Private hospital fees, costs and health insurance

Epworth HealthCare is Victoria’s largest not for profit private hospital group that charges fees for the services provided. Hospital services include nursing care, accommodation, operating theatre use, meals, and housekeeping.

Epworth has agreements with many major Australian health insurance funds. Most hospital fees are covered by private health insurance, with the exceptions of excesses, co-payments, or exclusions.

Epworth Geelong - Emergency Department fees

Initial consultation fees

All private emergency departments will charge a flat fee for treatment that is not claimable under Medicare or private health insurance.

Epworth Geelong charges a flat fee of $270 for an initial patient consultation.

Out-of-pocket expenses

Depending on your treatment, you may also incur out-of-pocket pathology or radiology costs, in addition to any consultation fees. A portion of these may be claimable under Medicare.

Fees for international patients

International patients who don’t hold a valid Medicare card will incur higher fees. An initial consultation fee of $490 applies to all international patients.

Other associated fees must be paid up front.

Please contact us for more information.

Epworth Richmond - Emergency Department fees

Epworth Richmond

Epworth Richmond charges a flat fee of $400 per patient. This out-of-pocket fee is not claimable under Medicare or private health insurance.

Depending on your treatment, you may also incur pathology or radiology costs, in addition to any out-of-pocket fees. If you hold a Medicare card, a portion of these may be claimable under Medicare.

International patients

International patients who do not hold a valid Medicare card will incur higher fees and are required to pay associated fees up front.

The initial consultation fee for international patients is $500.

Epworth applies a surcharge to all patient payments, including Emergency Department fees. This will apply to all credit and debit card payments.

Read more information for international patients.

All fees relating to medical practitioner care (excluding hospital fellows) and other non-hospital fees (see below) are charged separately.

Non-hospital fees will be billed separately and may include:

• Allied Health practitioners
• Ambulance charges
• Anaesthetist fees
• Cardio-pulmonary bypass (perfusion)
• Medical services
• Pathology
• Pharmacy
• Physiotherapy (where no arrangement exists between Epworth and your health fund)
• Radiology/X-ray
• Surgeon fees

Medicare refunds some non-hospital charges and your health fund may also cover a further portion, but you will be required to pay the balance. If you have any questions regarding these charges, please check with Medicare and your health fund.

Please contact your doctor’s office should you have a question regarding fees charged by your doctor.

It is your right to ask for information in writing regarding a doctor's professional fees before you receive any service or agree to a proposed treatment.

Additional fees may include surgeon fees, surgical assistants, anaesthetists, medical services, imaging and other specialists.

Both Medicare and private health insurance contribute to anaesthesia costs. Contact your anaesthetist to get an estimate of fees and your relevant MBS item numbers.

As coverage for anaesthetist fees will vary according to your health fund policy, please get in touch with your health insurance provider and quoting the fee estimate your anaesthetist has provided to you and the relevant MBS item numbers, to receive an accurate estimate of the amount your fund will cover.

This covers the cost of your accommodation while you are in hospital. Fees include non-medical services, such as catering and housekeeping. You may also be charged fees for the use of an operating theatre or other hospital facilities while you are in hospital. It is not always possible to predict these fees in advance, as an unexpected surgery or referral may be necessary.

Your hospital fee is generally covered by your health fund, except for excesses, co-payments and exclusions associated with your level of insurance cover.

Epworth applies a surcharge to all patient payments (e.g. ED fees, private hospital excess). This will apply to all credit and debit card payments.

See below, for rates that are applied:

• EFTPOS (savings account – where card is inserted at terminal): no surcharge
• VISA / MASTERCARD DEBIT (Paypass or tap): 0.5%
• VISA / MASTERCARD CREDIT: 1.0%
• Amex: 1.4%
• Other: 1.65%

The surcharge may not be incurred in certain areas within our hospitals (e.g. various cafés) as these are separate businesses to Epworth.

You will be contacted by the hospital prior to your admission to inform you of any estimated out-of-pocket expenses that may apply to you. This may include excesses, co-payments and additional costs.

All out-of-pocket expenses are required to be paid prior to or on your admission.

Please remember to bring a form of payment with you upon your admission.

Epworth accepts Visa, MasterCard, cash, bank cheques and EFTPOS. (NB: a surcharge on card payments may apply)

We do not accept Diners Card or personal cheques. We do, however, accept American Express at some sites. If paying by card, please ensure any daily or transactional withdrawal limits are sufficient to settle your account.