Daughter and docter

gettingthere7

My daughter is a full time student with a full medical card,never visits the docter,however she has just gone this evening and when she came out receptionist asked her for 60euro,receptionist knew she had a medical card and said if she hadnt it would have been 120e,she got implant in,docter did NOT supply implant,daughter brought it with her

LegacyUser

That's really rather strange. I got mine in a few months ago and while I had to collect it in the chemist myself, the doctor had it on order for me so only had to pay the prescription fee. I also had no charge at the doctors. Did your daughter question it at all?

scrimshanker

gettingthere7 wrote: »

My daughter is a full time student with a full medical card,never visits the docter,however she has just gone this evening and when she came out receptionist asked her for 60euro,receptionist knew she had a medical card and said if she hadnt it would have been 120e,she got implant in,docter did NOT supply implant,daughter brought it with her

Sounds like there's a €60 fee to see the doctor privately and a €60 fee to put the implant in. It probably counts as minor surgery and isn't covered by the general medical services scheme.

gettingthere7

AnonIam wrote: »

That's really rather strange. I got mine in a few months ago and while I had to collect it in the chemist myself, the doctor had it on order for me so only had to pay the prescription fee. I also had no charge at the doctors. Did your daughter question it at all?

She has ADD and is quite shy,i phoned when she got home but surgery was closed

Toots

AFAIK in my own GP it's about €120 for the implanon insertion if you're going as a regular patient, and then it's €50 for medical card holders. I think it's usually standard practice that the patient collects or purchases their own unit from the chemist. A friend of mine had the coil fitted recently and she had to collect it herself and then bring it to the doctor to have it put in. Some GPs class it as a minor surgery, so it's a reduced fee for medical card holders, but not free.

hagoonabear

Hi got the implant myself in few months ago on medical card cost me € 2.50 to get the implant from the pharmacy and that was it nothing else no paying €60 to visit the doctor or get it in , is it her regular gp?

You should really go back with your daughter and ask for a refund

gettingthere7

hagoonabear wrote: »

Hi got the implant myself in few months ago on medical card cost me € 2.50 to get the implant from the pharmacy and that was it nothing else no paying €60 to visit the doctor or get it in , is it her regular gp?

You should really go back with your daughter and ask for a refund

Yes its her registered gp,she got it from chemist and paid fee there.but was shocked that dr fee was 60euro,she didnt pay it as she had no money,so they gave her a bill.

Big Bag of Chips

Unless it's changed in the last few years then there should be no charge, other than the prescription charge. I got it in a few years ago just before my medical card was due for renewal (and unlikely to be renewed) The GP suggested I get it done before the renewal date so that I'd be sure to get it free.

See what they say in the morning.

Addle

Big Bag of Chips wrote: »

Unless it's changed in the last few years then there should be no charge, other than the prescription charge.

It has changed. Lots of procedures, tests and form filling are no longer covered by medical cards.

LegacyUser

There's an onus on the GP to quote for treatment, but equally there's a similar onus on the patient to ask for a quote on treatment, *beforehand*.
If your daughter is over the age of 18, she must handle her own medical affairs (unless she gives you written permission to act on her behalf).
If your daughter is over the age of 18, but having ADD renders her unable to understand/consent to treatment, then she should have been accompanied by a parent/guardian for the procedure.

Toots

Addle wrote: »

It has changed. Lots of procedures, tests and form filling are no longer covered by medical cards.

Yeah, I noticed that the last time I was in the doc; mine has a list of the prices in the waiting room, and medical card bloods used to be free, now it's €10, passport forms are now €5 for medical cards, and implanon/mirena are €50.

gettingthere7

I phoned surgery today and was told she should have told receptionist on telephone what her appointment was for..I HAVE NEVER discussed with receptionist my reason for seeing a docter.

MrWalsh

gettingthere7 wrote: »

I phoned surgery today and was told she should have told receptionist on telephone what her appointment was for..I HAVE NEVER discussed with receptionist my reason for seeing a docter.

That's nonsense.

Make a complaint in writing. Threaten a complaint to the medical council. And maybe the small claims court?

Or go in and make a nice loud fuss about it in front of a full waiting room. They don't like that!

Big Bag of Chips

I know it is classed as more than 1 consultation because you usually have to go in twice. So the receptionist would need to be told it is for Implanon insertion to schedule it for a longer/double consultation. If she was charged €60 because it was a double consultation that is not covered by the medical card, then that is the explanation. And the receptionist mentioning that she should have told her is more to do with scheduling the appointment properly rather than charging for it.

January

In my doctor it's 70 euro for the implant on medical card. 30 euro at first consultantion where prescription is prescribed and 40 when it is inserted.

Doctor should have made your daughter aware of the price at her first medical consultation for it.

If it is advertised then she has to pay so take a trip down to the surgery and see if their are price lists up.

Mirena/Implanon insertion is no longer covered under GMS services.

LegacyUser

OP, if your daughter is big& bold enough to be going to the doctor on her own,& is presumably sexually active if she's getting Implanon there, well then I fail to understand why you see any need to "take charge" of this billing situation.
Her mistake not to confirm price, her problem.

Addle

MrWalsh wrote: »

That's nonsense.

No it's not.
Your daughter required a pre-planned procedure.
She should have let the receptionist know.

FizzleSticks

This post has been deleted.

MrWalsh

Addle wrote: »

No it's not.
Your daughter required a pre-planned procedure.
She should have let the receptionist know.

Absolutely not. You are not required to discuss your medical situation with anyone but your doctor. The doctor should have informed the patient of the cost.

Discuss your medical details with a receptionist? Are you serious? No way, never. People's medical information is private. Receptionists deal in administration, appointments, scheduling, not medical details.

deisemum

Addle wrote: »

No it's not.
Your daughter required a pre-planned procedure.
She should have let the receptionist know.

No she shouldn't have let the receptionist know. That's between the doctor and the patient.

shaymus27

MrWalsh wrote: »

Absolutely not. You are not required to discuss your medical situation with anyone but your doctor. The doctor should have informed the patient of the cost.

Discuss your medical details with a receptionist? Are you serious? No way, never. People's medical information is private. Receptionists deal in administration, appointments, scheduling, not medical details.

Would agree with this completely.

Receptions in doctors surgeries I have been are in no way private. Sometimes there is a queue behind you and people can hear.

To discuss such private matters in public is not on.

I would have thought that the doctor lets the receptionist know by some sort of email about cost? Doctors have computers as do receptionists.

If and I say IF there is an onus on the patient to say something, it would be nice if they were told that rather than be expected to be psychic and know the ins and outs of going to a doctor for a particular procedure. The onus is on the surgery to inform, not a patient to somehow know these things.

Find out from the HSE whether the medical card covers the cost.

Dealing with professionals, doctors surgeries etc. can be daunting for anyone and your daughter or anyone not being able to stand up for themselves when put on the spot is nothing to apologise for or be ashamed of.

If you haven't paid yet find out from the HSE before you do.

This business of "she should have said something" is nonsense. You are either liable for something or not, not saying something in advance does not affect your rights or entitlements or make you obliged to pay for something you shouldn't have to pay for.

It would appear from postings that doctors do charge for this procedure. It's possible that they do this but maybe they shouldn't or will keep charging unless someone complains. You need to ask the HSE. If you can't get the info. you require, ask your local TD to enquire on your behalf.

LegacyUser

MrWalsh wrote: »

Discuss your medical details with a receptionist? Are you serious? No way, never. People's medical information is private. Receptionists deal in administration, appointments, scheduling, not medical details.

Having worked as a receptionist in a GP's office I can tell you it's fairly standard for a receptionist to ask what someone is coming in for. They aren't asking for details but they need a general idea so they can manage the time between appointments, to make sure something like a full medical for example isn't put in at the end of the day, and also if they have a nurse they may be able to do some work before the doctor sees the patient thus saving time. A receptionist in a doctors office isn't a like a receptionist in a hairdressers, they are trained to use medical records software and prescription software as well as filling in certs for the doctors and nurses to review and sign, they transcribe audio notes from the doctor to patients files as well as well managing any blood reports/referral letters etc etc being added to patients file so they do deal with a lot of medical details.

Addle

MrWalsh wrote: »

Discuss your medical details with a receptionist? Are you serious? No way, never. People's medical information is private. Receptionists deal in administration, appointments, scheduling, not medical details.

The receptionist takes appointments and looks after paper work.
You really think s/he doesn't know your details?

Reasons for appointments differ.
Sometimes you just need to see a nurse.
To organise things properly, they need to know what's going on in advance, if possible.
Obviously if you don't know what's wrong with you, you need to see your GP and can't tell him/her exactly why in advance.
If you know in advance you're going for bloods/a procedure or specific test (eg. smear), you let the surgery, ie. the receptionist, know.

silverfeather

I don't have a medical card I have no idea what they cover or not. But my perception was they covered everything?

I do know the mirena ....(actually I have to clarify I was told a few years ago but i decided it was not for me) could ONLY be given and inserted by a gyno. Am I correct in that?

I don't understand why not telling the receptionist after would simply result in her saying ' oh sorry I will refund you'. If I was over charged for something I would bleeding well make sure I got the money back.

Your daughter is very young. And I at that age too might have felt a little weird talking about that type of issue to anyone. The receptionist should understand that.

I am pretty sure a GP doesn't insert a Mirena.

silverfeather

I also didn't think they could insert it unless you had had kids.

amdublin

I don't know why people are getting outraged about talking with receptionist. She didn't need to discuss her full medical history from year dot out in the reception all she had to say is I'm getting a procedure done.

When I had mine done I ha quick chat with receptionist how long it would take because I needed to know how long to take away from work.

It's very common to give the receptionist an indication of what you're there for "I'm here for bloods whats the cost for that" etc. Of course if I was there for anything personal that I didn't want to say I'd not necessarily say it e.g. I've rang the surgery to arrange my smear and discuss it rather than in reception.

It seems correct she was charged and had she asked the receptionist at outset she would have been told.
It seems incorrect that she assumed there would be no cost and you are unhappy that there was a cost.
I don't understand the fuss.

Addle

silverfeather wrote: »

I don't have a medical card I have no idea what they cover or not.

I don't have one either, but there is a very obvious notice in my GPs waiting room that they don't cover everything they used to. Some changes are listed, then it says ask receptionist for further info.

silverfeather

Addle wrote: »

I don't have one either, but there is a very obvious notice in my GPs waiting room that they don't cover everything they used to. Some changes are listed, then it says ask receptionist for further info.

I don't understand though if a mistake was made and she was overcharged and a refund is due why the receptionist does not simply give a refund unless it's not actually due.

Penny Tration

silverfeather wrote: »

I also didn't think they could insert it unless you had had kids.

They prefer not to insert it unless you've had kids, but will do it without. My little sister got it inserted at 17, and I was offered it at 19, both of us hadn't had kids.

amdublin

Jenny Thalia wrote: »

They prefer not to insert it unless you've had kids, but will do it without. My little sister got it inserted at 17, and I was offered it at 19, both of us hadn't had kids.

I think that's the coil?

I'm assuming this is the implant (implanon)?

silverfeather

Jenny Thalia wrote: »

They prefer not to insert it unless you've had kids, but will do it without. My little sister got it inserted at 17, and I was offered it at 19, both of us hadn't had kids.

Ah thank you. :-)
Yeah I thought there was something along those lines there. Is it a GP that does it or a gyno do you know?

silverfeather

amdublin wrote: »

I think that's the coil?

I'm assuming this is the implant (implanon)?

I did think the implant in this country for a while anyway was only given to women who had already had children. Or as the poster above said it seems to be that they prefer it.

Big Bag of Chips

Silverfeather, the Mirena Coil is not the Implanon Implant. They are two completely different types of contraception. The OP is talking about the Implanon which is injected/inserted under the skin in the upper arm.

The girl was charged for it because it no longer is covered by the medical card. The receptionist, for administration and scheduling purposes would have needed to know to book the girl in for 2 appointments with the doctor, or a longer consultation.

1st consultation they talk through the Implanon, possible side effects etc and administer a mild anesthetic to numb the area. Then you are sent back to the waiting room to allow the anesthetic time to work. Then you go back to the doctor for a second appointment to have the Implanon inserted.

The receptionist doesn't need a full medical history from your daughter, OP, but in certain circumstances (this being one) she did need to know that a double appointment was needed.

I'm surprised your daughter wasn't told any of this when she initially went about getting the implant. You say she's a bit shy. Is there a chance she was told, but was too shy to mention it? I've had the implant in twice, I'm a good bit older than your daughter and both times I sat through the same speil about it, side effects, what would happen at both appointments on the day.

Either the surgery didn't discuss it with her, or they did and she didn't say anything to anyone. Either way, there's a charge for it now because it is not covered. It needs to be paid. €60 for 3 years hassle free contraception seems fair to me!

amdublin

silverfeather wrote: »

I did think the implant in this country for a while anyway was only given to women who had already had children. Or as the poster above said it seems to be that they prefer it.

Big bag of chips posts clarifies what it is. There is no reason for women with no children to be excluded - unlike the coil which I BELIEVE is easier to be inserted when you've had a child. Also the mirena is for ten years or so I believe? The implanon implant is for three years.

Op at the end of the day some of the cost is not covered by the medical card. Your daughter now knows this it needs to be paid. I am assuming had she been told or had she asked up front she'd still have got it in.

silverfeather

Sorry I was confusing the two.

LegacyUser

Big Bag of Chips wrote: »

. €60 for 3 years hassle free contraception seems fair to me!

This. OP is quibbling over something that works out as costing 5 CENTS A DAY, something that avoids her "young shy" ADD-affected daughter having to endure the trauma of an unplanned pregnancy.
I think the daughter& the surgery made a mutual & sensible decision,& in true terms, it costs peanuts versus the alternative (a baby).

amdublin

amdublin wrote: »

I don't know why people are getting outraged about talking with receptionist. She didn't need to discuss her full medical history from year dot out in the reception all she had to say is I'm getting a procedure done.

When I had mine done I ha quick chat with receptionist how long it would take because I needed to know how long to take away from work.

It's very common to give the receptionist an indication of what you're there for "I'm here for bloods whats the cost for that" etc. Of course if I was there for anything personal that I didn't want to say I'd not necessarily say it e.g. I've rang the surgery to arrange my smear and discuss it rather than in reception.

It seems correct she was charged and had she asked the receptionist at outset she would have been told.
It seems incorrect that she assumed there would be no cost and you are unhappy that there was a cost.
I don't understand the fuss.

Oh btw to add to my post. Now that I think of it sometimes my receptionist hands me this little pad where I can tick what I am going the dr for e.g. smear, bloods, implanon, check up etc so she knows what to charge.

Fwiw Op, I think your daughter handled it fine. She thought it would be free so she asked the receptionist. The receptionist explained to her that without the medical card it would be €120, with her medical card it is €60. Am not sure what you are going to talk about on the phone when you ring.