Private health insurance – what is it for?
| |
Medicare |
Private health insurance |
| Public hospital stays |
Y |
N |
| Private hospital stays |
N |
Y |
| GP visits |
Y |
N |
| Visits to specialist doctors, including psychiatrists, outside of hospital |
Y |
N |
| Doctors and specialist doctors you see while in hospital |
Y |
N |
| Some tests and scans (ordered by a doctor) |
Y |
N |
| Visits to allied health professionals such as psychologists |
Y
(in some circumstances)
|
N |
| Medication |
Y |
N |
Note: some services are fully covered, others will have a gap fee.
Gap fees
Depending on your policy, you may need to pay extra costs not covered by insurance or Medicare (sometimes called the ‘gap’ or ‘out-of-pocket’ expenses).
Both your hospital stay and doctors’ fees can leave you with a gap.
Some insurers have agreements with particular hospitals or doctors so that there is no gap.
What if I have an existing mental health condition?
No matter what mental health condition you have, insurers cannot refuse to sell you a health insurance policy.
Using private health insurance at a public hospital
It is your choice whether to use your insurance when admitted to a public hospital.
If you choose to use your private health insurance, your level of care will not change, and you won’t be seen faster.
You may have to pay gap fees and an excess. You may also use up the number of days in hospital covered by your insurance policy.
› More about going to hospital