Something to be annoyed about....

I need to vent today, get something off my chest that has really bothered me.

I have expressed this to my family and friends, but it's not enough.

I am very annoyed about our current PM, yes that guy.

I have private health insurance and see an obstetrician. I have had many pregnancy complications in the past, so seeing a specialist who can watch over me has been

mine and my husbands saving grace.

Most of us may be aware of the medicare levy threshold? Well we are all subsidised, but once our rebates hit a threshold figure (which I can't be exact on the amount), you end up receiving 80% of your benefit back. With the cost of obstetrics, and mine are nearly $5000, per pregnancy, you can claim the first portion which brings me to that 80% threshold.

It can see me being refunded $2500 - $3000.

Our PM has decided to withdraw this threshold only from obstetrics.

If you weren't 20 weeks pregnant by the time Jan 1st 2010 came this year you missed out.

I was 20 weeks on 19th Jan 2010.

The big deal is this....I have gone from receiving around $2500 back to $450 maybe!!

I think "Not happy Jan" is very appropriate here.

Apparently this was in the paper & on the news??? With a toddler, I don't know about you but having time to watch TV, and read papers is a rare occasion.

I don't understand this decision. I believe it will have some dire consequences.

1. Put families out of pocket like me.

2. Stop patients having private care for pregnancy, due to cost.

3. Effect obstetricians businesses

4. Clog up the public system even more than it already is.

Unbelievable.

Thanks for listening to my rant, sometimes putting your thoughts on paper, or well into cyber space, is very therapeutic.