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VK2AAB > HEALTH 12.10.09 03:44l 39 Lines 1897 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 21147_VK2WI
Read: GUEST
Subj: G0TEX and medical systems
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Sent: 091012/0057Z @:VK2WI.#SYD.NSW.AUS.OC #:21147 [Sydney] $:21147_VK2WI
From: VK2AAB@VK2WI.#SYD.NSW.AUS.OC
To : HEALTH@WW
Ian might be interested in how it works here.
We have the Medicare system to which everyone over a certain income level
makes a contribution. Those under that level still get medical services.
When you go to the doctor, if he bulk bills, you don't pay anything.
If he does not bulk bill you pay the doctor and then take the recipt to
Medicare and you get back about 80% of the bill.
Most Medical Clinics bulk bill.
This also covers you for all treatment in a public hospital.
There can be a gap there also but it is usually quite small.
Additionally you can if you wish have private insurance.
This gives you a choice of hospitals and doctor and has other extras also
available. Such as Dental bills, spectacles, podietry, etc etc.
In practise it works like this, I went into hospital in 1994 for a stent
to be fitted in my heart. I had some initial period in the local hospital
the resident cardiaologist attended and I was there for four days.
No heart attack or anything but scans showed a blockage.
As I had insurance I went to a private hospital and the balloon was
inserted and blown up. The specialist warned that it might reoccur in
two or thee months. It did.
This time the specialist wanted to use a public hospital, so I went
back in as a private patientand the stent was fitted and was there a week
The interesting bit was when it was time for doctor's rounds the
specialist came in and saw me and several others, some of whom were
public patients without insurance cover.
Same doctors same treatment. I got a bill which was refunded by the
insurance. Hmmmm.
Anyway to sum up I believe we have one of the best systems around.
Nothing is perfect but it is very good.
Ever since then I have been in top health and condition.
So, I think the yanks, there is that objectional word, should copy our
system.
73 Barry VK2AAB
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