Medical Questions » Doctors Questions » Question No. 278
| Question: | Is it necessary to have private hospital insurance with Medicare paying all the bills? |
| Answer: | Medicare pays a percentage of all doctors bills, including specialists, x-ray and pathology, and pays the state government part of the cost of maintaining the public hospital scheme. Medicare does not cover any of the cost of a bed in a private hospital, or an intermediate bed in a public hospital which can be $600 a day for a bed, plus theatre fees ($250-$800) and dressing fees.
Unfortunately, many people have dropped private health insurance, and this means that they cannot afford to go privately. This puts an additional burden on the public hospitals, leading to long waiting lists for routine operations and procedures. The waiting time for a hernia repair may be several months, and then the operation is done at a time chosen by the hospital, by a doctor chosen by the hospital, and a medical student may be the assistant.
If you can afford private insurance it is well worthwhile as it will allow you to have an operation or medical treatment performed by your doctor in a hospital of your choice when it is convenient for you. You should obtain a brochure from a health insurance office, a chemist or your doctor' s surgery so that you can consider your options.
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