Informed Financial Consent
It is your right to receive an estimate of costs from your doctor and hospital before you agree to have treatment. You may incur out of pocket costs for hospital fees and prostheses.
This is a sample list of questions you may wish to ask your doctors or hospital:
- What are your fees?
- Are there any fees for other doctors?
- Will I have any out-of-pocket costs?
- Is your fee an estimate only?
- Can I have an estimate of your fees in writing?
- If the cost changes, when will you let me know?
- What if I need a prosthesis/implant?
- Should I contact my health fund?
Accounts from treating doctors are separate and are not usually fully covered by your health fund or Medicare. Please contact your treating doctors directly for estimates and/or to settle these accounts. This also applies to anaesthetists.
If you are unclear about the total costs of your treatment, ask your doctor, hospital and your health fund.
You will be provided with an “Estimate for Hospital Services (FM 17)” form to sign on admission which provides the breakdown of hospital fees and any out of pocket patient costs.
Your Hospital Account
We recommend you check the level of cover you hold with your health fund and your eligibility for benefits.
Should you require an estimate of the likely costs for your hospital stay please, please contact your doctor’s office and ask for an estimate for length of stay and item numbers for planned procedure(s). Please note that this will be an estimate only.
Payment for your estimate hospital fees, gaps or excess is required on admission. Full fee-paying patients will be required to pay 100% of the estimated fee on arrival to St Luke’s Care Private Hospital.
Payment Options
Payment for your estimates hospital fees, gaps or excess is required on admission.
The following payment options are available:
- In person: Cash, EFTPOS, Bank Cheque or Credit Card.
- Telephone: Telephone payment via credit card is accepted. Please note, payment is required prior to the admission.
- Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT): Payment via EFT is accepted. Please contact the reception prior to the admission.
Additional expenses incurred during admission will be required to be settled at discharge.
All other accounts (e.g. pharmacy, pathology and radiology) are payable directly to the individual providers who will invoice you separately.
Privately Insured Patients
Please check with your private health insurer to ensure that your insurance is up to date. The hospital will check on your behalf whether you have an excess or co-payment to pay or if your level of cover or waiting period excludes you from receiving benefits for some conditions. However, it is important that you also check with your private health insurer as co-payments and costs for excluded procedures are your responsibility.
Uninsured Patients
If you do not have private health insurance, you will be required to pay the full estimate of your account on or before the day of your admission. Fees for additional or unplanned services are payable on or after the day of your discharge.
Veterans
All veterans will receive a hospital estimate highlighting the potential out-of-pocket expenses associated with private room accommodation. The hospital will ensure that prior approval is received for all White Card holders. Gold Card DVA patients do not require approval prior to admission. If you require transport to or from hospital, please contact DVA Transport to make arrangements.
Worker’s Compensation & Third Party Patients
All workers’ compensation, public liability and third party patients require approval from their insurer prior to admission. If approval is not received, the patient is required to pay the estimated amount on or before the day of admission.
Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), Workers’ Compensation, CTP, Defence patients and those with health insurance cover for shared rooms will have to pay a gap payment for each day you occupy a private room, should you request such accommodation. The telephone number for all accounts queries is (02) 9356 0200.