Used it for our kids and dental work. Otherwise haven't had much need for it. Would keep it for tax reasons though at least, plus intend to have more kids and will do so in the private sector. Have never paid much of a gap. I think the paediatrician for our second kid did charge a small gap. But my experience is not likely the norm.

Surgeons and anaesthetists having gaps isn't that unusual, depending on your cover. A small bill from the hospital pharmacy is common even in the public sector. But the path bill for $950 is odd. It's pretty rare that any tests we ordered on an inpatient have any cost to the patient. Generally if I'm running some expensive test that isn't covered by medicare, I get financial consent from the patient. eg: Genetic tests that cost ~$800 that we occasionally run. I would have thought the histo on your excisions would all be covered. Do you know what that bill was for?

But yes you could have had all that in the public sector and youd have paid something like $12 for your discharge meds.