What you can expect to pay, and who sends you an account.
Your final costs may be higher or lower depending on your clinical circumstances. Before any surgery you will be given a written Surgical Procedure Estimate setting out the figures that apply to you.
Payment is required immediately following your consultation. If your bank details are registered with Medicare, we are able to send the claim electronically on your behalf and your rebate is paid directly into your account. For a telephone consultation you will be sent a secure payment link by SMS after your appointment.
When your surgery is booked we will give you a written Surgical Procedure Estimate. It sets out the name of your procedure and the Medicare item numbers that apply to it.
You should check with your health fund that you are covered for those item numbers in a private hospital. It is worth doing this as soon as you receive your estimate — gaps in cover found late can delay or cancel a booking.
For insured patients we use a known gap arrangement: a single, fixed out-of-pocket amount for the surgeon's fee, told to you in advance and payable before your surgery.
You can pay by American Express, Visa, Mastercard or direct debit using the secure link on your estimate. You will also receive an SMS message containing the link.
Your surgeon's fee is not the only cost of an operation. These accounts come from other providers and are not controlled by your surgeon.