Experience with AU healthcare

era222 · May 2023

For those who moved from the PH and have often dealt with healthcare stuff, curious to know what challenges you faced?

For context: I have a health condition that needs bi-annual checkups and lifetime medication. Since I've always been employed private, I've always had HMO here sa PH and have never had to pay out of pocket. Kung meron man, reimbursed. Everything has always been covered—medication, consults, my operation, and so on. I'm trying to prepare for this part na rin of the move.

From the surface-level research I've done so far (pardon my ignorance haha), I've read na:

It's getting harder to find doctors who bulk bill, so you often have to pay upfront. (But can claim Medicare rebate?)
Tama ba na GPs are the default physician, so you can't book a specialist directly (like what we do in the PH)? What's the process of getting a referral to a specialist, request lang or up to the GP's judgment?
For people taking lifetime meds, nagswitch ba kayo to brands that are available in Australia? Not asking as medical advice, just curious to know what others have done.

And anything unique about your experiences that you can share, please do!

maguero · May 2023

If you register your bank account with Medicare, the rebate is deposited less than an hour after you pay for the consultation. You don't need to make a claim, the clinic will sort that out for you.
Yes, you need to go to a GP to discuss your concerns and they will guide you on the next steps. Pag bago ka pa lang, I suggest going to a Pinoy GP because they will understand where you're coming from na sanay dumederecho sa specialists, may annual physical exam, etc. Para maexplain din sa iyo how things go here.
A lot of tests are covered by Medicare, so you don't have to pay for things like blood tests, x-rays, etc.

Pandabelle0405 · May 2023

@maguero hi po additional question lng po need po ba yearly magpa annual exam kahit wala naman po na ffeel na sakit po or need po ba magpa medical ulit yearly like un ginawa mga test before mag lodge ng visa.. Mandatory po ba salamat po 😀

irl031816 · May 2023

@Pandabelle0405 said:
@maguero hi po additional question lng po need po ba yearly magpa annual exam kahit wala naman po na ffeel na sakit po or need po ba magpa medical ulit yearly like un ginawa mga test before mag lodge ng visa.. Mandatory po ba salamat po 😀

In relation to this, covered din ba ng Medicare ang APE kung gusto mo lang magparoutine check up kahit wala ka namang nararamdaman ?

maguero · May 2023

@Pandabelle0405 said:
@maguero hi po additional question lng po need po ba yearly magpa annual exam kahit wala naman po na ffeel na sakit po or need po ba magpa medical ulit yearly like un ginawa mga test before mag lodge ng visa.. Mandatory po ba salamat po 😀

Hindi sya mandatory and hindi yan uso dito. Pero a lot of companies kasi sa atin may ganyan na benefit kaya may mga Pinoy na gustong tinutuloy ang ganung klaseng check up dito.

maguero · May 2023

@irl031816 said:

@Pandabelle0405 said:
@maguero hi po additional question lng po need po ba yearly magpa annual exam kahit wala naman po na ffeel na sakit po or need po ba magpa medical ulit yearly like un ginawa mga test before mag lodge ng visa.. Mandatory po ba salamat po 😀

In relation to this, covered din ba ng Medicare ang APE kung gusto mo lang magparoutine check up kahit wala ka namang nararamdaman ?

From my experience, if you go to a Pinoy GP they will understand this type of request and will give you referrals for tests which will all be covered by Medicare. Nasubukan ko kasi nung una na hindi Pinoy yung GP and hindi nya maintindihan yung gusto ko gawin 😆

era222 · May 2023

@maguero said:

@Pandabelle0405 said:
@maguero hi po additional question lng po need po ba yearly magpa annual exam kahit wala naman po na ffeel na sakit po or need po ba magpa medical ulit yearly like un ginawa mga test before mag lodge ng visa.. Mandatory po ba salamat po 😀

Hindi sya mandatory and hindi yan uso dito. Pero a lot of companies kasi sa atin may ganyan na benefit kaya may mga Pinoy na gustong tinutuloy ang ganung klaseng check up dito.

Thanks sa insight, great help! Unique concept pala ang "Magic 8" sa atin, haha.

ga2au · May 2023

You can just go to any GP and tell them that u want a medical checkup. Kakagabito lang din namin. Covered siya ng medicare. Ung results will be released this week so diko lang sure kung ung mga medicines ay covered ng medicare or not.

Pandabelle0405 · May 2023

@maguero thank u po sa sharing atleast my idea na po at sana sa pinoy ako mapunta na gp atleast magsasabi ko un gusto ko pacheck up hehe.. salamat po 😀

lunarcat · May 2023

Please do a research if may available ba na Filo GP sa clinic/hospital na pupuntahan niyo. You can give them a call beforehand to request. Most of the clinics here they encourage you to book an appointment ahead, best din to avoid waiting time.

Mostly dito required talaga referral pag specialists, they will require a referral from the GP talaga kase nka set na kong kaninong specialista ka pupunta, and don isesend ang results if need further labs/procedure/exam. I think sa OB Gyne okay na wala, pero nong time nag pa ortho ako, GP gave me a referral letter if gusto ko pumunta sa public hospital or private clinic both meron akong referral, tinawagan ko lang ang clinic to book my time for another consultation.

For anyone who is holding a private insurance, out of the pocket talaga lahat. Reimburse nalang sa insurance, pero not 100% mababalik..

era222 · July 2023

Hi! Just wanted to check if my research is correct, in case anyone has further insight:

Tama ba, may medication rebate scheme ang Medicare for prescribed medications, called PBS? https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/medicine-and-medicare?context=60092 And this is the list of PBS-verified medicines that is used as reference? https://www.pbs.gov.au/browse/medicine-listing

Thanks in advance to anyone who can confirm!

danyan2001us · July 2023

Hello guys,

Just wanted to add my experince here, when it comes to booking you can just do it online or with your phone may apps na HoitDoc then from tghat app, you can choose your clinic (maybe one which is the closest to you or whatever) then you can also choose your doctor/GP. Then when it comes to medicine, you need to pay them yourself.