Operation Fees

Private Hospital Procedures

There are five entities that you may receive a bill from in regards to an operation you will be undergoing; Dr Stewart, the hospital, anaesthetist, assistant surgeon and pathology. 

Patients with Private Health Insurance:

Dr Stewart: 

Most standard surgery patients will receive an out-of-pocket surgical fee of $500 (‘known gap’). For more complex surgeries there will be a higher gap payment, this will be quoted at your consultation by Dr Stewart’s staff. If your health fund does not participate in the ‘known gap scheme’, then your out-of-pocket costs will be higher. It is best to check with your health fund.  Gastroscopy, colonoscopy, some small procedures and all DVA patients will be billed ‘no gap’ which means no out-of-pocket fees. 

Hospital: 

You will have an agreed excess with your private health insurance provider. This will be an out-of-pocket expense. Your insurer should pay for all other hospital fees, but circumstances may vary. It is best to check with your health fund. 

Anaesthetist: 

You will be billed an out-of-pocket fee for the specialist anaesthetist for most procedures. Dr Stewart’s staff will be able to provide you with details to contact your anaesthetist to obtain an exact quote. 

Assistant Surgeon:

There may be an assistant surgeon fee payable for your procedure. Dr Stewart's staff will be able to provide a cost of assistant at the time of your consultation.

Pathology: 

If any testing is required or specimens collected during your hospital stay that is not covered by your health fund, you will be charged an out-of-pocket fee which will be billed through the pathology company.

 

Self-Insured Patients in the Private Hospital: 

There will be a Medicare rebate for all specialist doctor services but still some out-of-pocket expenses for your doctors. This will vary for different procedures. Dr Stewart’s staff will be able to provide you with contact to the associated billing company to obtain an exact quote. 

There is no Medicare rebate for private hospital costs. 

You can obtain a quote from the private hospital, anaesthetist and Dr Stewart’s billing company for a total estimate of costs. 

Public Hospital Procedures 

Hospital Insured Patients in the Public Hospital:

Public hospital patients are placed on a waiting list until the hospital allocates operating theatre time for their procedure to be done. Most patients are placed on a 12 month waiting list. 

Most surgeries in the public hospital will be done by the “Registrar” who is a trainee surgeon under supervision. This is due to the training requirement for the Registrar and is not decided by Dr Stewart.