[Gezzabel]

Disability, NDIS.​

Is it just me or do I have a right to be upset? My daughter is married, with 2 beautiful children. She has MS, yet struggles to work to help the budget. She has a disability parking permit also. She has been sick for 10 years. She has to have the annual MRI, now due. She gets it at a public hospital, and this year, my husband and I have to pay $900 out of pocket, to cover the cost. She certainly can’t afford it. If we could not pay, no MRI. So much for the lucky country, and the NDIS, to which she is entitled. It really makes me sad and angry, that the disabled are treated like this. Would love your followers opinions on this issue. Gezabel.

 

[donandviv77]

Disability, NDIS.​

Is it just me or do I have a right to be upset? My daughter is married, with 2 beautiful children. She has MS, yet struggles to work to help the budget. She has a disability parking permit also. She has been sick for 10 years. She has to have the annual MRI, now due. She gets it at a public hospital, and this year, my husband and I have to pay $900 out of pocket, to cover the cost. She certainly can’t afford it. If we could not pay, no MRI. So much for the lucky country, and the NDIS, to which she is entitled. It really makes me sad and angry, that the disabled are treated like this. Would love your followers opinions on this issue. Gezabel.

I do not know where you are getting your MRI's done however as your daughter must be on a social security disabled scheme which pays the MRI costs 100 pc. I don't know where you get your MRI's done but the Mater Hospital has an MRI machine for public patients for $0 costs and if you have private insurance then the insurance company picks up 100 pc of the costs for people on a disability pension.

 

[Joydie]

Disability, NDIS.​

Is it just me or do I have a right to be upset? My daughter is married, with 2 beautiful children. She has MS, yet struggles to work to help the budget. She has a disability parking permit also. She has been sick for 10 years. She has to have the annual MRI, now due. She gets it at a public hospital, and this year, my husband and I have to pay $900 out of pocket, to cover the cost. She certainly can’t afford it. If we could not pay, no MRI. So much for the lucky country, and the NDIS, to which she is entitled. It really makes me sad and angry, that the disabled are treated like this. Would love your followers opinions on this issue. Gezabel.

I feel your pain. I need at least one MRI per year. I live in Newcastle with many radiology practices to choose from. I'm on the aged pension, my sole source of income. My problem is that I have electronic plates on my spinal cord which makes an MRI tricky.

MRI pulses are measured in Teslas. The practice I use has mostly 3 Tesla machines, which are dangerous for me. I can only be scanned on a 1.5 Tesla machine. Medicare no longer pays benefits for the 1.5 machine, so each MRI costs me $300.

You definitely need to shop around for a more affordable radiology practice.

 

[Joydie]

I do not know where you are getting your MRI's done however as your daughter must be on a social security disabled scheme which pays the MRI costs 100 pc. I don't know where you get your MRI's done but the Mater Hospital has an MRI machine for public patients for $0 costs and if you have private insurance then the insurance company picks up 100 pc of the costs for people on a disability pension.

I'm 77 and on the aged pension. Because of the way Medicare applies benefits, the only machine safe for me, the 1.5 Tesla machine, no longer attracts a benefit. Each MRI costs me $300.

 

[Pat T]

Disability, NDIS.​

Is it just me or do I have a right to be upset? My daughter is married, with 2 beautiful children. She has MS, yet struggles to work to help the budget. She has a disability parking permit also. She has been sick for 10 years. She has to have the annual MRI, now due. She gets it at a public hospital, and this year, my husband and I have to pay $900 out of pocket, to cover the cost. She certainly can’t afford it. If we could not pay, no MRI. So much for the lucky country, and the NDIS, to which she is entitled. It really makes me sad and angry, that the disabled are treated like this. Would love your followers opinions on this issue. Gezabel.

Don’t know how it would affect you… I had to have a MRI on my replacement knee. It was cheaper for me to go back to the surgeon (he bulk billed) as a specialist can get it done on bulk billing whereas from a GP it is full cost. Just something to check out. Good luck.

 

[Gezzabel]

I feel your pain. I need at least one MRI per year. I live in Newcastle with many radiology practices to choose from. I'm on the aged pension, my sole source of income. My problem is that I have electronic plates on my spinal cord which makes an MRI tricky.

MRI pulses are measured in Teslas. The practice I use has mostly 3 Tesla machines, which are dangerous for me. I can only be scanned on a 1.5 Tesla machine. Medicare no longer pays benefits for the 1.5 machine, so each MRI costs me $300.

You definitely need to shop around for a more affordable radiology practice.

I appreciate otime for feedback. Apparently the same MRI machine must be used, because of the variation of information with different machines. She has enough on her plate to deal with, but $900 is insulting. My husband and I will pay, not even a question. It’s the principle that matters. What about other young people with this terrible disease? How can they possibly afford $900 for an essential test. The NDIS is a joke. I know an elderly gentleman who is on NDIS, and was just told to spend up big, because of the unused money left over. He got a new expensive bed, and now he doesn’t even like the bed, What a scam. Truly pathetic. When Julia Gillard started the program, I thought it was a great opportunity. Now? The privilege is being abused. Taxpayer dollars pay for this. And people wonder why the country is in such a mess? I did believe that Australia was the lucky country. Not now. Gezabel.

 

[Lizzylou]

You should get your local mp involved, use whatever avenue you can find, even contact NDIS or NDIA as they are known as now, push to see someone, make an appointment with them, I say you but I mean your daughter and you go with her for the support.

 

[BlackWolf]

you write she is entitled to NDIS but is she on NDIS? If she is getting NDIS, has she asked for this in her plan?
If she not, she needs to ask why from her planner and her planning meeting.
I have genetic condition called Marfan Syndrome which effect all my connective tissues. I see a Heart specialist at St Vincent Heart Centre at St Vincent Hospital Melbourne. I have MRIs to check my aorta, every two years to check it not increasing in size and dissect. Since in the hospital I get it free. (I'm also on a Disability Support Pension and have health care pension card.). Even when I saw a (private) heart specialist before seeing my current specialist it was free because it was the hospital.
maybe this would help https://www.ndis.gov.au/applying-ac...ionals/eligibility-and-medical-conditions-faq

 

[mylittletibbies]

Disability, NDIS.​

Is it just me or do I have a right to be upset? My daughter is married, with 2 beautiful children. She has MS, yet struggles to work to help the budget. She has a disability parking permit also. She has been sick for 10 years. She has to have the annual MRI, now due. She gets it at a public hospital, and this year, my husband and I have to pay $900 out of pocket, to cover the cost. She certainly can’t afford it. If we could not pay, no MRI. So much for the lucky country, and the NDIS, to which she is entitled. It really makes me sad and angry, that the disabled are treated like this. Would love your followers opinions on this issue. Gezabel.

Good morning Gezabel,
So sorry to hear of your difficulties with the NDIS, know how you feel, been there done that.
Does your daughter have an NDIS plan, without one you will get nothing. I don't know if the NDIS cover the cost of MRIs or not as my daughter has never needed one.
If they do cover it, then you need to make sure that it is included in her plan the next time it comes up for renewal.
The system is broken, one year I didn't use all the funds I had been allocated and the next year they cut me right back and didn't give me m near enough. This is the reason people get told to make sure you ue all your funds.
The gentleman you speak of with the expensive bed must have had permission to buy it as you can't just spend the funds willy nilly on anything you feel like, it must fit in with your needs covered by your plan.
If you have trouble trying to deal with the NDIS then go through your local member. I did this after 6 fruitless months of trying to get calls returned to arrange a new plan for my daughter after moving house to a different area. It worked a treat, my MP got onto them straight away, and within one day it got the ball rolling.
I hope your daughter can get some clarification on this matter.
Any scans or tests my daughter has ever needed have always been free, but she is on a disability pension.
I notice you mentioned your daughter works, does she also get the pension,? That would possibly make a difference

 

[BlackWolf]

you write she is entitled to NDIS but is she on NDIS? If she is getting NDIS, has she asked for this in her plan?
If she not, she needs to ask why from her planner and her planning meeting.
I have genetic condition called Marfan Syndrome which effect all my connective tissues. I see a Heart specialist at St Vincent Heart Centre at St Vincent Hospital Melbourne. I have MRIs to check my aorta, every two years to check it not increasing in size and dissect. Since in the hospital I get it free. (I'm also on a Disability Support Pension and have health care pension card.). Even when I saw a (private) heart specialist before seeing my current specialist it was free because it was the hospital.
maybe this would help https://www.ndis.gov.au/applying-ac...ionals/eligibility-and-medical-conditions-faq

I should add my MRIs are via Medicare not my NDIS plan. As I been having MRIs long before I went on NDIS.

 

[mylittletibbies]

I should add my MRIs are via Medicare not my NDIS plan. As I been having MRIs long before I went on NDIS.

Make sure you get them on your next plan, you will probably need to pay them yourself on the day and then claim them back. That's one thing they are prompt at, I always get reimbursed the next day.

 

[Nana Zorak]

Disability, NDIS.​

Is it just me or do I have a right to be upset? My daughter is married, with 2 beautiful children. She has MS, yet struggles to work to help the budget. She has a disability parking permit also. She has been sick for 10 years. She has to have the annual MRI, now due. She gets it at a public hospital, and this year, my husband and I have to pay $900 out of pocket, to cover the cost. She certainly can’t afford it. If we could not pay, no MRI. So much for the lucky country, and the NDIS, to which she is entitled. It really makes me sad and angry, that the disabled are treated like this. Would love your followers opinions on this issue. Gezabel.

I can sympathize with you on this point Gezzabel, as my son-in-law is a 3 times Cancer survivor & is still expected to work 40hrs a week. He was only working 30 at his last job until the boss closed the whole operation down & retired. Now he is on New- start & has to have an appointment with a job agency every fortnight so the Government will pay him his pittance. He should be on NDIS, but they won't acknowledge that he is bad enough to warrant it. That is why we have applied for him to be my carer. The end of this month he will be given the extra pay for what he has been doing for the last 6 months caring for me.

 

[mylittletibbies]

I can sympathize with you on this point Gezzabel, as my son-in-law is a 3 times Cancer survivor & is still expected to work 40hrs a week. He was only working 30 at his last job until the boss closed the whole operation down & retired. Now he is on New- start & has to have an appointment with a job agency every fortnight so the Government will pay him his pittance. He should be on NDIS, but they won't acknowledge that he is bad enough to warrant it. That is why we have applied for him to be my carer. The end of this month he will be given the extra pay for what he has been doing for the last 6 months caring for me.

My daughter has an NDIS plan as she is intellectually disabled.
She has also had oral cancer three times over the last 15 years, despite never having drank or smoked. She has no tongue left,. just a reconstructed flap, can't talk properly and has to have all her food blended
NDIS do not cover anything to do with her cancer, only her original disability, don't even want to hear about all the difficulties her cancer had caused, not to mention all the additional expenses.
So glad you were able to get the carer payment, this is also so hard to get these days.

 

[Nana Zorak]

My daughter has an NDIS plan as she is intellectually disabled.
She has also had oral cancer three times over the last 15 years, despite never having drank or smoked. She has no tongue left,. just a reconstructed flap, can't talk properly and has to have all her food blended
NDIS do not cover anything to do with her cancer, only her original disability, don't even want to hear about all the difficulties her cancer had caused, not to mention all the additional expenses.
So glad you were able to get the carer payment, this is also so hard to get these days.

The Government thinks we are all malingering when we have a valid reason to complain. So sorry about your daughter. Older folk who don't want to end up in an "old folks home" should be considered for the home care package so we can stay in our homes longer. I first applied for the home care package in 2018 but am still waiting & had to reapply in November last year. Still waiting. The Government have cut back majorly on this scheme which is a failure on their part. I am greatly disappointed in my local politician Jim Charmers himself. I know he is the only one in politics who has the training for his job but he is making as much of a hash of it as Keeting did when Bob Hawke was PM.

 

[ElizaKaye]

I come under the CHSProgram. I was found eligible for some financial ( about 55%) help to purchase a reclining chair. It took approx 3 emails and 3 months for me to receive a photos of the chair. I could not sit in it, or compare it with others, as I live in a regional area, or see any fabric samples. After my daughter hired a chair for me, that was suitable, I knew then what type of chair I required. Howeve, the provider of the CHSP chair did not stock that particular type, *multi motor options, that have two more options than the CHSP chair) therefore I was not able to get financial help from the local furniture store. I don't know if the goverment staff think we are stupid, but no one has enough money to waste a $1000 on something that is not suitable and I can't understand why the government would give a business a grant to someone that didn't not have the full range of chairs. I was not expecting to receive any more than they were offering, because the suitable chair was more costly. We may be cripled but we are not stupid.

 

[Ezzy]

Is is better to be an illegal immigrant? A friend sent me an email put together by a Solicitor which shows illegal immigrants can receive more than 3 x more benefits in one year than a pensioner & without working. Where is the fairness? Come to Australia, the Welfare Country. (if you aren't an Aussie).

 

[ElizaKaye]

How true. If the government helped Aussies more than the immigrants, we would not have to import so many. Ever since Australia has been importing immigrants, it ios getting more unsafe to live here.

 

[constantpain666]

I'm in a SIL house, my chemist bill for meds can be over $1200 a month. Nothing back and if you go over the account limit, they refuse to make them up. I can't count how many times mum has cleared it. I have several specialists in April and May. My GP wanted me to go to a skin doc last year, but I didn't have the money. I went in April 2024. I had to pay the total cost, because as I don't have a pension card, or a low income card, no discount. At least those who have them can get some sort of a discount. They wanted me to go to a vascular surgeon. $600+ for the surgeon. He wanted ten tests done before i saw him. Minimum amount $280. Maximum amount $1300. Didn't have the money. Rang to cancel. Took several calls, they were willing to accept DSW calling to make the appointment but wouldn't accept their right to cancel them. NDIS gets you some things if you qualify, but not all of it. Don't qualify and you get nothing. People think, it makes life easy, but I wonder.

 

[Ezzy]

I'm in a SIL house, my chemist bill for meds can be over $1200 a month. Nothing back and if you go over the account limit, they refuse to make them up. I can't count how many times mum has cleared it. I have several specialists in April and May. My GP wanted me to go to a skin doc last year, but I didn't have the money. I went in April 2024. I had to pay the total cost, because as I don't have a pension card, or a low income card, no discount. At least those who have them can get some sort of a discount. They wanted me to go to a vascular surgeon. $600+ for the surgeon. He wanted ten tests done before i saw him. Minimum amount $280. Maximum amount $1300. Didn't have the money. Rang to cancel. Took several calls, they were willing to accept DSW calling to make the appointment but wouldn't accept their right to cancel them. NDIS gets you some things if you qualify, but not all of it. Don't qualify and you get nothing. People think, it makes life easy, but I wonder.

I am sorry to hear the problems you are having with this "marvellous (not) welfare system" we have in Australia.

From what l have personally been told about NDIS it is sometimes an agency who fares better than the client. With your outgoings on medications alone & need for speciality services you really need more welfare support than you are receiving now.

Your statement here certainly highlights yet another weakness in a system which was supposed to assist people like yourself. Now if you were fit & didn't want to work, in need of nothing I wonder if the assistance would be better?

The whole Welfare system is failing a lot of people. A lady @ a hobby group recently shared with me how she could no afford the $10 for prescription glasses each year. I was speechless. These are the things l find so disheartening.

'AUSTRALIA, THE LUCKY COUNTRY.' For Politicians, those who don't want to work & anyone working the welfare system or................