We accept the following types of payments:
- Cash
- Visa, Mastercard, and Bankcard Credit Cards
NB: Please note that this surgery does not pass merchant fees to our patients. However, if you require a refund due to cancellation, a 3% surcharge will apply if payment has been done with a credit card. - EFTPOS (Direct Debit Cards)
- Personal Cheques (these require enough time for clearing funds for operations - see above)
Dr Eduardo Alcaino- Practice Account,
BSB: 082 330 (NAB Parramatta)
Account number: 56-825 -7052.
A confirmation fax or email is also required for internet banking.
Interest Free Finance
Interest free finance for up to 12 months can be arranged through Care Credit Medical Finance. This facility is available for clinical procedures above a certain fee. Please contact our surgery to discuss if this option is available to you.
Finance may be approved in minutes after completing the necessary forms. Once this transaction is approved, you may choose one of the following options:
- 3, 6 & 12 months Interest Free* or
- 24, 36 and 48 month Extended Payment Plans*.
You may also obtain further information on this payment option by calling 1300 662 273 or by visiting www.carecredit.com.au.
Refund
Policy
Refund policies for this practice are as follows:
- If you have elected to pay a deposit by credit card (that is, a payment in advance for a procedure not yet performed) and subsequently you change your mind for whatever reason(s), please be aware that credit cards payments incur merchant fees to our business. Although a refund is possible, these fees will be deducted from the initial amount paid.
- Payments made by cheque will also attract a management fee of $35 as administrative time needs to be set aside to deal with your request.
- Cash payments made in advance will not attract fees if no appointments have been made or the cancellation is done with more that 24 hours.
- Appointment cancellations within 24 hours may attract a cancellation fee as it is not always possible to release this clinical time to another patient.
- As availability for hospital operating time is limited, a cancellation fee will apply if you cancel your booking with less than 5 working days from the scheduled date (item no. 949). In addition, credit card transactions will also attract a 3% management fee (see above).
- In the case of cancellation due to a medical reason, provision of a medical certificate is required in order to avoid charges.
Other
Info
Keep your invoice(s) as you may be eligible to claim a tax offset on your gross payable tax bill if your "Net Medical Expenses" exceed AUD$1,500.00 in one financial year. The Medical Benefit Tax Offset contributes 20% of the net medical expenses exceeding $1,500.00 with no upper limit. Further information can be found at: www.mediplan.com.au/save.htm
Information on Health Insurances & Dental Fees
Australian Dental Association Notification on Health Insurance and Dental Fees (A.D.A Newsletter April 2001)
- Unlike Medicare, dental fees are not subsidized by the Federal Government and there is no recognized fee schedule
- Fees have to be set by the dentist to take account of individual costs of practice, which will vary in different practices
- As a general rule, a dentist has to pay out approximately 7O% of all fees received in the overhead costs of running a practice
- If a practice tries to cut these costs to lower the fees you pay, there is a danger that the quality of your treatment may be compromised
- The fees charged in this practice are kept to the standard of a ‘Paediatric Specialist’ and as low as possible whilst still providing care of the highest quality
- There is no comfort in providing cheap dentistry if it means a lower quality of care for patients
- The best way to lower your dental costs is to prevent dental decay and disease in the first place. Brushing and flossing your teeth and regular check-ups are a relatively inexpensive way to avoid higher costs
When taking out dental cover, you should be aware that:
- Each health fund determines what level of rebates it will pay based on its own commercial requirements (no matter what information on Australian dental fees, fund representatives may communicate to a claimant)
- An important aim of some health funds is, quite appropriately, to make profits for their shareholders as well as to provide rebates for their customers.
- The rebates payable on dental fees are unlikely, in most cases, to cover more than 60% for common dental items and may cover less than half of the cost of more complex and thus more expensive procedures
- For some people, these rebates may be of assistance in offsetting some of the costs of the more expensive procedures but some arrangements may not always represent value for money for routine dentistry for you and your family
- If you have a problem with your private dental insurance, you should contact the fund directly. If you are unable to reach a satisfactory agreement with your fund, contact the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman, an independent body formed to help resolve complaints and provide advice and information. The Ombudsman can be reached on 1800 640 695 or by writing to Suite 1201, Level 12, St Martins Tower, 31 Market St, Sydney NSW 2000. Fax: 02 9261 5937. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
The Australian Dental Association Federal office is continuing to receive complaints from dentists concerning patients being informed by health fund staff that the main reason for a low rebate is the particular dentist not adhering to a recommended fee schedule. In fact such a schedule would be against the law and would be regarded as anti competitive conduct. The ADA would appreciate patients notifying them (in writing if possible), if this ever occurs. Each of our patients has different dental needs and treatment costs are therefore variable. After consulting the paediatric dentist you will immediately be provided with a quote for your child’s full required dental treatment.
If you have any questions about our payment options or policies, please call our surgery and ask to speak to our practice manager for further details.