My son is 2 and a half and has suffered from constant ear infections (due to glue ear, both sides) and tonsillitis. It's now affecting his speech and hearing. We are on the waiting list to see ENT through Cairns Base and have been waiting 15 months and was told today they are only seeing patients who were referred in August 2012 so will still be a long way off even an initial appointment with a specialist. Unfortunately I am in no financial position to go privately and on a low income cannot afford private health, but I'm hoping family can help us fix this problem. Does anybody know how much the out of pocket cost is for grommets and tonsillectomy?
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I have always paid for my surgery privately despite being on carers pension because I can't afford to be on a waiting list. My tonsils 10 years ago cost around $1000 but that was in a private room etc.
Many private ENTs bulk bill the first appointment anyway and they can tell you costs etc there can be different options. Going as a private patient in the public hospital can be done much faster and a lot cheaper.
Private patient in a private hospital is dearer and you usually have to pay for the room up front which is the bulk of the money and then your billed later for aneasthetists and ENT which you get a portion back through Medicare.