding the worst fee-gougers to account. Their most headline-grabbing idea? Publicly name and shame those who charge extreme fees and revoke their Medicare rebates. It’s a strong medicine aimed at a small group of doctors who they argue have “no justification” for their sky-high fees. Breadon acknowledges only a few docs charge triple rates, but says the government shouldn’t subsidise care that most people can’t afford. He and his colleagues also highlight the need to “take pressure off the system by helping GPs do more” (like managing simpler specialist-type care) and establishing minimum access standards nationwide. In short, make specialists more accessible and less of a luxury.
• Australian Medical Association (Dr. Danielle McMullen): The AMA defends the majority of doctors, pointing out that most specialists aren’t out to fleece patients. They note that in the private hospital setting, the vast bulk of procedures involve no gap or a known small gap – which is true. Dr. McMullen emphasizes the system issues: “workforce shortages, lack of investment in public clinics, and rebates failing to keep pace” all contribute to high costs. The AMA’s stance is that we need a holistic reform of private health. They propose a new Private Health System Authority to convene insurers, hospitals, doctors, and patients to hash out solutions. The AMA is cautious about punitive measures like fee caps or stripping rebates, likely fearing unintended consequences (like doctors leaving the system). However, they do concede that Medicare’s decade of neglect (the rebate freeze years) has made out-of-pocket costs inevitable. In other words, we’re reaping what we sowed by underfunding Medicare and training for so long.
• Private Health Insurance Sector (Dr. Rachel David, PHA): Health insurers have a vested interest here – if people don’t go to specialists, they don’t use their insurance for treatments. PHA’s Dr. David has been vocal about fee transparency and consumer protection. She’s applauded the government’s move to force fee disclosure: “Transparency is the first step… so consumers know exactly how much they will be charged and can shop around.” She also highlights some borderline unethical practices like last-minute fee reveals, calling for those to be stamped out. PHA and funds also pitch ideas like allowing insurance to cover things it currently can’t (like GP visits) to ease overall healthcare costs. One striking stat from the insurance side: in the last five years, out-of-pocket costs for privately insured patients jumped 71% on average. Meanwhile, insurance payouts only rose ~12% and Medicare ~18%. That imbalance – patients’ share rising far faster – is something they argue cannot continue without breaking the system. They frame it, rightly, as a looming access crisis.
• National Seniors Australia (Advocacy for Older People): NSA has been championing this issue from the consumers’ side. They want immediate relief for seniors: a higher private insurance rebate for low-income retirees (to keep insurance viable), a Seniors Dental Benefit Scheme (because dental costs are another bugbear), and above all, that full system review of private health care. They argue that older Australians shouldn’t have to choose between their health and their savings – a message that resonates widely. NSA has even launched a “Health Costs” campaign, encouraging seniors to share their stories and support calls for change. Politically, seniors are a powerful voice in Australia; their pressure is part of why issues like pension rates and aged care stay on the agenda. NSA is aiming to put specialist fees and health affordability in that same basket of senior must-haves.
• Government’s View (Mark Butler & Co.): The federal government’s public stance is sympathetic but measured. Minister Butler often reiterates, “All Australians deserve access to affordable healthcare” – a nice motto, but the actions behind it so far center on transparency and some workforce boosts. The government has also upgraded the Specialist Fee Disclosure website (as discussed) and claims credit for adding more doctors into the system recently. Butler has subtly tried to nudge the private sector (specialists and private hospitals) to do more to protect patients from big bills. For example, he’s hinted that private hospital groups could rein in the anaesthetists or assist patients in finding no-gap doctors. However, at the end of the day, the government holds the main levers – Medicare settings, regulations, public funding – so many experts are watching to see if they’ll do more, especially as election season approaches and healthcare costs remain a hot topic.

What’s Next: Can We Close the Gap?​

So, where does this leave us, especially our senior readers? If you’re feeling a bit grim about the state of affairs, that’s understandable. But knowledge is power, and there are signs of momentum building to tackle these issues. In the meantime, here are a few takeaways and tips:

• Use the Tools Available: As the Medical Costs Finder gets updated with specialist fees, make use of it. Ask your GP about lower-cost specialist options – many GPs know which local specialists charge modestly or bulk-bill seniors. Don’t be shy to discuss fees upfront when you get a referral; it’s your right as a patient to know and choose. As one senior quipped, “I shop around for a new fridge, why not for my knee surgeon?” Transparency should make that easier.
• Know Your Coverage: If you have private insurance, check if your policy has any arrangements like “no gap” specialists (some insurers partner with doctors for no-gap schemes). While it won’t cover office consultations, it might cover your in-hospital specialist fees fully. Use your entitlements – e.g., if you have a Veterans’ card or are eligible for public outpatient clinics, pursue those options early to get on waitlists. Sometimes a short wait for a public clinic might be okay for non-urgent issues.
• Speak Up: Don’t suffer in silence. If you get quoted an outrageous fee, you can question it or seek a second opinion. There are also avenues to report concerns – the competition watchdog (ACCC) has been asked to look into specialist fees, and while they typically only act on systemic issues, it doesn’t hurt to highlight egregious cases. Patient advocacy groups like Patients Australia also gather stories to push for change.
• Support Reforms: Ultimately, structural change is needed. That might mean pushing your local MP to support inquiries or reforms, or supporting campaigns (like those by National Seniors or health consumer groups) calling for a fairer deal. This isn’t about blame – most doctors genuinely care about patients – it’s about setting up a system where seniors can get the care they need without financial fear.

Credit: Seniors Discount Club

Australia once boasted one of the world’s most accessible healthcare systems, and in many ways we still do well. But the creeping “Americanisation” of our health system – where money often talks louder than need – is a real concern. As one policy veteran put it, “How much longer can this go unaddressed? How much more scandalous do these fees have to get?”. Strong words, but perhaps a necessary wake-up call.


For older Australians, the stakes are high. This is the age when medical issues tend to multiply, and having to think twice about seeing a specialist can literally be a matter of life and death. The problem is clear; the solutions are being debated. Now it’s a question of political will and public pressure. The hope is that in a few years, we’ll look back on 2025 as the turning point when specialist fees and out-of-pocket costs stopped their upward spiral and reforms took hold.


In the meantime, keep informed, plan ahead for health costs, and lean on the support networks available (family, community health services, seniors organizations). Medicare may be a bit dented, but it’s still there for you. And don’t lose heart – Aussie seniors have fought for improvements before (from pension increases to better aged care) and often won.


It’s your health, and your voice matters in this conversation. After all, if we don’t fix this now, what kind of healthcare system will we be handing to the next generation of seniors? It’s a question worth pondering – and acting on – for all of us.


Now, over to you: What do you think needs to change to ensure Australians – especially older ones – can get the specialist care they need without breaking the bank?

 

[Robeo56]

Completely irrelevant to the article, I know. However, the people used in the AI generated images are very popular. They keep popping into my AI generated images as well!

 

[Gezzabel]

I had a pre operation checkup with a cardiologist, because my surgeon for a hernia repair, wanted to be thorough, because I am “66” years ancient. Never had a problem with many surgeries I have had. I had an ECG, and an ultrasound of the heart. All normal, and all eligible for bulk billing. The cardiologist saw me for 5 minutes and said, that all looked great. He listened to my heart, and then that was it. The account cost $870.00! We got $150,00 back from Medicare. What a rip off! Talk about specialists overcharging! Maybe he was looking for more business, from the near heart attack I nearly had when I saw the bill. If it happens again, I will say that I can’t afford it, and that I will need a $25.00 per month payment plan! My GP was shocked, and said that he had read an article about specialists overcharging. I think they figure, let’s rip off baby boomers, because they are the only ones who can afford it. I think that it’s a disgrace. To top it off, I am a nurse. Once upon a time, a doctor would never rip off a nurse, and the doctor knew that I was a nurse. It’s a disgrace and shameful too. Gezzabel.

 

[elaine41]

I have had macular degeneration in my right eye for 13.5 years. Initially that was monthly treatment which gradually decreased until about 2 years ago, with the advent of newer drugs, I got to 3 monthly. Each visit now costs $630 & I am left with nearly $300 out of pocket. This month my left eye developed the same problem. Cost for treatment that day? $850!! I still don't know what Medicare is paying back for that as it doesn't come through automatically when you have 2 eyes treated. You have to wait 24-48 hours for the rebate to reach your bank a/c & as I don't do internet/phone banking & my bank is 2 hours drive away I have no idea of the rebate but expect to be out of pocket in the region on $500-600. Now because of this additional problem, I have to see my specialist every 4 weeks for treatment of the left eye at a cost of $630 each visit & still my 3 monthly for both eyes. Guess my diet is going to suffer greatly until my left eye is stabilised & hopefully I can get just one visit every 3 months but still with a hefty bill. Without this treatment, however, I will lose most of my sight & will need extra care as I live alone & have no family to help out. Seems like a lose/lose situation for me. Pay high specialist fees, have less money for food etc & live at home; or stop treatment & lose sight, have more money for food etc & soon have to have more care paid for by the govt.

 

[Jest]

i passed my threshhold last february and since then i only pay a pittance. i have injections in my eye which cost 556.00 a pop. i am very grateful for medicare.

 

[Mars]

I feel for you Elaine 41. I have had Cornea Transplants in my eyes then after a while I had bleeding behind the Right eye, and I had needles in the right eye every 3 Months, Then the Retina started swelling and I still had needles at 3 Month intervals. The doctor also tried Laser. The last couple of Months I have had Monthly Injections. For the first time this month I haven't had an injection so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I only get a pension and each visit costs $500.00 and the laser was $700.00 I know some people pay more. I don't want to go Blind though

 

[Morgans Orchard]

Gezzabel ,I thought I was being ripped off when I went to heart specialist exactly 12 months ago and cost me $500. Due to go again Monday guess it will be $600 and you get stuff all out of Medicare I have a pacemaker and have to see another specialist to see if that is set properly,battery ok etc another $ 149 for 10 minutes am longer walking to his surgery than in I am in it.. I can quite understand why you nearly had heart attack I’m sure the battery in my pacemaker would have gone flat!

 

[Morgans Orchard]

I notice on my reply at the bottom it always says Edit or Delete I am blind and not very technically minded so what am I doing wrong.

 

[Gezzabel]

Gezzabel ,I thought I was being ripped off when I went to heart specialist exactly 12 months ago and cost me $500. Due to go again Monday guess it will be $600 and you get stuff all out of Medicare I have a pacemaker and have to see another specialist to see if that is set properly,battery ok etc another $ 149 for 10 minutes am longer walking to his surgery than in I am in it.. I can quite understand why you nearly had heart attack I’m sure the battery in my pacemaker would have gone flat!

Thanks for sharing. I’m sure this cardiologist will make more money, if I have a heart attack from a n account he gives me, should I need to see him again. If I need any more advice, I am going to get my GP to refer me to radiology for the echocardiogram and his rooms can easily do an ECG! I am on the lookout! Good luck to you Darling, and I hope that your recovery goes smoothly. All the best, Gezzabel.

 

[Victoria56]

I used to see a dermatologist because of autoimmune diseases, one which badly ulcerated my left calf and took 2 years to heal, loads of immunosuppressants and still on steroids, plus eczema and psoriasis but I stopped going when it all cleared up due to the cost. I am again covered in eczema so on Monday will be seeing her again. Here is the cost for basically a 10-15 minute consult.
The review consultation fee will be either $234 or $276 (Monday - Friday) / $244 or $286 (Saturday) with a Medicare rebate of $42.30 or $84.15. The gap/out of pocket amount for both fees are the same. The fee will depend on if your referral is still in date or if you have a new referral as this changes the Medicare item number we use. Without a current GP referral, your Medicare rebate will be $21.00.
SERIOUSLY? Multiply a 10 minute consult by 6 and that is about $1500 an hour. I should have been a bloody dermatologist. I do get a 10% discount for being a pensioner but still. I really don't have that to spare. It's a joke.

 

[Gezzabel]

My daughter at age 15, had the worst acne ever. Referred to dermatologist, and had to have blood tests prior, because the medication she required, can affect the liver. She was prescribed Roaccutane, and the results were miraculous! So was the dermatologist bill. Around $350.00 per visit. This is a medication that can only be prescribed by a dermatologist. But my daughter’s acne was about 90 percent improved. Worth it. Gezzabel.

 

[Miss Chris]

I have had macular degeneration in my right eye for 13.5 years. Initially that was monthly treatment which gradually decreased until about 2 years ago, with the advent of newer drugs, I got to 3 monthly. Each visit now costs $630 & I am left with nearly $300 out of pocket. This month my left eye developed the same problem. Cost for treatment that day? $850!! I still don't know what Medicare is paying back for that as it doesn't come through automatically when you have 2 eyes treated. You have to wait 24-48 hours for the rebate to reach your bank a/c & as I don't do internet/phone banking & my bank is 2 hours drive away I have no idea of the rebate but expect to be out of pocket in the region on $500-600. Now because of this additional problem, I have to see my specialist every 4 weeks for treatment of the left eye at a cost of $630 each visit & still my 3 monthly for both eyes. Guess my diet is going to suffer greatly until my left eye is stabilised & hopefully I can get just one visit every 3 months but still with a hefty bill. Without this treatment, however, I will lose most of my sight & will need extra care as I live alone & have no family to help out. Seems like a lose/lose situation for me. Pay high specialist fees, have less money for food etc & live at home; or stop treatment & lose sight, have more money for food etc & soon have to have more care paid for by the govt.

So every 6 months you’re paying $2520 for treatment on 2 eyes….I wouldn’t have a clue about rebates from Medicare but that’s a lot , but of course you need to keep your eyesight…..have you asked your specialist if he can maybe give you a reduced rate …