Q. Do I need a GP referral?
A. You do not need a GP referral, but a Medicare rebate for both the consultation and any subsequent surgery is only available if accompanied by a written referral.
Q. How long will I have to wait?
A. We can usually schedule an appointment for a consultation within 2 weeks. Urgent appointments for time critical conditions can be arranged at short notice. Please call the office on 03 95098388 as early as possible.
Q. Will my private insurance cover my surgery?
A. Most procedures that have a MBS item number will be covered by your private insurance. Purely cosmetic procedures (facelift, breast augmentation, lower lid blepharoplasty) do not have an item number so are not usually covered. Breast reduction, abdominoplasty, upper eyelid blepharoplasty, mastopexy and revision of breast implants do have an item number so are usually covered. Some insurance policies have specific exclusions for plastic surgery procedures. We can provide you with the relevant MBS item numbers so you can check the status of your policy and any excess payable.
Q. If I have private insurance why do I still need to pay?
A. If your chosen procedure has a MBS item number, you would usually be eligible to make a claim through your health fund. Typically the insurance company would pay the hospital costs (theatre fees and ward stay) and a percentage of the surgeon and anaesthetist's fees. The exact proportion of the fee covered by your insurance varies by procedure and also by health fund. We will provide you with a detailed quote prior to surgery.
The insurance rebates have not kept track with inflation for many years. Unfortunately this means that more of the doctor's fee is passed onto the patient to pay. The Australian Medical Association produces a guideline of recommended fees charged per item number. Most of our fees are well below the AMA schedule
Q. Where is the surgery performed?
A. My private practice is based at Cabrini hospital in Malvern. Minor operations are performed in the small facility we have in the office but most operations (and any requiring sedation or general anaesthetic) are performed in the operating theatres of Cabrini hospital.
Alternatively, reconstructive procedures can be scheduled for the Royal Melbourne hospital or the Monash Health network (Clayton, Moorabbin, Dandenong or Casey hospitals) but will be subject to the public hospital waiting lists.
