Medicare Ineligible Patients
Reviewed and Updated On: 10/11/2022
West Gippsland Healthcare Group is a public health care facility. All patients who use this facility must be eligible for Medicare benefits.
Any patients who are not eligible for Medicare benefits will need to pay the Finance Department for the cost of all their medical care and services.
A Medicare ineligible person is any visitor to Australia who does not hold a valid Medicare card, or is not included under one of the classifications below:
If you are an overseas visitor from a country which Australia does not have a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with, you will be treated as a Medicare Ineligible Patient. This means you will have to pay for all medical care and treatment.
See below for more information on the fees and charges.
If you are a Medicare Ineligible patient you will be asked to show:
- Your passport
- Visa documentation and date of entry validation
- Your contact information during your stay in Australia
- Relevant health insurance policy details
Depending on your visa classification type, you must have health insurance cover while staying in Australia.
For more information please contact:
Finance Department Tel 03 5623 0794 weekdays between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm
Reciprocal Rights
The Australian Government has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA) with the governments of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Sweden, The Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Norway,
Slovenia, Malta* and Italy*.
*Covered for Medicare for a period of six months from the date of arrival in Australia.
These agreements may entitle you to limited subsidised health services whilst visiting Australia.
If the appropriate documentation (passport, visa, date of entry confirmation and/or country of birth residential status) is not produced you will have to pay for all associated medical costs. The fees will be waived if the documents are presented to the Finance Department.
For more information please contact:
Finance Department Tel 03 5623 0794 weekdays between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm
Asylum Seeker or Refugee Status
Asylum seekers and refugees are provided with free medical care (including diagnostic services) in Victorian
hospitals.
Asylum Seekers/Refugees will need to show appropriate documentation confirming their status from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship or a recognised asylum support agency.
If the documentation is not produced Asylum Seekers/Refugees will be expected to pay for all associated medical costs, however the fee will be waived if the documents are presented to the Finance Department.
For more information please contact:
Finance Department Tel 03 5623 0794 weekdays between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm
Fees and Charges
Medicare Ineligible Patients pay the hospital’s Finance Department for all their medical care and treatment.
This includes fees and charges for:-
- Outpatient visits
- Inpatient (admitted) care
- Doctor’s visits
- Diagnostic tests, including pathology and radiology
- Prosthesis
- Discharge medication
- Allied health visits
- Accommodation
- Ttransport
Table of Fees and Charges
Health Insurance
As a Medicare Ineligible patient, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have adequate & appropriate health insurance cover or adequate money to cover the cost of your health care.
You will be responsible for submitting claims to your own health insurance provider for payment.
Emergency Patients and Emergency Admissions
Wherever possible, West Gippsland Healthcare Group requires payment with the Finance Department prior to leaving the Emergency Department or discharge from an inpatient ward.
Maternity Patients
Payment of maternity care is required before confirmation of your booking and commencement of care. Payment can be made as one upfront payment, or three equal instalments paid in full prior to delivery.
The first instalment must be received prior to commencement of any maternity care.
Contact the Finance Department to arrange payment of your fees and charges.
If your baby stays in hospital after you are discharged, we will charge you a new fee for your baby’s care.
For more information please contact:
Finance Department Tel 03 5623 0794 weekdays between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm
Table of Fees and Charges
|
MEDICARE INELIGIBLE PATIENTS Rates for 2022/23 |
|
|
Patient Admission Classification |
Fee Per Day ($) |
|
Same day – single room |
319 |
|
Same day – shared ward |
223 |
|
Overnight (multi day) – single room |
718 |
|
Overnight (multi day) – shared ward |
619 |
|
Emergency |
468 |
|
Hospital in the home |
332 |
|
Special Care – Nursery |
2,500 |
|
Maternity admission |
15,000* (*14,500 if paid upfront in full) |
|
Outpatients – fee per encounter |
|
|
Medical outpatient attendance |
281 |
|
Allied health outpatient attendance |
162 |
|
Postnatal care attendance – hourly rate |
100 |
|
Other Medicare Ineligible Inpatient Charges Depending on the treatment a patient receives, the following items may be charged in addition to the bed fees – · Doctor’s fees – including Consultations, Anaesthetics and Theatre items · Pathology, Radiology and other diagnostic items · Prostheses · Discharge Medication · Allied Health fees · Outpatient visits · Accommodation · Transport
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Please note: Fees and Charges are valid effective from 1st July 2022 to 30th June 2023 and are subject to change at any time without notice. Please request an up to date quote prior to your admission. This table is to read in conjunction with the Informed Financial Consent Policy (Medicare Ineligble) policy. |
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