Did I get ripped? Class 1 Medical Costs
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Did I get ripped? Class 1 Medical Costs
So I recently undertook my Initial Class 1 Medical, and I get the feeling I have had to pay far too much...
I live in a smaller town (not a capital city), so I was expecting to pay a bit more than the average, but I'm not sure if this is bordering on the ridiculous?
Consultation with DAME:
Health Questions
General Checkup
Hearing Test
Basic Eye Test
ECG Heart Test
Urine Test
$330.00 AUD inc
Consultation with Ophthalmologist:
Specific Eye Tests
De-briefing the next day with results
$250.00 AUD inc
QML Pathology blood tests:
Blood Glucose
Cholesterol etc
$92.00 AUD inc (Doc told me I wouldn't have to pay, but apparently this cannot be bulk billed as its a commercial medical)
CASA processing fee:
$75.00 AUD inc (Yet to be taken from my credit card, but I assume it will after the test results have all been compiled.
So thats around $750.00 AUD inc all up, and I for some reason (maybe I read it), was expecting more like $300 - $400...
So have I been ripped, or is this pretty standard pricing for an initial class 1?
Thanks for replies.
Jazz
I live in a smaller town (not a capital city), so I was expecting to pay a bit more than the average, but I'm not sure if this is bordering on the ridiculous?
Consultation with DAME:
Health Questions
General Checkup
Hearing Test
Basic Eye Test
ECG Heart Test
Urine Test
$330.00 AUD inc
Consultation with Ophthalmologist:
Specific Eye Tests
De-briefing the next day with results
$250.00 AUD inc
QML Pathology blood tests:
Blood Glucose
Cholesterol etc
$92.00 AUD inc (Doc told me I wouldn't have to pay, but apparently this cannot be bulk billed as its a commercial medical)
CASA processing fee:
$75.00 AUD inc (Yet to be taken from my credit card, but I assume it will after the test results have all been compiled.
So thats around $750.00 AUD inc all up, and I for some reason (maybe I read it), was expecting more like $300 - $400...
So have I been ripped, or is this pretty standard pricing for an initial class 1?
Thanks for replies.
Jazz
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From what I can recall my cost was - $210 for the doc (which included the blood test fee) $220 for the ophthalmologist (no debriefing required, just told on the spot that all was ok, although I did have to go back a few days later to have my eyes checked with contacts in, at no extra cost) and something around the $70 mark for the CASA fee.
I think your doctor is the one who stings.
I think your doctor is the one who stings.
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
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I have yet to do my Class 1 Medical, and I am going through my GFPT, but I too would like to know the average costs that will be incurred for DAME and Ophthalmologist in the Sydney area.
Does anyone have any suggestions as well, check CASA's website but there are so many and I am trying to find the best deal!
Does anyone have any suggestions as well, check CASA's website but there are so many and I am trying to find the best deal!
Best advice is to shop around first. Make some phone calls and get prices. Even better, ask other pilots who they would recommend in your area. Also, it's one thing getting a bargain, but you also want a decent doc who knows what they're on about.
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I'd say absolutely, but factor in the small town location....
My inital class one, done in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne last year was:
Consultation with DAME:
Health Questions
General Checkup
Hearing Test
Basic Eye Test
ECG Heart Test
Urine Test
$165.00 AUD inc
Consultation with Ophthalmologist:
Specific Eye Tests
De-briefing the next day with results
$165.00 AUD inc
QML Pathology blood tests:
Blood Glucose
Cholesterol etc
$0.00 AUD inc
CASA processing fee:
$75.00 AUD inc
My inital class one, done in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne last year was:
Consultation with DAME:
Health Questions
General Checkup
Hearing Test
Basic Eye Test
ECG Heart Test
Urine Test
$165.00 AUD inc
Consultation with Ophthalmologist:
Specific Eye Tests
De-briefing the next day with results
$165.00 AUD inc
QML Pathology blood tests:
Blood Glucose
Cholesterol etc
$0.00 AUD inc
CASA processing fee:
$75.00 AUD inc
Guest
Posts: n/a
I guess this just cements my decision to up and move to a capital city to undertake my training.
If a doc can rip people for this much extra, god knows how much more I'd be paying locally for the flight training. From my initial inquiries of local training costs, it also sounds like more than it should be...
Jazz
If a doc can rip people for this much extra, god knows how much more I'd be paying locally for the flight training. From my initial inquiries of local training costs, it also sounds like more than it should be...
Jazz
Yes, you were ripped off!!
In Adelaide i payed $100 for GP appointment (DAME)
$85 for my Opth appointment and the $75 for the CASA processing fee.
That was Initial aswell.
I think it depends on where you live! Sydney seems to be the biggest ripoff!!
Nothing in Aviation is cheap!!
In Adelaide i payed $100 for GP appointment (DAME)
$85 for my Opth appointment and the $75 for the CASA processing fee.
That was Initial aswell.
I think it depends on where you live! Sydney seems to be the biggest ripoff!!
Nothing in Aviation is cheap!!
AustralianMade
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Jazz,
Yep you were ripped. I'm not at home right now so I can't check my paperwork, but my Class 1 cost about $500 all up.
Opthalmologist at Shepparton, DAME and eveything else at Albury.
CPL/MECIR at Albury for $50K - why pay $100K in the city?
Happy New Year.
ABX
Yep you were ripped. I'm not at home right now so I can't check my paperwork, but my Class 1 cost about $500 all up.
Opthalmologist at Shepparton, DAME and eveything else at Albury.
CPL/MECIR at Albury for $50K - why pay $100K in the city?
Happy New Year.
ABX
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Location: Australia
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De-briefing the next day with results
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In a small country town I sometimes got slugged up to $250 for a medical fee from my DAME, felt pretty jibbed with that at the time.
First medical i payed $50 for the DAME and a couple of hundred for the Ophalmologist. There were no CASA cost recovery measures in place at the time.
Medical booked this week, DAME is $90 plus the CASA slice
First medical i payed $50 for the DAME and a couple of hundred for the Ophalmologist. There were no CASA cost recovery measures in place at the time.
Medical booked this week, DAME is $90 plus the CASA slice
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Thank you tmpffisch, I live in the south west and I remember last time someone was going to charge me $200 for DAME, however I have forgotten which place it was.
I hear that the one near Bankstown airport is not good either for a DAME, do you have any suggested areas in Sydney, I am happy to travel all the way to Chatswood or else where.
I hear that the one near Bankstown airport is not good either for a DAME, do you have any suggested areas in Sydney, I am happy to travel all the way to Chatswood or else where.
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wow, the day i have to pay $750 for a medical is the day i'll be starting my new job driving a bus Absolutely crazy!
Last year...
Dame: $132
+ casa fee ($70 ish i think)
$330 just for a consultation with a dame seems way too high, no matter which small town you're in.
Cheers
Tiger
Last year...
Dame: $132
+ casa fee ($70 ish i think)
$330 just for a consultation with a dame seems way too high, no matter which small town you're in.
Cheers
Tiger
Last edited by Tiger 77; 6th Jan 2009 at 02:52. Reason: can't write stuff very well