Breast cancer...or any illness...and finances

AnnieTherese
AnnieTherese Member Posts: 67
in Breast Cancer #1
One thing I'm very grateful for about living in Australia...one of a billion reasons I'm grateful for being Australian :-) Is...everything medical here is.. F R E E ... if you're a pensioner.
If you don't work and live on a Government pension, or are a senior, like I am, you can choose to have private health cover, or to just be a public patient. I can't afford to pay for private health cover, so I'm a public patient and all my doctors visits, all my operations and after treatments are totally free. I have to pay about $5 for a prescription if I go to my GP, but that's all. My stays in hospitals are all free. When I had my mastectomy the surgeon who did the operation was the director of surgery in that hospital...it cost me nothing. She also operates in private hospitals where patients have to pay large sums of money for her services. For an external prosthesis, the Govt gives women $400 every 2 years to pay for a new one. However, my breast reconstruction will cost me nothing. I got $75 from the Government towards a post op bra, and after my mastectomy one of the big bra companies, gives every woman a free mastectomy bra. We are very fortunate here.

Comments

  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #2
    Annie Therese .. I am so sorry that your post was
    Flagged .. that is not right, so my apologies.

    Having spent the last 7 days with my BFF from Perth, Australia - I understand somewhat
    of what the UK and Australia's in place -- Socialized Medical Care. You are truly
    fortune to have a country support you, and your physician efforts in the before, during
    and after care of breast cancer. We here in the States, do not have that option.

    I feel terrible that my Friend Dunya, continued to suffer with pinched nerves and
    difficulties walking or sitting too long -- My friend resides in Perth -- and the
    Specialist there have offered no hope. Surgery is a gamble at 50/50 -- maybe it
    will help, maybe it will not. She is here entertaining options of having her
    back surgery here in the States -- which means she will pay of all medical expenses,
    surgery or surgeries out of pocket. Dunya works for Curtin University there in
    Perth -- and she is frustrated by the lack of professional help she has been given --
    physio and 6 month rechecks.

    Just another side of Socialized Medicine.


    Vicki Sam
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    #3
    I agree about the flag. I
    I agree about the flag. I don't think you were trying to start a political discussion...just stating your gratitude that you don't have a financial burden along with a health burden. I also hear gratitude for good quality care, and that you are happy with your medical team. That is priceless.

    Hugs,

    Linda
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #4
    VickiSam said:

    Annie Therese .. I am so sorry that your post was
    Flagged .. that is not right, so my apologies.

    Having spent the last 7 days with my BFF from Perth, Australia - I understand somewhat
    of what the UK and Australia's in place -- Socialized Medical Care. You are truly
    fortune to have a country support you, and your physician efforts in the before, during
    and after care of breast cancer. We here in the States, do not have that option.

    I feel terrible that my Friend Dunya, continued to suffer with pinched nerves and
    difficulties walking or sitting too long -- My friend resides in Perth -- and the
    Specialist there have offered no hope. Surgery is a gamble at 50/50 -- maybe it
    will help, maybe it will not. She is here entertaining options of having her
    back surgery here in the States -- which means she will pay of all medical expenses,
    surgery or surgeries out of pocket. Dunya works for Curtin University there in
    Perth -- and she is frustrated by the lack of professional help she has been given --
    physio and 6 month rechecks.

    Just another side of Socialized Medicine.


    Vicki Sam

    You are very fortunate and I
    You are very fortunate and I am so happy for you. I wish we had that kind of coverage here for all of us. Thanks for letting us know this.


    Hugs, Angie
  • AnnieTherese
    AnnieTherese Member Posts: 67
    #5
    Gabe N Abby Mom said:

    I agree about the flag. I
    I agree about the flag. I don't think you were trying to start a political discussion...just stating your gratitude that you don't have a financial burden along with a health burden. I also hear gratitude for good quality care, and that you are happy with your medical team. That is priceless.

    Hugs,

    Linda

    Oh indeed, I wasn't trying
    Oh indeed, I wasn't trying to start anything controversial at all...heaven's no !! I was just saying as you said, how grateful we are here, to have free treatment. I think it's terrible that in other places, especially such a large and modern country as America that you can't get free medical help.

    I certainly wasn't trying to say anything wrong...sorry if I gave that impression.

    Annie.
  • AnnieTherese
    AnnieTherese Member Posts: 67
    #6
    VickiSam said:

    Annie Therese .. I am so sorry that your post was
    Flagged .. that is not right, so my apologies.

    Having spent the last 7 days with my BFF from Perth, Australia - I understand somewhat
    of what the UK and Australia's in place -- Socialized Medical Care. You are truly
    fortune to have a country support you, and your physician efforts in the before, during
    and after care of breast cancer. We here in the States, do not have that option.

    I feel terrible that my Friend Dunya, continued to suffer with pinched nerves and
    difficulties walking or sitting too long -- My friend resides in Perth -- and the
    Specialist there have offered no hope. Surgery is a gamble at 50/50 -- maybe it
    will help, maybe it will not. She is here entertaining options of having her
    back surgery here in the States -- which means she will pay of all medical expenses,
    surgery or surgeries out of pocket. Dunya works for Curtin University there in
    Perth -- and she is frustrated by the lack of professional help she has been given --
    physio and 6 month rechecks.

    Just another side of Socialized Medicine.


    Vicki Sam

    Well fancy that...I live in
    Well fancy that...I live in Perth also. :-) Well, actually in a place called Mandurah, which is about an hours drive south of Perth. I had my mastectomy at a hospital called Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, I'm sure your friend will be very familiar with it. It is renowned to be the best hospital in our state of Western Australia for breast cancer treatment.

    I am very sorry for your friend and her situation though. I have had no problems at all with the professional treatment I've received...which hospital did she go to ?? There are a couple she could have dealt with, 3 main ones. Sir Charles Gairdner, Royal Perth Hospital or one called, The Mount !! The Mount is a private hospital the other two are public teaching hospitals.

    I'm sorry I don't understand what you mean when you said....flagged !!

    Cheers, Annie
  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #7
    AnnieTherese said:

    Oh indeed, I wasn't trying
    Oh indeed, I wasn't trying to start anything controversial at all...heaven's no !! I was just saying as you said, how grateful we are here, to have free treatment. I think it's terrible that in other places, especially such a large and modern country as America that you can't get free medical help.

    I certainly wasn't trying to say anything wrong...sorry if I gave that impression.

    Annie.

    Health Care
    Hi Annie,

    I think it is awful that here in the US, we don't have any universal health care plan for our citizen like those in Australia and so many other countries have. At the moment I have good group insurance, I shudder what it will be like for me after I stop working. I have 15 prescriptions and even with excellent co-pay, it seems that all my money goes into this.

    I can't understand at all why some people in my country are so against having coverage for everyone.

    You and your countrymen are very lucky for your health care plan.

    Doris
  • rallendorfer
    rallendorfer Member Posts: 244
    #8
    You are very lucky.
    Ours not only costs us the monthly deduction of our pay toward the high premium, but also the high co-pays and deductibles, not to mention prescriptions.

    My out of pocket expenses are over $5,000 and the bills keep coming in. And the gauge is set back to zero on Jan. 1st. I am working part time where my insurance coverage is just to pay for the medical bills. Free sounds so sweet to me right now!
  • AnnieTherese
    AnnieTherese Member Posts: 67
    #9
    rallendorfer said:

    You are very lucky.
    Ours not only costs us the monthly deduction of our pay toward the high premium, but also the high co-pays and deductibles, not to mention prescriptions.

    My out of pocket expenses are over $5,000 and the bills keep coming in. And the gauge is set back to zero on Jan. 1st. I am working part time where my insurance coverage is just to pay for the medical bills. Free sounds so sweet to me right now!

    What happens to really poor
    What happens to really poor people in America, the unemployed etc who get as many illness as other people ?? Every poor citizen in Australia can get free medical treatment..as long as they have a social security number. After I've had my breast reconstruction, which is costing me nothing, I'm going to donate my mastectomy bras and post op bras to our cancer council so they can be given to ladies in Bali and Indonesia (our nearest countries) who have no health system at all, so these women can have some sort of comfort.

    Of course if you are rich here...earn over a certain amount a year...you're not eligible for the free medical treatment, but ordinary folk certainly are. I just think it's amazing that such a developed country like America doesn't have such a situation, the wealthiest country in the world and people have to battle to pay basic medical bills...!!!
  • AMomNETN
    AMomNETN Member Posts: 242
    #10
    AnnieTherese said:

    What happens to really poor
    What happens to really poor people in America, the unemployed etc who get as many illness as other people ?? Every poor citizen in Australia can get free medical treatment..as long as they have a social security number. After I've had my breast reconstruction, which is costing me nothing, I'm going to donate my mastectomy bras and post op bras to our cancer council so they can be given to ladies in Bali and Indonesia (our nearest countries) who have no health system at all, so these women can have some sort of comfort.

    Of course if you are rich here...earn over a certain amount a year...you're not eligible for the free medical treatment, but ordinary folk certainly are. I just think it's amazing that such a developed country like America doesn't have such a situation, the wealthiest country in the world and people have to battle to pay basic medical bills...!!!

    Sad
    So sorry you were flagged. I don't find a thing wrong in your post. You were
    just telling us of options that other countries have. I think it is good to hear of different ideas as we here struggle to have affordable health care. I was lucky, the most of my treatments were covered under my insurance. The next year tho my deductibles changed and increased. My biggest frustration with my health care is price and having to have certain prescriptions approved. I always loved getting the papers saying that whatever is not medically necessary. I must say that no matter what country we may live in there is good and bad in each system. The way our country has lobbyists, and what not I'm not sure a change would ever happen. It seems everyone forgets about the majority as long as they get their money and live well. IMHO

    Janie
  • laughs_a_lot
    laughs_a_lot Member Posts: 1,368 Member
    #11
    Health care and gratitude.
    My daughter spent some time in England and recieved her health care there. She struggled to pay for a dentist here, but got all her teeth fixed there. I am grateful that I have the ability to work so that I can have health care here. We pay for many items here and the costs keep increasing yearly. Since our children have grown however, I am able to keep up with those increasing costs so far. I just got done paying my cancer bills, as we are often asked to pay part of the bill. I am now working on the bills from the lymphedema sleve and the physical therapy to regain normalcy from the swelling and to prevent reccurrence. This issue began about 6 months ago.

    Yes I am also sorry you got flagged. Stating a simple fact, and the gratitude it brings to you, is not in my humble opinion a reason to flag a comment. We live in a country where we are supposed to be able to express our opinion as long as that opinion is not degrading or defaming another person. But sometimes others do not like certain opinions. I say perhaps we should take what we like (in opinions and advice) and leave behind the things we do not value.
  • AnnieTherese
    AnnieTherese Member Posts: 67
    #12
    laughs_a_lot said:

    Health care and gratitude.
    My daughter spent some time in England and recieved her health care there. She struggled to pay for a dentist here, but got all her teeth fixed there. I am grateful that I have the ability to work so that I can have health care here. We pay for many items here and the costs keep increasing yearly. Since our children have grown however, I am able to keep up with those increasing costs so far. I just got done paying my cancer bills, as we are often asked to pay part of the bill. I am now working on the bills from the lymphedema sleve and the physical therapy to regain normalcy from the swelling and to prevent reccurrence. This issue began about 6 months ago.

    Yes I am also sorry you got flagged. Stating a simple fact, and the gratitude it brings to you, is not in my humble opinion a reason to flag a comment. We live in a country where we are supposed to be able to express our opinion as long as that opinion is not degrading or defaming another person. But sometimes others do not like certain opinions. I say perhaps we should take what we like (in opinions and advice) and leave behind the things we do not value.

    What does..... flagged
    What does..... flagged ...mean ??? Does it mean I could be banned from the forum ???
  • laughs_a_lot
    laughs_a_lot Member Posts: 1,368 Member
    #13
    AnnieTherese said:

    What does..... flagged
    What does..... flagged ...mean ??? Does it mean I could be banned from the forum ???

    Flagged
    I don't think it means that you can be banned from the forum. I think that it means that someone finds the post objectionable. When they flag a post it goes to the site moderator for judgement on whether the comment is appropriate for the forum. I think that it would be hard for the moderator to believe that you had any ill intent or political motivation in your commment. When one considers that you come from another part of the world where things are done differently you comments are certainly appropriate to the situation that you live in.

    Now if you had a whole bunch of comments flagged (like 10 or 15) and the moderator of the site thought that you were on here for a motive other than to recover from cancer, (for instance to sell something, or to push a political view) then you could be banned from the forum. I seriously doubt that this will happen. I think once the moderator reads some of your other comments it would become obvious that you are here for recovery from your cancer. To the best of my knowlege very few individuals have ever been banned from this forum. It is highly unlikely that this would happen to you. This is the way I understand this forum to be. Perhaps others have more knowlege than I on this issue.
  • AnnieTherese
    AnnieTherese Member Posts: 67
    #14
    laughs_a_lot said:

    Flagged
    I don't think it means that you can be banned from the forum. I think that it means that someone finds the post objectionable. When they flag a post it goes to the site moderator for judgement on whether the comment is appropriate for the forum. I think that it would be hard for the moderator to believe that you had any ill intent or political motivation in your commment. When one considers that you come from another part of the world where things are done differently you comments are certainly appropriate to the situation that you live in.

    Now if you had a whole bunch of comments flagged (like 10 or 15) and the moderator of the site thought that you were on here for a motive other than to recover from cancer, (for instance to sell something, or to push a political view) then you could be banned from the forum. I seriously doubt that this will happen. I think once the moderator reads some of your other comments it would become obvious that you are here for recovery from your cancer. To the best of my knowlege very few individuals have ever been banned from this forum. It is highly unlikely that this would happen to you. This is the way I understand this forum to be. Perhaps others have more knowlege than I on this issue.

    Thanks....I know the lady
    Thanks....I know the lady said she flagged me by mistake...so that's fine, but I would never try to say anything offensive to anyone. If I asked odd questions, it's simply because I'm interested in someone's point of view. My experiences with BC are very limited compared to so many others here. I want to educate myself by listening to the experiences of others in case on day I am in a similar situation.

    Thanks again, Annie
  • laughs_a_lot
    laughs_a_lot Member Posts: 1,368 Member
    #15
    AnnieTherese said:

    Thanks....I know the lady
    Thanks....I know the lady said she flagged me by mistake...so that's fine, but I would never try to say anything offensive to anyone. If I asked odd questions, it's simply because I'm interested in someone's point of view. My experiences with BC are very limited compared to so many others here. I want to educate myself by listening to the experiences of others in case on day I am in a similar situation.

    Thanks again, Annie

    Yes
    I can see by some of your other posts that you are here for recovery. Given that this is why you are here, and the fact that the lady flagged you by accident I think you have nothing to worry about.
  • AnnieTherese
    AnnieTherese Member Posts: 67
    #16
    laughs_a_lot said:

    Yes
    I can see by some of your other posts that you are here for recovery. Given that this is why you are here, and the fact that the lady flagged you by accident I think you have nothing to worry about.

    Yes, I agree. I think
    Yes, I agree. I think perhaps once you've had BC,or any other sort of cancer, no matter how long ago, you'll always be in recovery, and for me I'm really just a newbie, with my diagnosis only 18 months ago.
  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member
    #17
    AnnieTherese said:

    Thanks....I know the lady
    Thanks....I know the lady said she flagged me by mistake...so that's fine, but I would never try to say anything offensive to anyone. If I asked odd questions, it's simply because I'm interested in someone's point of view. My experiences with BC are very limited compared to so many others here. I want to educate myself by listening to the experiences of others in case on day I am in a similar situation.

    Thanks again, Annie

    I guess someone got a little
    I guess someone got a little "flag" happy. I see no reason for it, so, don't worry about it. You are more than welcome here Annie, and, I think your post is very eye opening. I am glad you're getting the great care that you are. So welcome and keep posting!
  • AnnieTherese
    AnnieTherese Member Posts: 67
    #18
    Kristin N said:

    I guess someone got a little
    I guess someone got a little "flag" happy. I see no reason for it, so, don't worry about it. You are more than welcome here Annie, and, I think your post is very eye opening. I am glad you're getting the great care that you are. So welcome and keep posting!

    :-) Thank you Kristin, I
    :-) Thank you Kristin, I love being here, and I am learning so much from all of you. I see my situation as so minor compared to so many others. You are all so very positive and strong no matter what your situation, you are all just amazing. I think I was meant to find this site... xxxx

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