Dear Health Minister Greg Hunt,
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
As our public health care system in Australia tries to cope with the coronavirus pandemic, let's hope we look to drastically improve it in the aftermath.
Growing up on private insurance, the mere dumpster fire of our public health system became apparent on my 23rd birthday.
By 19, constant shoulder dislocations resulted in the need for a stabilisation and in a matter of days of hearing those words, the surgeon was operating.
Sadly, I re-dislocated the same shoulder again, however, this time I had been thrown off my parents' private health fund by the fund itself.
The dislocations happened while ice skating, cooking sweet potato fries, falling off a ski lift and it ended with my head butting a wall in a gym class after sliding off a Bosu-ball.
Coronavirus: All the latest updates on COVID-19 for Tasmania
After revisit to the orthopaedic surgeon, he said a second stabilisation was required and that a prosthesis was an unknown possibility until I was under the knife.
I lodged my surgery paperwork in the public system. After hearing horror stories of public wait times, the choice was made to then sign up to a private health fund on the highest cover.
When it was explained a prosthesis was needed, the response was "we will cover the surgery and prosthesis". However, as it's a pre-existing injury, it meant a 12-month wait.
I was one of the lucky ones, only having to wait 11 months before being given a public surgery date, but as my private fund was due to kick in a month later, my answer was no thanks.
But as the private hospital paperwork was lodged, it was revealed the fund would not cover the $8000 prosthesis, as it was not on the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
How could anyone have predicted the prosthesis was not on the TGA anymore, and why was this not explained by the fund after it said prostheses was covered but neglected its limitations?
As many don't, I did not have a spare $8000 so was forced to re-sign up to the public system where the prosthesis was free. Despite it not being on the TGA you can apply for an exemption for one free of charge.
In February, during surgery in a public hospital, the surgeon decided a prosthesis was not required, but it was in the theatre if needed.
IN OTHER NEWS:
A patient could not know what prosthesis they may need in future and the choice restrictions by funds are ridiculous.
The fund repeatedly offered choices of A, B or C prostheses but not the one recommended by the medical professional.
It is doubtful this will be addressed Mr Hunt, so could legislation be introduced to allow private patients to apply for prostheses, if not covered by their funds, through the public system?
The private patients could still have their surgery in the private system but would be guaranteed the prosthesis their doctor recommends with no out of pocket expenses. This would take further strain off the public system, which does incredible work for the hand it's dealt.
If we are giving the private health funds more than $6 billion in subsidies, then why are we not getting our money's worth?
Clearly, private funds are not accessible, despite the government's best attempts to force people into them by 30 years of age, as the latest figures show 10,528 Tasmanians are waiting for elective surgery.
These are grandparents waiting for hip replacements and new knees, burn victims waiting for skin grafts, teenagers waiting for ACL surgery and others awaiting surgery on their shoulder again and again.
The idea of a fully-funded public system resulting in shorter wait times for elective surgery, the inclusion of dental care and better ratios per health professional to the patient is appealing, but that is a pipe dream, I guess.
Have your say with a letter to the editor: