Australians do seem to have it a lot better than many others and yes, I do believe that Aussies get diagnosed much quicker. I have private health cover that paid pretty much all of my expenses when I was on Chemo. Overall I've paid out much more than I've received financially but I like being covered up to the hilt just in case. My hospital stay when diagnosed was a bit over two months. I think I remember correctly that my 5 week stay in ICU was approximately 30k, which was paid by the Government under medicare. My wife applied for disability assistance from the Government for herself (she has issues too) and me while I was in hospital. It got approved inside a week and when she explained to them that they couldn't interview me because I was on life support, and showed them the docs letter, they immediately approved mine as well without talking to me. I signed a form when I came out of it and could hold a pen. Not only that, but when I got a job again and called up to terminate my disability payments, I was allowed to keep the concession card for 12 months because I told them rather than them finding out.
I get the safety net after I have spent $1100 on prescriptions which brings them down to the $5.30 that Carol mentioned. Despite all the benefits of our health care system, there are those who think it's crap. Yes, there are some issues but I think they should live in another country and have a rare/severe affliction and then compare. I feel embarrassed writing about how good it is here and I gfeel like apologising for it when I read about the crap people in other countries have to go through. I wish you lot could move over here and you'd get looked after properly. You'd all be welcome and you can stay in my spare room.
Forum Administrator
Diagnosed March 2003.
Currently but not permanetly residing in Canberra, Australia.
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