Attending hospital as a private patient

As a private patient in a public hospital you will enjoy a number of benefits and help your hospital.

How will you benefit?

A number of benefits are available to patients electing a private admission. A full list of possible benefits is listed below. 

For benefits that apply to a particular hospital, please refer to the relevant hospital’s patient information brochure.

Country hospitals

Metropolitan hospitals

For further information please visit SA Health’s individual public hospital web pages, contact the hospital directly, or contact the hospital’s representative indicated within the selected brochure above.

Private patient benefits

Benefits may vary between hospitals.

  • No private health insurance co-payments or excesses
  • access to ‘free to air’ television at no cost
  • free movie channels
  • free internet and local telephone calls
  • free newspaper
  • the opportunity to assist the hospital through the income received from the patient’s health fund. Income received contributes to providing improved hospital facilities, updated equipment and staff education and training;
  • generally, choice of doctor or specialist, provided they are available, have admitting rights and rights of private practice with the hospital and are able to accept private patients)
    • The doctor of choice may supervise components of the services provided.If the chosen doctor is unavailable, another doctor may see the patient on his/ her behalf
    • if the chosen doctor is not available the patient can select “I elect to be treated by the doctor on duty” when completing the Patient Election Form
  • access to a single room if one is available. Single rooms are only available in some public hospitals and cannot be made available if required by other patients for clinical reasons.

How you will help the hospital and community

It is our aim to provide all patients with the highest possible quality and standard of care. The income we receive from your health fund helps to improve hospital facilities, update equipment and provide staff education and training.

How will you be affected financially?

  • If you have hospital cover, your health fund should cover the costs associated with your accommodation and prostheses charges.
  • Medicare and your health fund will cover 100% of medical service fees if your doctor charges the scheduled fee or participates in a Gap Cover Scheme with your health fund.

Medical service fees are fees that may be charged by your doctor, surgeon, anaesthetist, pathology or radiology departments.

In regional public hospitals, medical charges ‘may’ exceed the Medicare schedule rate where:

  • Medical Practitioners employed under Fee for Service arrangements bill for private services rendered.
  • diagnostic imaging or pathology services are rendered by ‘private’ providers under contractual arrangements

Accounts made easy

The hospital will lodge all of your claims to Medicare and your health fund on your behalf (where possible). Once hospital accounts are paid, you will receive a patient claim statement from your health fund providing details of all charges paid.

The importance of confirming your level of health fund cover

Our hospital representatives can confirm your level of health fund cover and let you know whether you are covered for your hospital stay.Please ask the hospital representative if you have any questions relating to your health fund cover or costs relating to your admission.

Can you still be a private patient if you don’t have private health insurance?

Yes, if you do not have private health insurance, you can still elect to be a private patient.As a self-funded patient, you will be responsible for meeting any costs incurred during your hospital stay that are not covered by Medicare.

How do you elect to be a private patient?

Hospital staff are available to answer any questions you may have. If you would like to be admitted as a private patient please let our staff know.

A hospital representative will assist you to complete the necessary forms which will help you make an informed choice to be admitted as a private patient.

All you need to do is provide:

  • Your Medicare details
  • Your private health fund details (if applicable)

For more information

Contact the nominated hospital representative or view SA Health’s individual public hospital web pages.