How to Avoid the Hospital

Hello, my name is Simon. I am a 59-year-old man who lives alone in downtown Perth. I am pleased to say that I have never had to spend a night in a hospital. This is because I know how to take care of myself. When I was growing up my grandpa often used to tell me that if you eat well and exercise, you will live a long life. He died aged 95, so he must have known something. However, it was only when I became friends with a doctor, that I discovered all the other things I could do to stay healthy. I decided to start this blog to encourage others to look after their health.

Tips for Finding a Bulk Billing Doctor

Health & Medical Blog

As a payment method that comes with lots of convenience, bulk billing benefits millions of people throughout Australia. If you're one of them, it's worth learning more about how to find bulk billing doctors. Here are some simple tips for doing so:

Shop around using advice from others 

If you have family and friends who are bulk billing users too, they may be the best people to ask for advice. They're more likely to have a knowledge of which doctors use the billing system than most other people. If you're new to your area, another approach is to try asking other medical professionals or pharmacists. They may have made or received referrals from those who bulk bill.

Inquire about their insurance coverage

Finding a doctor who accepts bulk payment methods makes excellent financial sense, so it's worth dedicating extra time to finding one with broad insurance coverage. This means they'll provide more services than other doctors using their insurance, so you have fewer out-of-pocket expenses. This becomes particularly important when you suffer from a condition such as diabetes, as you may need to find a GP whose policy also covers podiatrists and similar allied health professionals.

Keep focusing on location convenience too

Finding a doctor who bulk bills doesn't mean you have to settle for a lack of convenience. Having to travel a long distance to reach the person delivering your medical care can become expensive in itself. Additionally, it can have an impact on other commitments when you have a condition that requires regular appointments. When looking at a doctor's location, calculate average traffic times and expected public transport routes before finalising your decision.

Pay a visit to their premises

The final stage in choosing a bulk billing doctor should involve making a visit to their clinic. Doing this will allow you to see whether the journey times you calculated are accurate. Additionally, it'll help you get a feel for whether their practice is right for you. Some factors you may want to consider include how accessible it is, whether they have comfortable seating and what the waiting area is like for children who may need to attend appointments with you.

Overall, taking a slow and steady approach to finding a medical professional pays dividends later on. If you can find someone you get along well with now, you won't need to switch to another medic in the near future.

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29 April 2019