Maximise your Medicare Rebates Now. You Could Save A Lot of Money!
Are you aware of the savings available to subsequent cycles?
As the year draws to a close, Fertility Solutions would like to offer a friendly reminder to our patients that the Medicare Safety Net resets as of January 1st 2012. The changes to the safety net in 2010 has allowed patients to access greater Medicare rebates for some second and subsequent treatments. If you are considering treatment in the next few months, completing treatment before the 31st December will often be cheaper than waiting until January or February 2012.
To all our valued Patients,
At Fertility Solutions we are always looking for ways to save our patients money and reduce treatment costs. Keeping you informed regarding the Medicare Safety Net Rebate and Fertility Solutions annual fee revision is part of this process. Please read on:
What is the Medicare Safety Net?
The Medicare Safety Net provides families and individuals with financial assistance for high out-of-pocket costs for out-of-hospital Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) services. Once you meet a Medicare Safety Net threshold, you may be eligible for additional Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital MBS services for the rest of the calendar year. Also available is the PBS Safety Net if you and your family need a lot of medicines in any year.
What is an Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN) benefit cap?
An EMSN benefit cap is an upper limit on the amount of Medicare Safety Net benefit payable for an out-of-hospital MBS service. Not all Medicare items have an EMSN cap.
For more information about the EMSN benefit cap go to the Extended Medicare Safety Net fact sheet on the Department of Health and Ageing's MBS Online website.
What are the benefits for me?
Once you reach a Medicare Safety Net threshold visiting a doctor or having tests may cost you less.
For example: if you reach a threshold and then visit your doctor who charges you $65.00 for a standard consultation, you will receive your standard Medicare benefit. You will also receive an extra refund, the amount varying according to your personal situation. An out-of-pocket cost is the difference between the Medicare benefit and what your doctor charges you.
SO NOW FOR THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
From the 31st December each year the amount that you have accumulated towards your Extended Medicare Safety Net resets to zero dollars and you have to start all over again and build this up until you are again eligible for extra Medicare Rebates. To capitalize on the Safety Net for the year and potentially receive up to an extra $1,000 rebate (the amount will depend upon your treatment), you may like to consider having further treatment before the end of December rather than waiting until January of next year. By having treatment in November or December you may be eligible for extra Medicare refunds if you have reached the safety net limit for this year. This could potentially mean that you receive an additional.
If you would like to know more about the Medicare Safety Net and what it means for you in relation to out of pocket treatment costs at Fertility Solutions, please call Medicare Nambour Office 5441 3159 and Bundaberg Office 4152 2844 help with any of your inquiries.
To maximise your Medicare rebates, all fertility treatments must be completed by 31st December each year, after this time a new Medicare Safety Net year commences.
Fertility Solutions Fee Review
Fertility Solutions reviews all treatment fees yearly in November in line with the Medicare reviews. This does not necessarily mean that there will be an increase across the board, however, any increases that do occur in treatment/medication costs will be phased in over a 2 month period. This transition time enables individuals/couples time to consider having another treatment before the price rise takes effect.
Please note, even though the new prices will come into effect as of December 2011 for new patients, any price changes will only be effective as of January 2012 to existing Fertility Solutions patients.
If you would like to discuss this further please contact Kim or Donna in accounts on 1300 FERTILITY (337 845) if we can assist with your individual circumstance.
The Importance of a Will
 Considering what to do with any embryos, eggs or sperm stored at Fertility Solutions is often not on our agenda when we are young and healthy. The sad truth is that young, healthy people sometimes die and having a will makes the process much less complicated for others to deal with. All Fertility Solutions Consents ask the patient (and sometimes their partners), to direct what the outcome should be if they have gametes (ova or semen) or embryos stored at Fertility Solutions.
The IVF Consents relating to frozen embryos states:
10 Unused embryos
10.1 We acknowledge that we have been provided with information with respect to our options for the use or disposal of our unused embryos.
10.2 In the event:
· of the death of both of us,
· that we fail to notify our instructions at the expiry of the maximum storage time of 5 + 5 years,
· that we fail to pay 4 consecutive invoices and Fertility Solutions are unable to contact us directly or through our nominated third party on at least 5 occasions during a 6 month period, or
· that we provide written notification, signed by both of us, that our embryos are no longer required for clinical treatment we request that our embryos are: (please delete that not applicable)
1. Allowed to succumb respectfully
2. Donated for research (prior arrangements with Fertility Solutions laboratory manager must be made for this to be possible)
3. Stored at Fertility Solutions pending a court order
10.3 In the event that one of us is unable to vary or revoke our consent because of death or another occurrence, we request that our embryos are: (please delete that not applicable).
1. Allowed to succumb respectfully
2. Donated to the remaining partner
3. Donated for research (prior arrangements with Fertility Solutions laboratory manager must be made for this to be possible)
4. Stored at Fertility Solutions pending a court order
10.4 We undertake to notify Fertility Solutions in writing should those instructions change.
10.5 In the event of a dispute between us as to the use of our embryos, we understand that our embryos will be stored at Fertility Solutions Sunshine Coast pending a court order or until the expiration of the maximum storage period, whichever occurs first. Should the storage period expire first, our instructions provided in clause 10.2 will be followed in relation to the unused embryos.
10.6 We understand that if we have not made alternative arrangements or our instructions are unclear in relation to the use of the unused embryos, that Fertility Solutions will allow the embryos to succumb at the expiration of the maximum storage period.
The Freezing of Semen Consent relating to frozen semen states:
In the event that I am/one of us is unable to vary or revoke my/our consent because of death or another occurrence, or we fail to notify our instructions at the expiry of the maximum storage time, I/we request that the semen is: (please delete that not applicable).
1. Allowed to succumb
2. Donated to the remaining partner
3. Stored at Fertility Solutions pending a court order
The Freezing of Oocytes Consent relating to frozen oocytes states:
7 Unused eggs
7.1 I acknowledge that I have been provided with information with respect to my options for the use or disposal of my unused eggs.
7.2 In the event:
· of the death of me or in the event that I am unable to vary or revoke my consent because of another occurrence
· that I fail to notify my instructions at the expiry of the maximum storage time of 5 + 5 years,
· that I fail to pay 4 consecutive invoices and Fertility Solutions are unable to contact me directly or through my nominated third party on at least 5 occasions during a 6 month period, or
· that I provide written notification, signed by me, that my eggs are no longer required for clinical treatment I request that me eggs are: (please delete that not applicable).
* Allowed to succumb respectfully
* Stored at Fertility Solutions pending a court order
7.3 I undertake to notify Fertility Solutions in writing should those instructions change.
7.4 I understand that if I have not made alternative arrangements or my instructions are unclear in relation to the use of the unused eggs, that Fertility Solutions will allow the eggs to succumb at the expiration of the maximum storage period.
Will Wording:
From time to time Fertility Solutions are contacted by patients’ legal representatives asking what should be considered when a patient wants to incorporate any or all of the above in a Will. The following wording can be considered to include in a Last Will and Testament:
I/ We hereby declare that I/ We have fully discussed with my wife / husband / partner << Insert full name>> this clause before I signed this Will. I wish to record, as a result of those discussions, the following:
a. That I/ We have discussed the possibility of having a child and/or children with my Wife / husband / partner and it was our wishes to one day have a child or children.
b. If at the date of my death, there is frozen semen / eggs / fertilised eggs (embryos) frozen with Fertility Solutions for my wife / husband / partner and I, then I direct that it is my wish that all decisions concerning the semen / eggs / embryos are to be made solely by my wife / husband / partner with my full consent and agreement.
c. For the avoidance of any doubt I wish to record my full consent and approval to all / any of the above courses of action and further I ask and request any doctor consulted on the above immediately accede to any request on these matters.
Please note that this does not take the place of obtaining legal representation and advice when constructing your will. Fertility Solutions advises that you seek professional assistance with this matter.
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Latest Addition to Our Growing Family
Kirra Lee born 4th August 2011
If you have any photos of your new addition that you would like to see in our newsletter, please email them as a JPEG file to denise@fssc.com.au. We also welcome your feedback regarding what it is that you would like to hear about in the newsletter.
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Warm Regards,
The Fertility Solutions Team
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