western australia

The fees have doubled

@JudyEv (325923)

Rockingham, Australia

February 3, 2024 3:17am CST

My husband, Vince, looks like needing a heart valve replacement in the not-too-distant future. Before that happens though, he needs two teeth extracted. He is going to have an anaesthetic and had to fill out some extensive forms. He did this, scanned the forms and sent them back. Then he got a message saying the forms were old ones and he’d have to fill out new ones. What was interesting was that the fee mentioned on the earlier forms was almost exactly half that of the fee on the second form. So, in just a few short years, the anaesthetist’s fee has nearly doubled. But it’s no use complaining. They’re not going to change it. The photo you might have seen before; of Vince at one of our house-sits with Chopper and Pepper and they’re all having cat naps.

28 people like this

27 responses

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (306523)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

3 Feb

I'm sorry the fees have nearly doubled for the procedure Vince needs to have his teeth extracted. I'm sorry, he also needs a heart valve replacement. Cute picture of them on the couch sleeping. Who's the pooch on the bed? They all look comfortable.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (306523)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

3 Feb

@JudyEv Nice. You also show one on the bed. What kind is that one?

4 people like this

@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Feb

@just4him Sorry. The first time I thought you'd missed notcing Pepper but now I've had another look and that's Gracie in the background. She is Labrdoodle with a mass of black curls. You were battling to see her eyes. Black dogs/horses/cats are very hard to photograph in any detail.

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@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Feb

The one nearest Vince is Pepper, a German pointer and the other is Chopper, a Blue Heeler.

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@xFiacre (12605)

• Ireland

3 Feb

@judyev Do the teeth need to go because of possible heart surgery? My daughter and wife have to get antibiotic cover before dental work because they have cardiac issues and infection could carry to the heart. Everything seems to be connected to everything else.

5 people like this

@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Feb

One tooth is more filling than tooth and nothing much can be done to save it. The dentist says best to take the one below it out at the same time as, not having anything to grind against, that one would choose issues later. The dental work needs to be done a month or two before surgery to ensure the healing is complete. He has to go off his blood thinners a day or two before the extraction. As you say, everything is connected to everything else. So, although the teeth don't have to be done first, it makes sense, because of the risk of infection.

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@snowy22315 (170111)

• United States

3 Feb

I see Vince has lots of fun in his future. I hope it all goes well. Love those spiffy shoes.

5 people like this

@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Feb

Poor guy. I'm glad it's him and not me. He loves those red shoes. The Pope wears red slippers and Vince tells everyone, if it's good enough for Frank (Pope Francis), it's good enough for him (Vince).

2 people like this

@Fleura (29136)

• United Kingdom

3 Feb

Dentistry is expensive isn't it! Here many people can't afford to go any more, there's definitely a noticeable increase in people with terrible or few teeth.

4 people like this

@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Feb

Thankfully we have top private cover but they are very cunning about what they cover and what they don't.

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@Fleura (29136)

• United Kingdom

3 Feb

@JudyEv Yes and have you noticed that dentists always seem to drive fancy cars and send their children to posh private schools!

3 people like this

@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Feb

@Fleura Vince asked our doctor if he'd be around for a while because we were hoping for stability in that area. He said he'd be in practice for a long time yet as he wanted to buy a plane! lol

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@nela13 (55721)

• Portugal

3 Feb

Dentists are too expensive in my opinion, I am sorry, hope it is something that you can easily afford.

4 people like this

@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Feb

We can afford it but I think the guy is being a bit greedy really.

4 people like this

@nela13 (55721)

• Portugal

3 Feb

@JudyEv Did you ask for another dentist prices?

4 people like this

@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Feb

@nela13 This is the anaesthetist recommended by the dentist. If we don't go with this one, we'd have to wait till April or May to have the work done.

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@Beestring (13335)

• Hong Kong

3 Feb

Dentistry is also expensive here. Some cannot afford to go the private clinic, have to wait for 2 years to fix their teeth at the public clinic.

5 people like this

@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Feb

Dentists have always been quite expensive but now it's even worse.

5 people like this

@marguicha (215548)

• Chile

3 Feb

In our country no Health Insurance companies cover dental problems. And as can see for myself, the older one gets, the more dental problems you have. I have been putting off an implant for 2 years and I think that I will forget about it completly now.

4 people like this

@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Feb

Ours covers some procedures. We've been paying into the fund for many years but we're starting to really make use of it now.

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@RebeccasFarm (86772)

• United States

3 Feb

Oh dear that is high priced Judy. I am sorry to hear of Vince needing that heart valve replacement too. I love that photo

4 people like this

@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Feb

Old age isn't for the weak, is it? I know you have your own troubles and problems too. I have a few photos of Vince cat-napping with pets. lol

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@LadyDuck (458458)

• Switzerland

3 Feb

All prices are going up but they want us to believe that the economy is strong and there is almost no inflation. Best wishes to Vince.

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@LadyDuck (458458)

• Switzerland

4 Feb

@JudyEv I would also pointed out that the increase is outrageous. We have the same problem here, medications, health insurance prime, doctors are the costs that increased more in the past 4 years. It is a shame.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Feb

Thanks for the good wishes. He emailed the anaesthetist and politely said the increase was 'outrageous'. Of course, the guy has 'been in touch' with the dentist for sending out the wrong form. If we hadn't received that, we wouldn't have known about the increase.

I bet he was a bit cross with the dental surgery!

3 people like this

@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Feb

@LadyDuck I am always very thankful that we don't live in the USA. Health insurance there seems a real nightmare. And at least we can actually afford to pay for what we need, even if we don't like it!

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@wolfgirl569 (95346)

• Marion, Ohio

3 Feb

Everything keeps getting higher. He needs to just get the teeth done

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@wolfgirl569 (95346)

• Marion, Ohio

4 Feb

@JudyEv I know you will. Hope everything goes smoothly

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@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Feb

@wolfgirl569 Thanks.

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@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Feb

It's happening in a week or two. I'll be glad when that part is safely over.

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@LindaOHio (156488)

• United States

3 Feb

I LOVE that picture. I'm sorry Vince is going to need surgery. Unfortunately everything is going up so much. Have a good weekend.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Feb

I didn't mention it because I didn't notice it at the time but Gracie, a Labradoodle, is sleeping on the bed in the background.

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@LindaOHio (156488)

• United States

4 Feb

@JudyEv I didn't notice it either. 3 dogs. They are very lucky. I wish I had 3 dogs!!!

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Mildred Tabitha

@mildredtabitha (16048)

• Nairobi, Kenya

3 Feb

I doubt the prices will go back to how they were before. I hope Vince will recover quickly after the tooth extraction. The photo is beautiful.

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@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Feb

Thanks for the good wishes. I hated having teeth out when I was young.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Feb

@mildredtabitha I'm not sure what happened to my wisdom teeth. I know my son had to have his out.

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Mildred Tabitha

@mildredtabitha (16048)

• Nairobi, Kenya

4 Feb

@JudyEv You are welcomed. I also didn't like it when my four wisdom teeth were extracted in 2017.

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@porwest (78759)

• United States

3 Feb

Wait. What? Prices for things have gone up? Of course I am being facetious, here. lol

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@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Feb

If we hadn't got the wrong forms first, we'd never had known. He has told the guy politely what a 25% increase each year is 'outrageous'. I can't iimagine he'll charge any less though.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Feb

@porwest Exactly. I feel we should write to the papers about it but that wouldn't do any good either.

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@porwest (78759)

• United States

5 Feb

@JudyEv This probably goes along with, "Thanks for letting us know. We will take your thoughts into consideration." Which basically means your thoughts go right into the garbage can. lol

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@MarieCoyle (28714)

•

3 Feb

Dental work is extremely expensive. I am sorry he has to have that and then a heart valve replacement. Poor guy, he's probably dreading all of that. Hopefully, he will breeze through it all well. I do like those snazzy shoes!

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@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Feb

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@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Feb

Thanks. It's all a bit stressful at the moment but hopefully we'll come out the other side okay. Vince says that if red slippers are okay for Frank (Pope Francis), then they're okay for him! lol

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@MarieCoyle (28714)

•

4 Feb

@JudyEv We all need a bit more color in our lives, I'm glad Vince is rocking red shoes!

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@AmbiePam (85586)

• United States

3 Feb

That is crazy. And you know it doesn’t really cost that much; they are greedy.

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@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Feb

He is charging around $A1,000 an hour. You're right. It's just plain greedy.

2 people like this

@Marilynda1225 (79802)

• United States

3 Feb

I can't say that I'm surprised that the fees have doubled since everything has gone up in price these days. Sorry that Vince has to have his teeth extracted (been there, done that) and that he has to have a heart valve replacement too. Sounds like you have a lot going on Judy Love this picture of Vince and the pups

3 people like this

@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Feb

That's the main reason we've stopped the endurance ride photography and the house-sitting. We need to be ready to 'jump' when the surgeons give us a date.

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@TheHorse (205956)

• Walnut Creek, California

4 Feb

Looks relaxing. I hope he gets the procedures done soon.

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@TheHorse (205956)

• Walnut Creek, California

5 Feb

@JudyEv I hope everything goes smoothly.

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@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Feb

@TheHorse Thanks. We'll be hoping for a good outcome.

@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Feb

Another couple of weeks before the extractions then at least a month after that if he needs a valve replacement. We can't get a definite answer yet but we're 90% sure that's what will happen.

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@innertalks (21028)

• Australia

4 Feb

I have an old-fashioned dentist, who just gives me a jab, or two, himself, to make the area numb, no anaesthetist needed. Over the last few years, I have had four teeth extracted, at around $180 cost, each. I have never heard before of a dentist also having an anaesthetist.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Feb

Fair enough and I'm sure that's standard practice but this is what Vince wants so we can't really complain about it.

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@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Feb

@innertalks Yes. He doesn't like dentists anyway and has been hearing horror stories so this if the path he's going down.

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@innertalks (21028)

• Australia

4 Feb

@JudyEv l suppose he just wakes up and it's all done.

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@Shiva49 (26208)

• Singapore

3 Feb

The forms seem to change once too often everywhere and also the constant updates to the system. That creates some stress for older people. The fee increases impact the retirees most as they say inflation doubles our expenses every ten years or so, I hope Vince bounces back to good health soon.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Feb

Thanks for the good wishes. We're just incredibly lucky that we have the funds for such expenses. We have good health insurance which helps a lot too.

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@thelme55 (76485)

• Germany

3 Feb

Yes,there’s no use of complaining. Everything is getting expensive nowadays.

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@JudyEv (325923)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Feb

Vince did tell the guy he thought the increase was outrageous. If we hadn't received the wrong forms first, we would never had known.

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