Some people prefer to be treated as a private patient so they can choose their own doctor and avoid potentially longer waiting times for treatment. Most people who use private health care have private health insurance.
 | Private hospitals and health servicesPrivate doctors, hospitals and other providers set their own fees. Private health insurance may pay part of the bill. For some treatments, Medicare may also cover part of the cost.You’ll probably still need to pay some money yourself. This is known as a gap payment. You may also be charged for things such as your hospital room, operating theatre fees and medicines. Before treatment starts, your cancer care team will explain what costs you need to pay. This is called informed financial consent. Check with your private health insurer about what your policy covers. |
 | Private health insuranceAsk what your policy covers. If you’ve joined recently, there may be a waiting period. Private health insurance does not pay for out-of-hospital services that Medicare covers (e.g. GP visits). It doesn’t usually cover radiation therapy, which is mostly given as outpatient treatment. |
 | Thinking about the costsBefore being treated as a private patient, it’s good to ask:• your doctor for a written estimate of their fees, who else will care for you (e.g. an anaesthetist) and how you find out what their fees will be • your private health insurer what costs they’ll cover • the hospital if there are any extra treatment and medicine costs. Your private health insurer may have arrangements with certain doctors and hospitals (medical gap scheme). Using these services can cut costs. |
For a general overview of what Medicare and private health insurance may cover, visit the Australian Government’s Private Health website.
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Prof Lisa Beatty, Professor in Clinical Psychology, Flinders Cancer Research, Flinders University, SA; A/Prof James Lynam, Medical Oncologist and Senior Clinical Advisor, Cancer Institute NSW; Dr Diana Adams, Medical Oncologist, Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre and GenesisCare, Campbelltown, NSW; Bob Carnaby, Consumer; Dr Maria Ftanou, Director, Psychosocial Oncology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Mark Godfrey, Consumer; Prof Angela Hong, Radiation Oncologist, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, Melanoma Institute Australia, GenesisCare, and Clinical Professor, The University of Sydney, NSW; A/Prof Brett Hughes, Senior Staff Specialist, Medical Oncologist, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, The Prince Charles Hospital and the University of Queensland, QLD; Kimberly Hurley, Consumer; Bronwyn Jennings, Gynaecology Oncology Clinical Nurse Consultant, Mater Health, QLD; Nadine Macbeth, Social Work Team Leader, Cancer and Chronic Care, Westmead Hospital, NSW; A/Prof Geri McDonald, Director Patient Experience and Wellbeing, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; A/Prof Orla McNally, Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist, Director Oncology/Dysplasia, Royal Women’s Hospital, Honorary Clinical Associate Professor, University of Melbourne, Director, Gynaecology Tumour Stream, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, VIC; Gail O’Brien AO, Consumer and Patient Liaison Advocate; Mariad O’Gorman, Clinical Psychologist, Liverpool Cancer Therapy Centre and Bankstown Cancer Centre, NSW; Deb Roffe, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Julie Teraci, Clinical Nurse Consultant – Melanoma, Cancer Network WA; Dr Elysia Thornton-Benko, Specialist GP/Primary Care and Cancer Survivorship Physician, Clinician Researcher, NSW.
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