Visitors are permitted at Austin Health sites with some restrictions. Find out more about our visitor restrictions.
To be admitted as a public patient you will need to have a valid Medicare card.
If you are admitted as a public patient at Austin Health, there may be costs associated with your admission which are explained below.
To be admitted as a private patient, you will need to have private health insurance.
If you choose to use your private health insurance at Austin Health:
The following costs are payable by all patients:
All patients need to pay for their medications on discharge. If you have a pension card, healthcare card or safety net number, let the pharmacist know when picking up your medications for discharge.
No, single rooms are prioritised based on a clinical need, infection risk and patient safety.
You have the choice to be transferred to a private hospital. The Care Coordinator or Nurse in Charge can assist you or your family to organise a transfer if they believe it is safe to do so. Some medical conditions need expertise and equipment which may not be available in the private system.
If you choose to be transferred to another Health Service and you require ambulance transport you may be responsible for the associated cost. It is advisable to contact your private health insurer to check whether your policy covers ambulance transport.
Private health insurance levels of cover vary and a transfer to a Private Hospital could result in you being out of pocket. If you are considering a transfer, call the hospital in advance to understand what fees you can expect with your level of cover.
Your accounts will be sent directly to Medicare and your Private Health Fund.
On the rare occasion you receive an invoice in the mail, please contact the Revenue Services Department on 03 9496 5554.
The decision to use your private health insurance in a public hospital is your choice. Your health fund cannot question your decision.
No. Premium increases are not determined on an individual case basis. The frequency of use of your insurance will not increase your premium.
In most cases basic hospital cover is sufficient to cover hospitalisation in a public hospital.
Irrespective of your level of cover we will conduct an eligibility check and let you know the outcome. If you are not eligible, you will be treated as a public patient at no cost.
You can also download the information from this page as a fact sheet.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Phone: 03 9496 5554
Email: revenueservices@austin.org.au