Medicare and Insurance

[Quench]

Can anyone help me regarding the funding of IPL and laser treatments in Australia via medicare and/or private health insurance? Is it possible to have these treatments and have insurance pick up the tab?

[Froggirl]

I think if it's bad enough, it can be possible to get free treatment through the public hospital system, but i'm not sure how you would find out, i guess by asking your derm. I assume hospital would usually only have V-beam or other older PDL, since that's what's used for other vascular lesions. And there would no doubt be long waiting lists.

There is no way i know about for private health insurance to cover IPL or laser, my extra cover def does not cover anything like that. It just has set amounts for things like physio, dental, optical etc. It would be fantastic if it did cover my v-beam treatments but i doubt any would, afterall it doesn't even cover the gap between what medicare covers for specialist appointments and what they charge, even an brain MRI i had last year wasn't covered by medicare or health insurance so set me back $300!

The only advice i can give is shop around to find the best doctor with the cheapest prices, beacause it varies a lot. I got quotes from the two top laser docs in Melbourne and one quoted $600 per treatment and the other $240 per treatment.

[redhotoz]

I'm a bit late in replying, Quench but I was scheduled to have PDL last year, which was going to be performed by my derm in a public hospital in the city. It was to be covered by Medicare. I believe if it is performed in a public hospital, Medicare will cover it.

Yes, however, PDL is an older treatment and down time is longer, so I believe. Also, things change when it comes to Medicare, so this info might be out of date? Not sure.

Jen

P.S. My finance came through yesterday and I'll be moving closer to where you will be moving to, in mid to late July. Will e-mail you a house warming invitation for late August. Whoo hoo! I'll have 5 bedrooms, so plenty of room to crash for the night! :D

[Quench]

I'm a bit late in replying, Quench but I was scheduled to have PDL last year, which was going to be performed by my derm in a public hospital in the city. It was to be covered by Medicare. I believe if it is performed in a public hospital, Medicare will cover it.

Yes, however, PDL is an older treatment and down time is longer, so I believe. Also, things change when it comes to Medicare, so this info might be out of date? Not sure.

Jen

P.S. My finance came through yesterday and I'll be moving closer to where you will be moving to, in mid to late July. Will e-mail you a house warming invitation for late August. Whoo hoo! I'll have 5 bedrooms, so plenty of room to crash for the night! :D

Superb! Not there yet and been invited to a party! I love Australia already! :)