A surgical quote involves many parties, such as the surgeon, anaesthetist, surgical assistant, hospitals and the operating theatres, all of which work independently of each other.
Your quote will show the total cost you need to pay, the Medicare rebate for the operation, and the total out-of-pocket cost.
If operations qualify for a Medicare rebate, they are given an item number (Medicare Benefits Schedule number) by the government, and it determines how much you will get back from Medicare.
Medicare does not cover cosmetic operations, such as, breast augmentation however, labioplasty, abdominoplasty, breast lift and/or breast reductions are often rebateable, by both Medicare and private health funds. After the procedure takes place receipts are issued which are used to claim the rebates.
Hospital fees depend on the hospital you choose, and operating theatre costs are time dependant.
If you have private health insurance and the operation you are having has a Medicare item number, then you may be eligible to claim part of the hospital and operating theatre costs back from your private fund.
The amount you can claim will depend on many factors, such as, your level of cover, type of cover and membership time with the fund. The other factor to check with your fund is if you have to pay an excess, or a co-payment.
These are options that you may have selected when you joined your fund.
The quoting system for a surgical procedure can be complex. We endeavour to explain and itemise the information and costs associated with your procedure and encourage questions should you need clarification.
What happens after my consultation if I am keen to go ahead with surgery?
An important factor for you is feeling comfortable with your surgeon and, confident that you have had all your questions answered so you can make an informed decision to proceed with surgery. During your appointment a lot of information is discussed about the surgery, post-operative care and the financial aspects, and we encourage people to revisit this information until they feel confident with their decision.
A package containing all the information discussed during your consultation with Dr Paterson will be yours to keep and may contain drawings, photos, a surgical quote and available operating dates.
When you have selected a date you will receive an email containing:
- Hospital Admission Details Letter
Confirms your procedure date, admission time frame, hospital and discharge information.
1-week post-operative appointment details.
A simple checklist you can follow before the month or weeks leading to your surgery to ensure you have completed all the necessary paperwork, what to do the night before and morning of your procedure and what to bring with you to hospital.
- Hospital Admission Form Link
The hospital admission forms are very comprehensive and need to be completely filled in two weeks prior to your surgery date.
- Invoice and Payment Instruction Letter:
Amounts payable to Surgeon and Hospital. Payment option and instructions.
We will phone you the day before your operation date to confirm your admission time and your fasting instructions.