Important update for patients and visitors regarding COVID-19 Please click here for more information COVID-19 Visitor Info Read more

Support & Information

Accounts & Health Insurance

Burnside Hospital is a private not-for-profit, community hospital.

Prior to your admission, we recommend you contact your private health insurer to check the following:

  • Is your reason for admission, including any surgery, covered under your current health insurance policy?
  • Are there any additional costs you should expect such as an excess or co-payment?

 

Important information

Please note, patients are responsible for the payment of their hospital account. Medicare does not cover any private hospital charges but does contribute to medical specialist fees. Invoices for specialist fees are seperate to your hospital account.

If you are a private health fund member, hospital staff will submit your claim on your behalf. Depending on your level of cover, private health insurance will cover some or all of the private hospital charges. Any health fund excess or gap, including that applying to “Basic Cover”, must be paid prior to or on arrival. You can pay your bill online here. Upon discharge, you must pay any difference between the account and the health fund benefit.

If you do not have private health insurance, or an approved Worker’s Compensation or Third Party Claim, then our Accounts staff will provide an estimate of the total cost of your hospitalisation. The estimated fees must be paid prior to admission. Any shortfall between the estimated and actual fees for your hospitalisation must be paid on discharge. Personal cheques are not accepted. Payment can be made by credit card or by direct debit.

Account enquiries

If you have a Burnside Hospital account enquiry, please phone (08) 8202 7201 during office hours, Monday to Friday.

Additional costs from external providers

During your admission, you may require tests to provide your treating doctor with a diagnosis or to help monitor your medical progress. Costs for these services will be billed separately by third party providers and may include:

  • Pathology (blood or tissue samples)
  • Diagnostic imaging (x-ray) services
  • Medications dispensed to you from the pharmacy during your admission or on discharge (for unrelated or pre-existing medication needs).

Specialist fees

Wherever practical, your treating doctors should be prepared to discuss their professional fees with you before providing their services. For major treatment, this information should preferably be provided in writing. Please contact your doctor’s office if you have a question about doctor’s fees.

If this information is not provided, it is your right to ask for it before you receive the service or agree to a proposed treatment. You should ask the doctor’s office staff for this information. In an emergency, treatment will be provided with fee information given with, or soon after, the care provision.

Additional fees may include surgeon fees, surgical assistants, anaesthetists, medical services and other specialists whom your treating doctor refers you to. For obstetric patients, your baby will always be referred to a Paediatrician and all babies, whether admitted to the nursery or not, must be under the supervisory care of a Paediatrician.

Make a difference
and support the Hospital

We're a not-for-profit community hospital with NO government funding.

Donate Volunteer
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Seek advice from an appropriately qualified health practitioner before proceeding with any procedure.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Seek advice from an appropriately qualified health practitioner before proceeding with any procedure.