New charges imposed on Medical Certificates for Driver's Licences

[Poster221]

Hi, I am in my 50s and suffer from Parkinson's Disease and depression. I have a slow form of PD which is controlled well with medication. I am still able to drive and every year have a medical check up to test my fitness to drive.

This year when I booked my annual appointment, I was told by the staff that the Government recently introduced a charge of over $100 for the service! I must say I was so shocked I almost dropped the phone. The Medical Centre told me I will receive about $70 back through Medicare, but this means I have to pay them over $100 up-front for my Medical Certificate each year. This has added an unwanted additional burden on my budget. It was also totally unexpected. I had received no notification about this at all. The first I heard about it was when the receptionist at the medical centre told me. It has added considerably to the cost of my car license. My Medical Certificate falls due in December so this also creates additional financial uncertainty close to Christmas.

I am also shocked to learn that part of the test now involves a urine sample! This to my mind is offensive and degrading, because it presumes that people on disabilities are likely to be drug addicts. This really crosses a line. I have never taken an illicit drug in my life. I only take prescription medication and it does not show up on drug tests as an illegal substance. This represents an invasion of my personal rights and dignity in my opinion. So I now not only have to pay for a medical certificate so I can continue to drive, I now also have to be treated like a drug addict! It is like they are determined to paint me as a criminal and a second class citizen. It makes me very sad indeed to think this kind of thing is happening in Australia in 2018. When will these sinister kinds of bureaucratic abuses against disability pensioners cease?

I am actually uncertain if the Medical Centre is the one who is exploiting me for charges that they should not actually be imposing on me? Or are they at the mercy of Medicare and its funding policies? I always presumed that a disability pensioner with a health care card should be exempt, but lately I have noticed charges are being imposed for all kinds of things that were once free. I recently had to pay the Medical Centre $50 for a skin check for example, and also, just recently, I managed to get a splinter in my finger and they charged me $50 to remove it. The costs are getting beyond the ability of my pension to cover.

[PamelaR]

Hi Poster221 and welcome to Beyond Blue

Yes, the cost of everything goes up. Sorry to hear about your condition. Please feel free to join in discussions that are similar to your own. You can do this by searching using the search field at the top of the page and entering in keywords.

Unsure how much I can help. I'm sure others who have similar situations may pop in here to give you their experience, their understanding of the new rules.

What is access like to other medical centres in the area that you live? E.g. If you're in a large town, you will find some centres that 'bulk bill' to the exact amount of the Medicare rebate. Especially if you have a health care card.

About having to supply a urine sample - I understand fully how you must feel like a second class citizen. Maybe part of the Transport form requires anyone that needs a medical certificate for their licence must produce a urine sample, not necessarily singling out those on a disability pension? That doesn't help you much though. Have you looked into it a little further by going to the department that issues drivers licences for your State, e.g. checking out their website?

Hope some of this helps Poster.

Kind regards

PamelaR