When do I have to pay for my operation/procedure?
Payment for cosmetic procedures is made approximately one week prior to the operation date for both the surgeon and anaesthetist. Hospital fees for uninsured patients and those having cosmetic procedures are payable on admission to Aesthetic Day Surgery.
For insured patients having operations which qualify for a Medicare item number, Aesthetic Day Surgery directly bills the hospital fund. Any ‘excess’ or exclusion fees must be paid on the day of admission.
Medicare and Health Fund Rebates
In-hospital services
If you are a private patient in a public or private hospital, you will have a choice of practitioner to treat you. Medicare will pay 75 percent of the Medicare Schedule fee for services and procedures provided by the treating practitioner. Some or all of the outstanding balance can be covered by private health insurance if you are a member of a hospital fund. If your practitioner charges more than the Schedule fee, you will have to pay any charges in excess of the scheduled fee where there is a medicare item number for the procedure.
You will be charged for hospital accommodation and items such as theatre fees and medicines. These costs can also be covered by private health insurance for procedures where there is a Medicare item number.
Medicare Two-Way Claim form
Click here to download the Medicare Two-Way Claim form
What is not covered by Medicare?
Medicare does not cover such things as the following:
- private patient hospital costs (for example, theatre fees or accommodation)
- medical services which are not clinically necessary
- surgery solely for cosmetic reasons
| PROCEDURE | CONDITIONS |
|---|---|
| Breast Uplift | Only in specific conditions |
| Upper Eyelid Reduction | Only if eyelids are obscuring vision |
| Tummy Tuck | – |
| Correction of Bat Ears | – |
| Breast Reconstruction | – |
| Breast reduction | – |
| Hand Surgery | – |
| Skin Cancer Surgery | – |
As a general rule of thumb, those procedures that carry a ‘Medicare Item Number’ attract a hospital fund rebate of 25% of the scheduled fee for the surgeons and anaesthetist fees for in hospital services – such as those provided at the Aesthetic Day Surgery. However, an exception to this rule is if you have taken out cover with your fund that specifically excludes plastic surgery.
The table highlights some of the procedures that do attract Medicare rebates and therefore are generally covered by hospital funds according to your level of cover.
To confirm your exact level of cover, you will need to contact the staff at the Aesthetic Day Surgery or your relevant health insurance provider.
