Breast Reconstruction: Medicare, Medical Billing & the Public System
If you’re having breast surgery or reconstruction through Australia’s public health system, what are you entitled to as a public patient, and what should you know before agreeing to use your private health insurance?
Australia’s public and private healthcare systems can overlap in ways that aren’t always obvious to patients. Referrals, Medicare, hospital billing and private health insurance can all come into the picture, sometimes at a point when you’re already dealing with a lot.
In this episode of Rewritten Me, I’m joined by Dr Margaret Faux, a nurse turned lawyer and one of Australia’s leading experts on Medicare and medical billing law.
We talk specifically about accessing breast cancer surgery, risk-reducing surgery and breast reconstruction through the public health system, including what being a public patient means financially.
Margaret also explains what to consider if you’re asked about private health insurance while in a public hospital, why it’s important to understand what you’re signing, and where Medicare rebates may fit into support after surgery.
As Margaret says in the episode, “Clinical care can sometimes be urgent. Billing never is.”
Margaret is the author of How to Avoid the Medical Bill Ripoff.
Listen to this episode
Links:
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Buy Margaret’s Book ‘How to Avoid the Medical Bill Rip off!’
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If you’ve found any of the content upsetting, please reach out and get help. Breast Cancer Network Australia has a free confidential helpline – 1800 500 258. Beyond Blue has a range of free resources online, or you can call them 24/7 on 1300 224 636.
