Over 20 years ago my Mother had open heart surgery. As she had private medical coverage she thought nothing of using it....she had no choice in the doctor....she just went to the one she was referred to by her GP.
While she was in hospital she had a room mate who was virtually the same age as Mum, had the same operation performed by the same doctor one day apart. They had the same nurses, the same food, the same treatment in the same hospital.....it cost Mum over $10,000 out of her own pocket....her room mate paid nothing as she was a pensioner.
Needless to say, Mum was very annoyed.
This is exactly why people with private health cover get upset. I am surprised no government ministers can see it.
Ever since the Government first stuck it's nose into Private Health Funds they have been going down hill. I have had Private cover all my life and have used it twice....when my children were born. It did not cost me a single cent on either occasion.
Wow, you were lucky! I have had out of pocket expenses for all mine, even when we were in top hospital cover.
I used to go to the dentist for free as my fund covered the costs....same with glasses. Now it costs me as much out of my pocket as I get from the Fund.
A few years back I took my son to be tested for glasses & at the reception desk I was asked if I had health cover for him. Yes, I said. The bill was about $330 or some such thing & I was going to be out of pocket about $130.
But then when the woman put my health care claim through, it rejected my son as it had been his birthday 2 days previously and the cover cut out then. I forget how old he was. Maybe 21 or 23? I thought it was 25 but that was apparently only with a student card & at that stage (January) he had just finished a course.
So you're thinking I had to pay $330 out of my own pocket? Magically, the bill was changed to $130.
I was grateful, don't get me wrong, but I think those who had insurance just had their bill upped by whatever they were getting back. made me wonder. After all, if you pay for cover, you should be better off, not worse off.
@davidc4430 wrote:'I thought I was a monster': A Far North Queensland woman's six-year wait for breast reconstructive surgery
its about time reconstructive surgery was a part of the cure, not considered cosmetic. to be done as soon as possible after the masectomy.
no point fixing the cancer if the resulting chest area makes a woman hate herself.
There are many reasons why it cant be done straight after the mastectomy. Mine took 3 yrs. I was on the Public waiting list for 15mths. (Canberra) 2003.
(I had my bi-lateral mastectomy in Sydney though.) 2000.
For me.... the worst part of the whole Breast Cancer experience was losing my hair due to chemo.... as if being sick as a dog wasn't bad enough, losing my hair was *visible* to the outside world. I had 2 wigs, but they made me itchy, so I couldnt wear them. My head scarf just made it clear to the world that I was *sick* ...... no privacy really. ( And I was sick too... bloody sick ) and still raising my 3 children 14, 12 & 7. I was 32yrs old.
But, at the end of the day, breasts gone, still alive!! And that's what it boiled down to.
Breast prothesis are wonderful. YOU can have ANY SIZE BOOBS YOU WANT REALLY 
....but you can't with breast implants. Too many factors to determine what size implant you can have and in my case, I had severe chest wall trauma from the radiation therapy. (very long story, not going into it here).
I've had my reconstruction now for 14yrs. Knowing what I know/feel now, I wish I hadnt had it done. I'm not a fan. Oh it was all good while I was a younger woman, slimmer, but now the chemo-side effected ageing process is in full swing, and at 50yrs old, I feel 70yrs old. I'm 20kg heavier than when I was when I got recostruction, so some body fat has engulfed my implants. ( I have to add, I was super skinny Sz8 when I had my youth and surgery....gawd I miss those days. I'm 67kg sz 12 now) I'll never be a sz 8 again.
I've resumed wearing breast prothesis in a mastectomy bra to help fill me out a bit. LOL
While I was recieving chemo though, (I had chemo, radiation therapy at the same time, 6weeks after my bi-lateral mastectomy) I did campaigne to have a dandruff shampoo magazine commercial removed, and won! Head and Shoulders Anti-Dandruff Shampoo had a picture of a lady with her back facing us, her long straight hair down to her mid lower back. She was looking into a rather large mirror and we could see her reflection. She was bald. Very pretty young lady. The caption wrote *I'd rather be bald than have dandruff!*
Well..... I saw red! I managed to track down the advertising company, down to the person himself who came up with the campaigne. I sent that person the longest email I could write, filled with emotions about losing your hair to Chemo, or Illness, blah blah blah, give me dandruff anyday, if I had to choose!!!* The add was removed. 
I did receive an email reply, an appology, and a guarentee that the add would be removed. 2001.
Re: Private Health Insurance, had it for the birth of my first 2 children. My 2nd child was 4 weeks premmie, in hosp for 2 weeks in neo-natal ICU, (liverpool hospital, Sydney 1989) as a public patient! I literally couldnt afford the out of pocket expenses.
Public hospital treatment was free. (I should state that I went in as a private patient, my doctor missed the birth, a cranky German midwife delivered her - natural breach birth- OUCH!!!!!!) 
She ended up with severe jaundice, poor little bugga was as orange as the fruit. Day 2 in hospital, the admin talked to me about switching over to public health system. They told me that the doctors you get as a private patient are the same doctors you get as a public patient. My doctor was still doing private and public doctor rounds and he would *oversee* the other doctors who were caring for my baby..... It probably saved me thousands in costs!
This tax year, the medicare rebate cost me $500 because I dont have private health insurance, and I have NO INTENTION of getting it.
I'll pay as I go, thank you very much.
Life goes on, one day at a time!
