Surgery Cost

wilrc1 wrote:

cabsav wrote:

Hi all, 

I have my 1st appt tomorrow with the surgeon. The breakdown I have been sent is below. the booking fee is where I'm puzzled...is this the norm? 

Bariatric Booking and Facility Fee $1,500.00
Surgeon and Assist Fee $5,300.00
Anaesthetists Fee $1,000 to $2,000.00

Not sure if this is helpful for anyone but Dr Victor Liew on the Gold Coast only has a $500 gap, his anesthetist charges $345, you do need PHI though, they are both top quality!

Just be aware that he won't do anyone with a BMI of 35-40 without a co-morbidity such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes etc as well. Over 40 is usually OK. I've seen a few angry posts on Facebook groups from people he's refused to operate on, but fair play to him he's only trying to follow Medicare requirements.

cabsav wrote:

Hi all, 

I have my 1st appt tomorrow with the surgeon. The breakdown I have been sent is below. the booking fee is where I'm puzzled...is this the norm? 

Bariatric Booking and Facility Fee $1,500.00
Surgeon and Assist Fee $5,300.00
Anaesthetists Fee $1,000 to $2,000.00

Not sure if this is helpful for anyone but Dr Victor Liew on the Gold Coast only has a $500 gap, his anesthetist charges $345, you do need PHI though, they are both top quality!

Hi all, 

I have my 1st appt tomorrow with the surgeon. The breakdown I have been sent is below. the booking fee is where I'm puzzled...is this the norm? 

Bariatric Booking and Facility Fee $1,500.00
Surgeon and Assist Fee $5,300.00
Anaesthetists Fee $1,000 to $2,000.00

Oh no! Can't claim it as a tax rebate? That's really harsh!

Hi Luckypuk333, yes that is correct, that's the out of pocket.  Up until last year you could get a tax rebate but now that option has been removed also.

Paid $5500 for up-front costs for gastric sleeve surgery. The Practice claimed the Medicare and private Healthcare rebate and kept it. I can only claim a rebate from post-op individual appointments. Does this sound right to you? The receipt for my up-front cost of $5500 says I can't claim the rebate from Medicare or my private insurer with it, and that the receipt is for my files only. Is this correct? If not, who can I speak to apart from the Practice?

Hiya Suzy,

Welcome aboard !

I haven't done the price ring around for a while but I am fairly sure Dr Justin Greenslade is one of the cheaper surgeons.

Sadly he is no longer doing Intermediate surgeries at the QE2 so you will paying Private costs.

He is a fantastic surgeon and a good bloke !

His office manager Brenda will be able to give you all the info you need.
PH: 3324 0015

All the best with your research,
Tara

Hi Bon Bon,

can i just ask so are you saying that you paid no gap at all for your surgery, can i ask how much your sleeve cost all up and what Dr you used.

I paid $450 for initial consults (2 appointments), $5,900 for the surgery, just under $300 for hospital and an additional $1,250 to knock me out. Then there is the appointments with dietician etc.

I was told I can claim about $1,000 back for the surgery. Not sure how much for the rest ...

Also there was a pre-op blood test is supposed to be just over $300 and I should get all that back from PHI and medicare.

my surgeon is charging more than $4000 on top of the private health insurance/medicare coverage (ie $4000 gap). he's supposed to be very good but seriously!!!

i had the surgery gastoric sleeve and i have ahm private coverage and my surgeon had no gap yay!!!!

clad22 wrote:

I'm with AHM and had my surgery 14 June 2011. AHM would only cover number 30518. I asked my Dr if he could use this number on all of the paperwork, which he did and had no problem claiming. I only have basic hospital and extras.

Hi Clad

I would be interested in your situation with AHM was is just to get the surgeon to change the item no. to 30518? Was your sleeve still performed in a private hospital? As I have insurance but they told me not high enough to cover this surgery.

Thanks Michelle

hi Clad



isnt it so great to have a dr prepared to go that extra mile for you - congrats & i hope things going well for you



Deb

I'm with AHM and had my surgery 14 June 2011. AHM would only cover number 30518. I asked my Dr if he could use this number on all of the paperwork, which he did and had no problem claiming. I only have basic hospital and extras.

applesauce wrote:

From memory the same number is used for all weight loss surgery.

applesauce

30511 - band



30518 - sleeve

Thanks for this info

30511 is on my account too. It's for both gastric band and sleeve

30511 is what is on my surgeons account.

Rovers wrote:

Thanks Jannette

I was concern because our health fund won't cover it unless it had a Medicare care number and the only number I could find was 30511 which was for lap band procedures.

I expect an out of pocket cost but hopefully AHM will cover most of it since we are in top cover.
Will ring them on Monday to find out.

My surgeon gave me 30518 to quote which is "PARTIAL GASTRECTOMY (Anaes.) (Assist.) Fee: $933.30.

From memory the same number is used for all weight loss surgery.

applesauce

Thanks Jannette

I was concern because our health fund won't cover it unless it had a Medicare care number and the only number I could find was 30511 which was for lap band procedures.

I expect an out of pocket cost but hopefully AHM will cover most of it since we are in top cover.
Will ring them on Monday to find out.

You get some back, but not much, for example

Assistant surgeon cost $800, got $160 back from Medicare and PHI
Surgeon cost $5500, got back $800 from Medicare and PHI

Hi I have read the comments and can anyone tell if the GSV surgery is covered by Medicare or not? Thank you