Fees & Payment

The Anaesthetic Fee

A fee will be charged for your anaesthesia services. The fee for your anaesthesia is separate from the fees

  • charged by any other doctors caring for you. 
  • charged by the institution (hospital, day surgery facility, endoscopy centre etc) where the service takes place.


If you have concerns about this estimated fee you should discuss them with your anaesthetist prior to your anaesthesia.


Fee Rates

Fees charged for an anaesthetic service are set by each individual anaesthetist as required by law and are based on the recommendations of The Australian Society Of Anaesthetists and The Australian Medical Association.


Your anaesthesia fees will vary depending:

  1. the complexity of the operation you are having
  2. the duration of your operation
  3. the need for specialised anaesthetic techniques or monitoring
  4. the state of your health and your age


Because your anaesthesia fee will vary depending on how long your anaesthesia service takes, it is not generally possible to give a definite cost prior to your anaesthetic. However, an estimate based on the anticipated time for your anaesthesia service can be obtained by emailing or phoning us. Our practice managers will be happy to give you an estimate.


Payment

Often there is an insurance shortfall or 'gap' amount between the anaesthesia fee and any rebates paid by Medicare and private health funds. This gap is due to the fact that the amounts refunded under Medicare for anaesthetic services fall well below the actual value of the service as defined by the Australian Medical Association and the Australian Society of Anaesthetists. 


It is your responsibility to pay to your anaesthetist any gap amount, in addition to your Medicare and private health fund rebates.


Medicare Rebate

Where you are able to claim a rebate from Medicare for your anaesthesia services, in most cases it will cover only part of your anaesthesia fee. 


Private Insurance

If you have private health insurance, then you may be able to claim an additional rebate from your private health fund for part of your anaesthesia fee. We want you to be fully informed of the financial implications of your anaesthetic and ask that you seek advice and an estimate as soon as possible.