Private patients

What to expect

When you tell us you have private health insurance, one of our friendly and helpful Patient Liaison Officers will meet with you to ensure that you are fully covered for your admission, answer any questions and ensure that all documentation related to your stay is complete.

Why do we encourage our patients to use their private health insurance?

You pay for your private health insurance and are entitled to use it to be treated as a private patient for any hospital admission.

Your decision to be admitted as a private patient allows us to bill your health fund. This is an important source of revenue that goes directly to our hospital. We could not deliver our current level of services without this type of support.

As a private patient, you are entitled to:

• personalised treatment by specialist doctors
• private patient incentives

We appreciate and welcome you using your private health insurance at The Royal Melbourne, as we strive to work hard to deliver quality health services to meet the increasing demands of a growing community and implement a range of programs designed to improve access to quality care.

By using your private health insurance, you are actually helping The Royal Melbourne create a healthier community.

What are the benefits to me as a private patient in a public hospital?

The Royal Melbourne is committed to providing a high standard of care and treatment to every patient. Patients with private health insurance have the choice to be treated as either a public or private patient.

Regardless of financial status, all patients receive the same quality of treatment and range of services. However, there are additional comforts for patients choosing to use their private health insurance, including:

• No out of pocket costs
• We waive your hospital excess
• Free television rental and WiFi
• Subsidised parking
• Single rooms are available for isolation of patients with sever infections, therefore you will not be in a single room
• The ability to choose an RMH specialist to treat you, providing the consultant agrees to accept you as a private patient and has the clinical privilege to practice at our hospital
• Continuity of care throughout your hospital stay by the specialist, their medical team and with other consultants your specialist may choose to assist in your care
• Your aftercare will be continued in our Outpatient clinics (as a public patient under the relevant specialty team), or your specialist’s private consulting rooms if suitable; or you will be referred to your local general practitioner
• Access to the Private Patient Liaison team to assist with any concerns you may have relating to your hospital stay and liaise directly with your health fund on your behalf.

As a private patient you are treated personally by an experienced specialist consultant. If you require surgery, this will be performed by your specialist surgeon, and the anaesthetic will be administered by a specialist anaesthetist unless there are exceptional circumstances.

As a private patient, you can request a single room. We trust you understand that priority is given to patients according to medically-assessed special needs. If you are covered for a single room and have requested to be accommodated in one, we will try to do just that.

What does my private health insurance cover?

Your private health insurance covers:

• Your hospital accommodation
• Prosthetics
• Specialist and surgical costs
• Anaesthetic costs
• Pathology and medical imaging costs

If you are unsure about your level of cover or whether you are fully covered, our friendly Patient Liaison Officers can clarify this with you prior to any decisions made.

What is not covered by my private health insurance?

Associated charges related to discharge medication and/or aids and appliances.

These charges are applicable regardless of whether you are a public or private patient.

When to tell us you want to use private health insurance

To be admitted as a private patient or if you require any further information about using your insurance, contact our friendly Patient Liaison Officers.