Patients who do not have a valid a Medicare card (called Medicare ineligible patients) are generally responsible for all costs associated with their treatment at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Medicare ineligible patients, unless they are an asylum seeker or covered by a reciprocal agreement, must have adequate health insurance or finances to cover the full cost of their treatment. Patients with private health insurance can choose to be admitted as a private patient and use their health fund to cover costs.
Invoices for elective (planned) surgeries must be settled before patients can book the procedure.
Visitors or new arrivals to Australia
There are some instances where people without a Medicare card can receive free treatment, such as:
If you are a visitor to Australia without a valid Medicare card and are not from a country with reciprocal rights or an asylum seeker, you are not eligible for free treatment under Medicare either as a planned (elective) or emergency patient.
Patients are responsible for the payment of all expenses and fees associated with their treatment, such as:
- medical and diagnostic fees
- hospital stay
- prosthetic and pharmaceutical costs
- ambulance fees
Holders of travel insurance may be able to lodge a claim for their costs through their travel insurance company after making payment.
How to access treatment as a visitor
If you need to access services at the RMH, you will be asked to provide the following:
- Your passport and visa status (documentation and date of entry validation)
- Contact information during your stay in Australia
- Overseas residential address and contact details
- Relevant health insurance policy details
Depending on your visa classification type, you must have adequate and appropriate health insurance cover for the duration of your stay in Australia.
When is payment due
If you do not have private health insurance that covers your treatment, you will need to pay the full estimate of your account on or before the day of admission.
Fees for additional or unplanned services are payable on or after the day of your discharge.
While every effort is made to provide an accurate estimate of expenses, additional costs are sometimes incurred.
This may be due to:
- variations in proposed treatment, procedure, prosthesis, or length of stay
- sundry charges such as medicines and take home items like walking aids
Any balance outstanding is payable before or on discharge from the hospital.
How to pay for your treatment
We accept major credit cards, cheque, and cash, EFTPOS or direct bank deposit. Be aware that many banks have a daily limit of cash withdrawal.
You will need to sign a copy of the estimate of financial expenses to acknowledge that you have received and understand the estimate, and that you agree to pay for any unforeseen charges.
Fees and charges for care
Emergency fees
| Service | Cost |
| Emergency attendance per visit (payable upfront) | $690 |
Inpatient ward fees
| Service | Cost |
| Same day bed fee, including short stay (per day) | $1,800 |
| Overnight bed fee - Medical | $2,150 |
| Overnight bed fee - Surgical | $2,050 |
| Overnight bed fee - Advanced surgical | $2,650 |
| Overnight bed fee - Coronary Care Unit | $3,800 |
| Overnight bed fee - Intensive Care Unit | $8,380 |
| Overnight bed fee - Rehabilitation | $1,850 |
| Overnight bed fee - Psychiatric | $2,250 |
| Overnight bed fee - Subacute | $1,600 |
| Hospital in the Home (per day) | $700 |
| Theatre fees | Per theatre banding |
| Prosthesis | Full cost recovery |
| Procedures | Per surgeon |
| Inpatient Specialist Consultations | 150% of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) |
| Interpreter fees (less than 2 hours) | $170 |
Specialist clinic (outpatient) fees
| Service | Cost |
| Specialist clinic (per consultation) | $480 |
| Allied health clinic (per consultation) | $300 |
Diagnostics
| Service | Cost |
| Radiology and pathology | 150% of the CMBS |