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Can I have treatment at a private hospital without private health insurance?
Even without private health insurance, you can still receive and access the same exceptional level of service and care at The Wesley Hospital through our self-funded care option.
Self-funding is an easy process that:
- Allows you to pay upfront to access surgery or treatment.
- Allows you quick access to treatment, bypassing long public hospital waiting lists.
- Allows your choice of specialist, who will care for you from your initial consultation to surgery, during your hospital stay, and after discharge.
What is self-funded surgery?
Self-funded surgery is ideal for those who choose not to wait for availability at a public hospital and/or those who choose to enjoy hassle-free healthcare completely on their own terms.
How does it work?
The estimate of fees we provide relates to your hospital fees only. The hospital fees cover the cost of nursing care, accommodation, and non-medical services such as catering and housekeeping as well as fees associated with the use of an operating theatre and prostheses. In addition to the hospital fees, you may also have fees from other providers such as your specialist and/or surgeon, your anaesthetist and/or surgical assistant, pathology and radiology if provided during your hospital stay. You should talk to your specialist about these fees.
1. Get a referral
Ask your GP for a referral to one of our specialists, who will discuss treatment options with you.
2. Get a quote
We will provide you with a comprehensive quote for the services you need, covering all hospital-related costs, including your procedure, accommodation and any other additional hospital fees.
3. Plan your
payment
Payment is required in advance and prior to your procedure. You can self-pay using personal savings or for certain procedures, apply for early Super release to help manage costs.
4. Receive care
Once your payment arrangements are in place, you can proceed with your treatment. Our dedicated team will ensure you receive the highest level of care and support throughout your hospital stay.
What treatments are available?
You can self-fund for any hospital procedure or surgery, but here are some of the more common treatments people self-fund for:
- Weight loss surgery: including gastric sleeve and gastric bypass.
- Joint replacements: including knee replacement and hip replacement.
- Diagnostic procedures: including colonoscopy, gastroscopy and endoscopy.
- Eye surgery: including cataract procedures.
- Maternity: both vaginal and caesarean birth.
If you do not see your surgery in the above list, please contact us for more information using the form below. Note: Not all specialists will accept self-funded patients and this will be dependent on their own practice policies.
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What costs are included in my self-funded surgery?
The hospital fees cover the cost of nursing care, accommodation, and non-medical services such as catering and housekeeping as well as fees associated with the use of an operating theatre and prostheses.
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Could the actual costs of my hospital care be different to the estimate?
Yes, there may be some circumstances where the cost of your treatment and care is different to the amount you were estimated. This could occur if your needs change during surgery or if you require additional or less time in hospital to recover.
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Will there be other fees?
Yes, the estimate of fees we provide relate to your Hospital Fees only. Below is a list of other fees you may incur:
- Surgeon fees: charges by surgeons vary because they consider their costs in delivering services and may differ due to their individual techniques.
- Surgical assistant: your surgeon may require the assistance of another medical practitioner when performing your operation. Only one surgical assistant can charge a fee which can be no more than 20% of the surgeons’ fees.
- Anaesthetist: the fees charged by your anaesthetist will vary depending on the complexity of your procedure and how long the anaesthetist spends with you.
- Other medical practitioners: during your stay, your doctor may request that medical specialists with different expertise treat you. Each doctor that visits you will also charge a fee for their service.
- Pathology: tests of blood, urine and body tissue also attract a doctor’s fee and some costs can be recovered from Medicare.
- Radiology: X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, Nuclear Medicine, PET and MRI also attract a doctor’s fee and some costs can be recovered from Medicare.
- Pharmacy: new medications related to your hospital admission will be provided by the hospital, through a third-party pharmacy provider. Medications that you were taking before admission and discharge medications will be charged directly to you through a third-party pharmacy provider.
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Will I get anything back from Medicare?
There is no Medicare benefit for private hospital costs. However, other costs related to your care (surgeon, anaesthetist etc) are recovered from Medicare. The Federal Government sets a Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) for most services. The MBS fee is used to determine what Medicare will pay towards your treatment. Each procedure involved in your treatment will have an MBS ‘item number’ and there is normally a schedule fee set by Medicare for each ‘item number’. Your doctor will charge more than the schedule fee, and this is known as the out-of-pocket.
Enquire now
To receive an estimate for private hospital self-funded surgery or treatment at The Wesley Hospital, please complete the form below. A member of our team will respond via email with an estimate or to your query within two business days.