By Luke Voogt
A Corangamite resident who paid more than $500 for an emergency MRI scan has accused the Federal Government of delaying Medicare rebates until election time.
Hugo Armstrong was shocked to discover last month the only MRI machine servicing inpatients in the marginal seat of Corangamite was not covered under Medicare.
“We’re in a brand new hospital. How can this MRI not be registered?” he asked.
Mr Armstrong saw a GP Belmont after experiencing severe pain and went to Epworth Hospital because of his private health insurance.
Several hours later he was on an operating table for surgery requiring an MRI scan, which neither his health insurance nor Medicare covered.
Mr Armstrong said he could afford the cost but worried others in Corangamite, from as far as Apollo Bay, could be in for a nasty surprise.
“Many people may have chosen to put every cent they have into private health insurance,” he said.
“You go into a private hospital and still get hit with a massive out of pocket cost. No one knows about this until they’ve been in for an MRI.
“Everyone’s struggling to pay their health insurance and deciding whether to keep it or not.”
A letter from Epworth Hospital explaining the cost stated that the Federal Government had yet to extend the rebate to the machine.
“I’d hate to be that cynical one but I think it’s going to be an election issue,” Mr Armstrong said.
“The publicity and the vote-wining comes first over people’s health, that’s absolutely what’s happening here.”
Hospital technicians and staff told Mr Armstrong “you have to wait for an election for anything like this,” he said.
“It wasn’t like one person whispered it in my ear – they were all saying it.”
A MRI scanner at Geelong hospital is on the Medicare Benefits Schedule but Mr Armstrong said emergency or other circumstances could prevent people from using it.
“Sometimes the public health system is under pressure,” he said.
Mr Armstrong contacted Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson’s office but received no update on changes to Epworth’s MRI, he said.
“She’s going to wait for an election to cut some red tape and register it with Medicare.”
The Indy contacted Ms Henderson’s office for comment but received no response before going to press.
