$368 for first appointment?

[Startled]

Hi,

We saw our ob/gyn for our first appointment last weekend at Thomson Medical Center. Our total bill came to $368, which caught me totally by surprise. Is this normal for a first appt?

We had previously researched the general costs and packages available in Singapore hospitals. However, the package starts from the second appt.

Is this a typical number for the first bill? All they did was take my blood (the blood test alone is listed as costing $185) and treat me for a mild infection. Everything was normal.

Would appreciate any input.

[mom2]

no, $368 is not normal for 1st  ob-gyn appointments in Singapore. Depends on who you see and what tests were done on you. Doc's initial consultation fees range from $80-$150 with extras for tests. Check your bill statement and ask for breakdowns and explanations. By the way, you can also compare hospital delivery charges (to prevent more shocks later) at the Ministry of Health's website to see how the local hospitals compare. Most have competitive prenatal packages now.

[mum3]

I can't remember the exact price of my first appointment, some 7 years ago, but I do remember the shock!  The blood test is expensive because they have to send it off to a lab.  Then if you had a scan, this costs extra.  Then the consultation is probably about $80.  Antibiotics for infection are usually about $40 - We're up to about $300+ already, if you had all these things.  Once you are on the package, you shouldn't get any more shocks.  I do remember the first appointment wasn't counted in the package though so thought that was a bit of a rip off!  Agree with above poster though.  You should ask for a breakdown if they didn't give you one, then at least you know what you paid for.

[How About?]

I go to WC Cheng & Assoc which is located on the ground floor of TMC.  Each invoice details out the cost breakdown.  Which clinic did you go?  I am sure if you do not have a detailed invoice, it would not be difficult getting one.

Even S$185 is expensive for a single blood test.  I suspect you are being tested for a couple of things.

[Startled]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your responses. It did clear up a couple of things.

How About - I go to W. C. Cheng & Assoc as well. And yes, they did give me a breakdown along the lines that all of you mentioned.

I guess the additional tests raised the amount. The consultation was $80, so that's pretty standard. The blood test was the most expensive item on the bill.

Anyway, thanks again, and hoping that once I'm on the package, I will have fewer surprises.  

Cheers....

[Darcy's Mum]

Had a similar experience yesterday with and OB at Gleneagles.  1st visit $315 - $90 for the OB, $130 for double blood test, $80 for ultrasound + GST.  Pathology is always the big stick (pardon the pun!) though, even at home.

[How About?]

OP,

Please note that the package covers only routine check-ups and ultrasound scans during each of these visits.  With some obs/gynae, your package would also include the detailed scan done at week 20 (if my memory hasn't failed me).  

Tests such as triple test (down's syndrome) or GTT (glucose tolerance test - diabetes) are not included.

Delivery package is another set of costs and so is hospitalisation (ward) package.

This is system applicable to all obs/gynaes here, in case you are wondering.

Hope this helps.

[This message has been edited by BoardManager (edited 19-08-2004).]

[mom2]

An Aussie-trained doc friend of mind once commented she cannot understand why the gynaes here test Causcasians for Thalessemia genes-this blood issue is usually confined to Asians. Expensive meaningless test? Esp when both partners have to be tested. Perhaps this is standard procedure for hospitals here regardless whether you need it or not....

[Thalessemia]

  Our doctor told us that it is required by the Singapore government. Not sure if it was a "required-you really got no choice" kind of thing.

[Drivel]

That's total drivel.  I've had two babies here and never been tested for Thalassemia.  It's only relevant if you are Chinese.  It's not a Government rule at all.

[beach-nut]

At our hospital, they did give us the choice of whether to take up the thalassemia test or not. But they also STRONGLY encouraged us to take the test. They did this by painting a horrible scenario of how things would be with a thalassemia-patient baby. (This inspite of the fact that we wanted to keep the baby no matter what.) The same with the Glucose Tolerance Test.

I have noticed that doctors here HAVE to follow their std procedures. So they tend  to scare you into opting for their std tests - usually unnecessary tests that you would'nt go through with a midwife in the US, for instance.