Health Support

Treating health and medical conditions can be a costly exercise.  Healthy Living includes eating well, exercising often, having and seeing a regular doctor and dental check-ups and accessing education about health conditions.

Having a regular Doctor is preferred to ensure your medical and family history is recorded and taken into consideration when visiting a GP.  Having access to accurate medical and health information is also important.  Some useful websites and contacts are:

Information provided below is of general nature – please use your judgement of the correct services and treatment for you and your family.

Department of Families Fairness and Housing – Concessions and benefits

A range of concessions are available to all Victorians who are on low incomes or experiencing hardship and need help meeting the cost of living.  For further information visit https://services.dffh.vic.gov.au/concessions-and-benefits

Further Background Information

Fees and costs associated with medical costs

Medicare

Medicare is the insurance scheme that gives Australian citizens and permanent residents access to healthcare, including health and hospital services at no cost or low cost.  To access Medicare, you need to enrol then you receive a Medicare number and card.  You can use this card to receive a wide range of medical services.

Australian citizens or permanent resident person over the age of 15 can apply for their own Medicare card.

For further information about eligibility and how to enrol in Medicare please visit: Enrolling in Medicare

Ineligible Medicare Patients

Medicare Safety Nets – Services Australia

The Medicare safety net can help lower out of pocket medical costs for out of hospital services.  When you spend over a certain amount in a calendar year, Medicare will give you a higher amount back for the remaining calendar year.

Medicare safety nets are calculated from 1 January to 31 December.

Registration for the safety net is required if you are part of a couple or family (individuals are automatically registered).

The safety net threshold is calculated each year – please use Medicare safety nets to check current amounts.  Individuals can check their threshold tally by using the Medicare online account or Medicare mobile app.

Bulk Billing:

Bulk billing means you don’t have to pay for your medical service from a health professional.  For example, after a visit to your doctor, your doctor bills Medicare directly and accepts the Medicare benefit as full payment for their service.  This means you do not have any out-of-pocket costs.

Out of Pocket Expenses:

An out-of-pocket expense or cost is the difference between the amount a doctor charges for a medical service and what Medicare and any private health insurer pays.  Out of pocket costs are also called gap or patient payments.  (www.health.gov.au)

Workcover or Transport Accident Commission (TAC)

If your hospital or outpatient treatment is the result of a traffic or work-related accident, you will be treated as a ‘compensable patient’ (different fees apply). No accounts will be sent to you if you inform the treating staff who is responsible for your medical expenses.

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)  | About the PBS

The Government subsidises the cost of some medicines for all Medicare card holders to make them affordable to the community.

Government Dental Care (Barwon Health Community Dental Services)

Persons holding a Centrelink health care card, pension concession card or Department of Veteran’s Affairs Card are eligible for Government dental services.  How much you will need to pay for public dental care depends on your dental problem and your circumstances.  General costs can be found here:  Barwon Health – Dental Services

Child dental benefits schedule  Child Dental Benefits Schedule – Services Australia

Covers part of the full cost of basic dental services (if the criteria of 0 – 17 years, eligible for Medicare, parent receives a payment from Services Australia once a year is met).

Indexed 1 January each year, the cover of $1052 over 2 calendar years for basic dental services (including check-ups, x rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals and extractions).  The Child dental benefits schedule uses general dentist clinics rather than community dental services.  It’s a good idea to check with your dentist regarding your child’s available amount prior to the appointment.

Health Insurance

Private Health insurance can help pay hospital and medical costs not covered by Medicare.  In some cases, you can receive treatment sooner by electing to be treated as a private (insured) patient.  Health insurance includes Hospital cover and Extras covers. These can be combined or taken out separately.

Hospital cover can help cover some of the costs with staying in hospital.  The costs covered will depend on the level of cover you have.  Levels range from basic to top level.

Extras is for out of hospital treatments like physiotherapy, optical and dental.

Choosing a health fund can be very difficult to understand and compare funds and policies.  Money Smart suggests checking the https://www.privatehealth.gov.au/dynamic/search/start to find the right cover and fund for you.

If you are experiencing difficulty making payments towards health insurance, check Managing Your Policy

Ambulance Cover

Ambulance transport in Victoria is not free and isn’t covered by Medicare.  People who do not have a membership concession entitlement or other cover are required to pay for the care and transport they receive – which can be a costly exercise.

Concessional cover – Eligible Victorians holding a valid Pensioner Concession or Health Care Card will receive necessary transport.

Ambulance Victoria memberships can cover emergency travel, patient transport and attendance and treatment.  For more information visit https://www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/

Private Health fund cover policies differ in their coverage of emergency and non emergency transport.  Check with your health fund before travel is required.