Need info PLEASE on Australian healthcare

I have heard of our Aussie bandsters post on how the Australian Healthcare system is easier to navigate, cheaper, etc.

My brother lives in Queensland (he is a student there and has lived there for about 4 years), and he is coming to visit in June. He has always struggled with his weight even more than I- and I have not told him I am banded yet.

So anyway, when I break the news to him I would like to be better informed as to the process in Australia if he were to decide to try this. He is currently close to 300 pounds, I am guessing, and about 5'9" so he would certainly qualify from a BMI standpoint, although I doubt he suffers from the co-morbidities that I did.

Anyway, what I would like to know is: what is the process? How long is the wait usually? What costs might he incur (he is not privately insured but in a student health plan)? Could there be a problem because he is not an Australian citizen??

Please help and feel free to PM me if prefereable. Thanks!!!!!

P.S. Weight aside, he is a gorgeous man inside and out and needs a good wife:biggrin1:

Hi heather, i just recently got lap banded my self almost 2 weeks ago and im glad i did!. anyways, the process i went through was really simple, your brother, if he chooses to have the lap band can go to his local G.P and ask them if they know of any doctor that he can be reffered to, then make an appointment to see the doctor, i guess depending on the doctor it could be a wait, i know my doctor is always busy coz hes a popular 1!!!Then i guess he sits down and talks with the specialist about the process and what happens, i chose to pay for it out of my own pocket and that set me back about $8,000 AUS which included everything from the surgeons fees,anastheitist,hospital stay, the band,all of it pretty much, i have private health but because i havent had it for the required time (12 months or more) i paid for it myself, i didnt wantto wait till november and i was quite serious about getting it done, so i guess if you really want something, go for it!! anyways i better get back to work but hopefully this has helped even a little.

Hi
I live in NSW but it is pretty much the same. I dont have private health insurance and self paid. As for a student health program I dont think it would cover the stay in hospital and operating costs, because you pretty much need the top cover for that.
If you could find a surgeon who would operate in a public hospital the costs would be for the surgeon only which in my research varied from $2000 to $4000 with about $800 coming back from Medicare.
If he went to a Dr that operated only in a private hospital setting your looking at operating theatre costs, hospital stay and anaesthesistist(sp). Again just in my research, private hospitals are anywhere from $700 per night in my area. I stayed one night, but most stay 2 nights. Theatre costs were $5200 and the anaesthesistist was about $1000 getting back $300 from Medicare. I didnt recieve any back for the hospital or theatre costs but any out of pocket expenses can be claimed back on tax in July.
Another option is doing it the public route. I think from memory the waiting list in QLD is about 2 yrs. That way he wouldnt pay anything.
I think the best thing would be to research fro surgeons that do the lap band in a public hospital setting to minimise costs, cutting the nightly stay fee, operating costs and the anaethestist...public hospitals have their own. If you want me to sniff around a bit for you let me know. I also am a member of a large Australia wide Lap Band forum and there are plenty of members in QLD that could help you better with DRs, fees etc. PM me if you like.
Good Luck

Kel, that would be so helpful, thanks!! I am willing to pay for it for him if he needs me to, but if I don't have to or if he could get some assistance that would be wonderful!