Curious as an OzBargainer what do you do to avoid gaps?
Getting hard for me to find one now since my local GP is charging a gap of $20. I found one that still bulk bills but took me a while to switch. Bad reviews on google but so far ok based on my last few appointments.
How about you?
Agree - My gap is $45.
And that looks funny to read so I'll clarify
The gap I pay when I visit my GP is $45
Pay your GP what they're worth - I guarantee you pay more for any tradie.
Imagine if your tradie could prescribe you drugs
I don't understand why most GPs went from bulk billing straight to a $40-50 gap instead of going for $10-20 and slowly increasing.
I believe they hold off mixed billing as much as they can until they really have to, then see how much the gap needs to be and just applied it.
I don't pay any gap. My GP is efficient, old school and no nonsense. I've seen them since I was in my early teens.
I'm not opposed to paying a gap and would happily do so if reasonable. Kind of surprised she isn't charging one tbh.
I have the same GP for last 6 years for whole family. Always bulk billing. Used to be nice, spending proper time for consultation. Now I find everytime we go, she is rushing, talking multiple patients at the same time, keeping them to wait for over an hour, doesn't listen what we say, just wants to finish quickly. Still bulk billing but I rather pay extra for a good GP than having one for 'free' who doesn't care. Looking for a new GP but hard to find a good one.
mines free apparently but ive been going there since i was a kid. dont pay gap but i think thats why hes so popular.
the wait time there can range from 15mins all the way to half a day depending on who he sees and the complexities of their health matters. I can wait but otherwise I just drop by an hour and half later.
I don't see the relation between paying a gap and the wait time. My old GP, I have to wait 2-3weeks to get a booking, wait 15-45minutes on the day, and be frowned upon by the receptionist. Then pay the gap. But he is good and thorough, which explains the long queue in hotdoc. I went to a bulk billing one and the wait time is almost the same.
We need deals on “GP bulk bills near me”
Finally, an official OZbargain member.
Value your GP. 12+ years of study to be a specialist doctor. Tens of thousands of dollars to be member of specialist colleges, sit exams, study Masters degrees, upskill in mental health/skin condition/other pathologies…
Last week an electrician quoted me “$240 per hour” to get some LED lights replaced. Plumber call-out fee is $120 plus labour/materials. Locksmith charges $250-$300 to pick a lock (what skill is required there..)
We live in a world where tradies live in fancier houses than degree-educated professionals. Tradies get to claim their whole car/ute as a business expense. Lots of dodgy cash-in-hand charges that don’t get declared to the ATO..
Yet people find it bizarre to pay a $40 gap for their health.. and are always looking for bulk-billing (no charge) so they can save their $40 for cigarettes/alcohol/vaping/fancy brunch..
The term “general practitioner” is a misnomer as most people think they are a “general doctor”. In fact a GP is a specialist in family medicine. In other countries they are called Family Physicians. They need to have broad knowledge of “everything” (for example, cardiology, respiratory, orthopaedics, dermatology, gastroenterology, endocrine, etc.) in order to mange influenza, asthma, COPD, bronchitis, diabetes, strokes, psoriasis, eczema, atrial fibrillation, inflammatory bowel disease, etc.) without mentioning pregnancy, anxiety, mental health, paediatrics, immunisation, preventative healthcare such as bowel cancer screening/mammogram.. then sexual health, geriatrics, palliative care, etc.
Crazy!
Depends on the type of consult. If it's a short one $70, longer can be $100+ before the Medicare rebate. Wait times vary, depends on how many seniors show up on the day.
Bulk billed GP.
People are often under the impression the money a GP charges is what hits their bank account. Not GPs work at a medical practice they own, most are private contractors. So a percentage approx 30-40% is taken out of the billings to pay the running of the practice. That fee pays the rent, admin, reception staff, nurses, medical equipment, computers, consumables and the practice owner.
Of the remaining ~60-70% the GP allocates money for superannuation, 4 weeks of annual leave, 10 days of public holidays and for sick leave. Which is another reduction of 75%.
For a level B consult, if bulk billing that’s $42.85 per consult and after taking out costs that roughly 50% a GP sees per consult as income before tax. Approx $22.50 per consultation. If you are BB and doing 15 min consults you are $90 an hour. But then you also have to factor in no shows, late cancellations or not being utilised at 100%.
Then there are cost of medial indemnity insurance. AHPRA fees, RACGP fees and ongoing costs for professional development/ training. When a doctor attends training, they don’t generate income.
When a doctor in training switches from the hospital setting to GP training it’s a steep learning curve and a big hit to their pay. It starts at $44.85 per hour until they have enough patients to bill which can take several months. A doctor at this point would have spent 5+ years in medical school, internship in a hospital, residency and possibly a registrar in a hospital. To make $44.85 per hour!
To Fellow as a GP they also have to pass written exams which cost $5K and clinical exams which is another $5K. To go with those exams are training courses which are around $3K each. Pass rates for the written exams are around 60% so a considerable percentage have to pay another $5K to resit the exam. The study for those exams are done after work hours. So basically work a day, come home and then study. It’s a massive sacrifice to personal life, personal health and family.
It would be nice is people would have a better understanding of what it takes for a GP to get to where they are rather than seeing them as all being greedy.
When a private billing doctor decides to bulk bill you, they are essentially taking money from their own pocket and giving it to you. It’s nice to show appreciation for this, unfortunately there are some people who see it as an entitlement.
can I ask people here a controversial question?
what is your issue with paying a gap?
The Medicare rebate is what the govt gives you as a copayment. It was, as far as I know, not specifically meant to cover the entire cost of your heath care.
I called a washing machine repair person to my place the other day. he charge $150 just to come out, and spent 15 mins saying he would have to come out another time. This was AFTER being in contact and saying what the problem likely was and an agreement of what needed to be fixed. So… $150…didn't do anything just to come and quote. I'm not sure if this is the norm in that profession… but, assuming it is not that far off, why are people upset that highly skilled professionals charge more?
(I get people don't want to pay, but I don't quite understand the outrage? are you saying a wishing machine person should be paid more than a doctor?)
a wishing machine person should be paid more than a doctor?)
I'd pay for a wishing machine!
I'll ask one too. How can there be a specialist in general practice? I can't understand how general and specialist are in one profession. It's like when asked "So, what do you specialise?" on general stuff? Is there a specialist like a cadiologist or neurologist who can answer?
Analogy would be car repair.
Specialist car repairer deals with one brand only - i.e. Tesla - knows the vehicle inside and out.
General car repair - can deal with most car brands, but needs to know a little about all as no one brand is built the same - nor are they built the same within brands.
Same with doctors. We really should rename "General Practitioners" to something that is appropriately aligned with their skills. Too many people think once you finish internship you're a general practitioner. No, when you finish internship you attain general registration; but this is entirely unrelated to being a GP.
Show a rash to a Cardiologist - they wouldn't go near it with a 10ft pole.
a. They probably can't tell the difference between one rash and another
b. This is no longer their scope of practice, so their expertise (and indemnity insurance) would not cover it.
Hard to compare to car repairers in your example. I think you compared the patients instead of explaining how someone is a specialist in general practice.
Yeah it does make sense to better brand specialists in GP to make more sense. But do you mean when a doctor gets registration, they are not essentially a GP?
I think overall the wrong thing here is the arbitrary division of "General" and "Specialist" - poor terminology really.
As specialist is often used to refer to someone who is a Fellowed member of a specialist college.
No, when a medical student finishes medical school - they attain provisional registration.
Once they finish their internship - the attain "general registration" - This is NOT a General Practitioner.
A General Practitioner is an additional ~5 years minimum AFTER registration
A General Practitioner requires the following AFTER Uni:
Internship - 1 year minimum - In Hospital
Residency - 1 year minimum - In Hospital
General Practice Training - 3 years - in GP clinics - SUPERVISED Practice.
So 5 years minimum AFTER graduating medical school are you a GP with Specialist registration with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
A Specialist (i.e. Anaesthetist)
Internship - 1 year minimum
Residency - 2 years minimum (typically 3-4 years in reality)
Anaesthetics training - 4 year training program
Anesthetics fellowship - 1 year (often overseas or somewhere different to gain addtional skills)
Specialist Anesthetist after a minimum 8 years (typically closer to 9-10 years) AFTER Medical School are you a Specailist with the Royal Australian College of Anaesthetists
I think what we're trying to "compare here" is more aligned with the phrase "jack of all trades, master of none".
Yes GPs are Jack of all trades - their specialist skill is knowing a little of everything and co-ordinating it all. In some ways, these "generalists" are often more valuable to your health than "specialists".
@tspec: yes it's a misnomer. the americans call themselves family physicians, akin to respiratory physicians, emergency physicians etc etc. 'GP' gives people the impression they set up shop after finishing residency without further training which is no longer the case, with further 'specialty training' if you will with exit exams to ensure minimum levels of competence.
Too many people think once you finish internship you're a general practitioner.
Well I think back in the 70s/80s that is exactly what happened. But times have changed.
Rash: if it is wet, dry it. If it is dry, make it wet
$20 Gap is good