http://www.nib.com.au nib Private Health Insurance Explained: Going to Hospital in Australia
In Australia you have the choice of either going to a public or private hospital. Where you choose to go and what your experience will be depends on a few things;
1. Whether you need emergency or elective treatment
2. Whether you go to a public or private hospital
3. Whether or not you have private health insurance or you choose to go as a self-funded patient.
An emergency admission is when you have a serious or life-threatening illness that needs to be treated immediately.
In most emergency cases you will be admitted to a public hospital. Public hospitals are Government owned and operated. Anyone who is covered by Medicare can go to a public hospital in Australia for either emergency or elective treatment.
At a public hospital you can choose to be admitted as either a public or private patient.
As a public patient:
If you choose to be admitted as a public patient for emergency treatment:
• Medicare will cover all your doctors bills and all hospital costs;
• the hospital will choose which doctor treats you and
• you will probably have to share a ward or room with other patients.
As a private patient:
If you choose to be admitted as a private patient by using your private health insurance:
• Medicare will cover part of your doctors bills;
• your health fund could cover part, or all of your hospital costs and
• you may get your own room (if there's one available).
Going to hospital for an elective treatment
An elective admission is when you need a procedure or treatment in a hospital but it can wait 24 hours or more. For elective treatment you can go to a public or private hospital.
Elective treatment in a public hospital
Like an emergency admission, you can choose to be admitted as a public or private patient.
As a public patient:
If you choose to be admitted to a public hospital as a public patient for elective treatment;
• Medicare will cover all your doctors bills and all hospital costs;
• you won't be able to choose which hospital you go to or which doctor treats you;
• you might have to wait on a public hospital waiting list to have your treatment and
• you will probably have to share a ward or room with other patients.
As a private patient:
If you choose to be admitted as a private patient by using your private health insurance;
• Medicare will cover part of your doctors bills;
• you will probably get to choose the doctor that treats you and the hospital you go to;
• your health fund could cover some or all of your hospital costs and
• you may get your own room, however
• you might still need to wait on the public hospital waiting list. Private health insurance does not guarantee that you'll be treated more quickly in a public hospital.
Once again, it's a good idea to check with your health fund to make sure you're covered before you to decide to use your health insurance.
Elective treatment in a private hospital
Private hospitals are privately owned and operated and also offer elective treatment as an alternative to the public system. If you have health insurance you might prefer to visit a private hospital for elective treatment as (depending on the surgery you require) it might be quicker than being treated in a public hospital.
If you have private health insurance you can visit a private hospital as a private patient. If you don't have private health insurance you can still visit a private hospital as a self-funded patient.
As a private patient:
If you choose to go to a private hospital for elective treatment by using your health insurance, Medicare will still cover part of your doctor's bills but;
• you will not have to wait on the public hospital waiting list so you may be treated sooner
• you will be able to choose which hospital you go to and which doctor treats you and
• you might get your own room.
As a self-funded patient:
You can also choose to have elective treatment in a private hospital and pay for it yourself. It's called being a self-funded patient. Medicare will still cover part of your doctors bills but you'll have to pay for everything else yourself and that could add up to thousands of dollars.
Loading...
2:35
Australian Public and Private Health Care System: nib Health Insurance Explainedby nibHealthInsurance7,611 views
Can private hospital do emergency cases??
FeelFree3 1 year ago
i hate how private health insurance and "deside" to cover u they can deside if ur worhty id rather get covered in public that deal with the freek out of that they may not pay
darkrain64 1 year ago