Muddy 'doe (SA) replied:

Sad to hear Peter.

It is fantastic what can be done in medical science these days but the flip side is that it can incredibly expensive.

Hopefully the test, when u do get it done, will give you the right answer and you will be off travelling again.

Cheers
Muddy

Footloose replied:

Sorry to hear about your medical probs Peter. Yes, we have some of the best medical facilities and staff in the world I rekkon. The downside is the cost. I've had private insurance for 40 years. Other people have had houses, boats and cars but I had the insurance. Used it a few times. Last year had to get a kidney stone zapped with a laser. The GAP payment was around $3500. That's after paying and going without for 40 years of top private cover.
15K for a test ? That's hard to swallow.
Good luck with it all.

Willem replied:

We gave up our Health Insurance at the beginning of the 90's.

It turned out we couldn't afford it and so we didn't worry at that time. When we could afford it later we didn't bother.

It all came unstuck in 1999. So I had to go on the Public waiting list in 2000. Had one knee replacement in 2003 and the other one hopefully by October this year. Cost for the two knees is $40,000 and will have taken 5.5 years. BUT the gap payment would be about $35,000 as, unless you have maximum cover, you are not covered.

So it is a waiting game. I am a bit luckie,r as I live in the country, and had the operation at a regional hospital. Still, at the end of 2003 had 48 patients in front of me in the queue. Just be patient and wait.

In the mean time we travel whenever we can.

rob&kev&roo replied:

and who do we have to thank for all of this THE GOVERNMENT. they want us all to have private cover so we can a health system like the USA. A system where approx 20 million people go without cover of any kind because they can't afford it the majority of the country has work place health insurance which is inadequate at best.
as far as an angio is concerned there is a machine used in sydney at St. Vincent private i beleave that does the same thing in about an hour and only costs $500 dollars but the government wont buy more of them or have the use on the medcare list. thank goodness our government looks out for us. when was the last time you heard of a polatition on a medical waiting list.

Member - Blue (VIC) replied:

Hi peter, never nice to hear of others health issues... Hope it all works out for the best in time.

Private health is one of those grey areas for me, I can't afford the top cover nor can I afford the gap... Iguess all that's left is to ponder the experiences of people close to me and try and make an informed decision... My sister inlaw had 2 of her 3 kids in public hospital even though she had private cover, no beds available in any private maternity wards at the time... My father inlaw was looking at $10,000 gap for a hip replacement so he went public and waited an extra 3 weeks for the surgery. One of my work collegues copped a $7,500 gap for knee surgery... When we had our first child we paid for a private package(2 wages helps alot here), one of the first questions I asked was about bed availability, not wanting to pay upfront and be shoved somewhere I didn't want to be because of no beds... Was given in writing, a guarantee of an available bed, something the nurse said the regular private patients do not get, as later proven in my sister inlaws case...

My decision is thus far, it it's vital, I'll dip into the mortgage to make it happen, if not, I've made my bed and I'll lie in it without complaint.

cokeaddict replied:

Peter,
My brother-in-law's wife's mother (whatever that makes her to me) just got out of a private hospital. She had major problems with broken bones through falls. Over time she became addicted to the drugs she was taking for the pain and eventually became addicted to drugs without realising it, After 5 months in and out of private care with a few operations and a whopping bill of....wait for it....530,000.00, YES thats correct, no typo with extra digits. Being a pensioner her private cover paid the lot. I freaked when i heard it but i saw the bill.

Very scary stuff indeed.
Hope all works out for you though, chin up mate, we do have the best people here for medical stuff.
Ange