Medical fee?

[Rainatnight]

We've just got a bill for £100 (each!) from our GP for our adoption medicals. Is that normal?

[RatherBeIndoors]

Varies slightly by practice, but it can be I'm afraid [shocked]

[CrazyCatLaydee123]

Ours were £70 odd, despite the receptionist telling us the doc didn't usually charge for adoption medicals because it was "such a good thing you're doing "...

[tybalt22]

I wouldn't pay that! It's extortion how long did the Medicaid take? You should write to the surgery explaining that you are willing to pay for the GPs time but at a reasonable rate. It would cost them more to pursue the debt. We paid 50 for both of us because our surgery had never done it before, we were with the doctor for all of 30 minutes collectively! They called us two weeks later saying that we should have paid 50 each. We told them that they clearly had no idea and that asking for more afterwards was profiteering and that we would write to the medical board.

[tldr]

Our agency paid.

[RosieandJim89]

Our agency paid for ours. We were in their for over an hour between us but I would still be surprised at that amount!

[JustHappy3]

Ours was more than that. I was happy to pay it tbh - these are highly qualified people and i didn't medically need anything. But then my husband sometimes does consulting on top of his day job (not a medical Dr) so it was something we were familiar with.

[JustHappy3]

Plus after rounds and rounds of ivf it didn't seem a big shock

[MypocketsarelikeNarnia]

Agency paid and drs invoiced them direct.

[RosieandJim89]

Out of interest, are you with a LA or an agency?

[Maiyakat]

The agency should pay. It seems to vary hugely by area, there was no mention of me being charged by my GP.

[Italiangreyhound]

Our agency crud not pay. We paid. After about 18 grand in IVF bills it did not seem too much.

[Italiangreyhound]

Did not crud!!!!

[MintyLizzy9]

I think from memory the recommended fee is 70 something.

I adopted through an LA (but not my own LA) so they wouldn't pay for it. Practice manager said they didn't charge regardless of which LA I was going through then changed her mind after the fact and sent me a bill!

I ignored and haven't heard anything since about 18 months on.

I was in for about 15 min with the doc.

[CheeseAtFourpence]

Our GP waived ours, saying it was utterly ridiculous that we should pay it.

[JDL13]

We adopted through a LA but not our own (we tried with them initially but they were useless) ALL our costs were covered by the LA we ended up choosing . TBH though the end result is absolutely priceless :-).

Our medicals were sorted between our doctor and LA so I don't know how much they cost.

Reading posts on here it seems that every LA has it's own rules and costs.

We paid for the court costs up front however this was then claimed back from the LA. We didn't even pay for travel costs as we were given a sheet for mileage to and from foster carers during introductions etc. this was then claimed back.

[catlass]

We are in the very early stages of adoption (ie waiting to go to information evening). Just wondering what happens when you have a medical?

[MypocketsarelikeNarnia]

It a really full medical. There's a questionnaire bit, she did physical exams, manipulated limbs etc. It was actually quite reassuring! Took 45 mins.

[Rainatnight]

Interesting to see the different approaches. Of course the end result is priceless, so I don't particularly mind. I suppose looking at it from a public spending/policy point of view, though, it's very odd for one public service to charge another for a statutory process.

catlass ours were very thorough. Full medical history, all the obvious things like weight, alcohol intake etc, and then a full physical exam that included things like co-ordination and whether you have any lumps and bumps.

[catlass]

Ahhh thanks both, that's interesting! Good that it's so thorough. I think o thought it would just be a chat!

[JDL13]

We needed to produce a urine sample as well - Wish we'd known in advance, was given a tiny jar during the medical!!

[Rainatnight]

Oh yes, urine too. And we did blood tests but I think that may have been because we were overdue for our NHS health checks (middle aged! )

[MypocketsarelikeNarnia]

I agree. It's a real sign of poorly joined up public services I think.

I strongly feel agencies should pay. Not all families can afford £150 upfront and adopters save public services tens/hundreds of thousands.

[Rainatnight]

Well, that's very true. It's £200 in total, which we can luckily afford but that's a lot of money if you're on a low income.

[MintyLizzy9]

Eh! Mine went through a long form retrieving details from my medical files, checked my eyes and reflexes and that was it!

It astounds me just how different each LA is.

[Alljamissweet]

Yes we paid for ours. GP was noticeably embarrassed (but still charged)!
And we had to have them redone a year after approval and pay again!!