Questions to ask your GP:
- What symptoms should I be aware of with my condition?
- Tell me more about my condition, tests and treatment.
- How will the tests or treatment help me, and what is involved?
- What are the risks if I have the test/treatment?
- What are the risks if I don’t have the test/treatment?
- What are the standard methods of treating this condition?
- Are there any alternative tests/treatments?
If your GP decides to refer you to a specialist for additional treatment, ask:
- Why you’re being referred to this particular specialist.
- If there are other specialists who can also treat your condition.
- What is the specialist’s experience in treating your condition?
Questions to ask your Specialist:
- How much experience the specialist has in treating your condition.
- Whether the specialist doctor themselves will be doing the procedure.
- At which hospital your specialist would like to perform your surgery.
- If the specialist will treat you under nib’s MediGap Scheme.
- How much the procedure will cost if the specialist doesn’t participate in nib’s MediGap Scheme.
- What charges will be incurred by you for any consultations with the specialist .
- If any additional procedures are be required (e.g. pathology tests), are they included in the hospital admission or are they separate.
- If there are any treatments you could try as an alternative to surgery and if there will be any consequences for delaying the surgery.
- If the procedure can be done as day surgery.
- What the procedure involves.
- What risks are involved if you undergo the procedure.
- What the risks are if you don’t undergo the procedure.
- If any other health care professionals (e.g. anaesthetists, assistant surgeon) will be involved in the lead up to the procedure, during the procedure and in after care.
- If other health care professionals will be involved in your care, ask for their names. You can contact these doctors directly to check if they will participate in nib’s MediGap Scheme. If they won’t participate in nib’s MediGap Scheme, you should ask what outof-pocket expenses to expect.
- You’ll need the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items for the procedure. The item numbers are required so you can check your benefits with nib before you have your procedure.
- If your procedure includes the use of prostheses, ask your specialist if you’ll be charged any out-of-pockets for the prosthesis items used during your treatment.