The Daily Quibble: The Overpriced Skin Check

Maybe they should call it the Camberwell tax - or the weekend payment adjustment. Or just a rip off.

I have gone a bit gung-ho about getting skin checks after I had a squamous cell carcinoma cut out of my forehead two years ago. I'm not particularly moley, but as I'm a bit paranoid about these things, and get an annual skin check. 

I'm lucky with my skin. At 56, my skin is going me well. Bar the odd wrinkle, dry skin on my arms and the occasional skin tag, I can't complain. Still, I make sure I get the docs to give me the once over annually, just for peace of mind. 

My first skin check after having the skin cancer removed was last year. The doctor was lovely. The 20-minute appointment was thorough - she even zapped off a patch of discoloured skin with her dry ice machine, all a part of the consultation. It was a bit more than I wanted to pay - $215. But I had a record with the clinic, who had a good name for themselves and I had a record with a skin cancer clinic, not that I had any spots that were causing me any worry. 

Today, I went back to the same clinic for my annual check. 

The doctor gave me a cursory once over. I asked about some spots on my forehead. Dry skin from sun damage she said. Nothing to worry about. 

I was in and out in five minutes. 

The clinic charged me $255 for the privilege - with a Medicare rebate of $82. 

Next year, I'm going to my normal doctor. Sorry, stuff that. 

Personally, in this country of fair skinned people who've abused the sun for decades, why skin cancer checks aren't fully covered by Medicare is beyond me. (Then again, I think HRT should be covered by Medicare - it would be a service to the nation). 

Regardless, you try and do the right thing and you get stung. 

(And for the medicos reading this, I'm painfully aware of the great work you all do, and that running a clinic or practice is bloody expensive - but this did seem excessive.)

Today's song: