- Patients and visitors
- Self-funded care
Self-funded care
Private hospital treatment without health insurance.
By choosing to self-fund your care you will receive comprehensive private hospital care with:
• quick access, avoiding public hospital waiting lists
• your choice of specialist who cares for you from your initial consultation through to surgery, in hospital and after discharge
• a range of payment options.
How do I self-fund my treatment?
1. General practitioner
See your local GP and get a referral to see the specialist of your choice.
3. Get estimates
Request up-front estimates of the costs involved with your treatment from your specialist and St John of God Health Care.
4. Book surgery
Book your surgery with your specialist.
5. Payment
Pay estimated costs.How to pay for self-funded private hospital care
Patients who choose to self-fund their hospital treatment have a range of payment options.
- The hospital component of your self-funded care includes nursing care, theatre, accommodation and any other incidentals – this needs to be paid up front, prior to admission.
- Your specialist will advise how to pay for their component of your care and for any other healthcare providers involved in your care such as an anaesthetist.
Hospital costs
Once you have your estimate for hospital costs, you can pay a lump sum or use a payment plan.
Lump sum payments can be made via our MyAdmission website.
Payment plans
You may be able to spread the cost of hospital treatment using the patient funding platform TLC. If you choose this payment option, your plan will need to be in place five business days prior to your admission.
TLC (Total Lifestyle Credit) is a third-party that can provide loans for medical fees from $2,000 to $50,000. This can include specialist doctor, anaesthetist, hospital, after-care and pharmaceutical fees.
Interest and limits apply. TLC will discuss your eligibility based on employment and Centrelink status. Insured and self-funded patients may apply.
Hospital costs without insurance
To get an estimate of private hospital fees for self-funded surgery or treatment at a St John of God Health Care hospital please complete the form below.
You can also contact our team by telephone on 1300 940 199.
FAQs about self-funded care
Here are some answers to common questions about self-funding medical or surgical care in a private hospital.
Every patient is different but some of the costs involved with treatment in hospital may include:
- the surgeon, surgical assistant, and anaesthetist fees
- general hospital costs (inclusive of nursing care, theatre, accommodation, and any other incidentals)
- medications
- blood tests and diagnostic imaging (x-rays and scans).
You may need to request separate estimates for each of these costs, and make separate payments.
If you hold a valid Medicare card, you may also be entitled to claim some money back for medical, pathology and imaging bills. Your specialist and the hospital admissions team will advise before treatment if you are eligible to claim.
There may be some circumstances where the cost of your treatment and care is different to the amount you were estimated and paid up-front prior to admission. This could occur if your needs change during surgery or if you require additional or less time in hospital to recover.
We will outline all expected and potential costs prior to admission. Any additional costs will be discussed with you, including the reasons these costs were incurred and the options for payment. Any adjustments or refunds will be processed after your discharge.
Many specialist doctors offer a self-funding option for patients who don't have health insurance, but it is best to confirm this when you make your initial appointment with your doctor.
You can search for a doctor who treats self-funded patients on our Find A Specialist service – simply check the ‘treats self-funded patients’ box under ‘more options’. Search now.
You may be interested in...