Choosing to be a private patient

• A private patient with appropriate hospital cover has no out-of-pocket expenses for their hospital accommodation and any pharmaceutical, pathology or radiology
  (X-Ray) services.
• Your ambulance costs will be covered if you are transferred to another public hospital.
• If your health fund has an excess, the hospital will cover the amount to $500.
• You should not receive any bills. If you do happen to receive a bill, please forward to the hospital for processing.

You can advise the Nurse or admissions clerk if you would like to use your private health insurance.

 

Urgent Care Clinic or Medical Centre Admission

If you are admitted as a private patient via the Urgent Care Clinic or the Medical Centre, you will not be charged for your hospital stay and procedures.  You can advise the Nurse or Admissions Clerk if you would like to use your private health insurance.

 

Elective Surgery admission

If you use your private health insurance, you will be able to choose the doctor who will provide your treatment in most cases. However, there may be instances where your preferred doctor is unavailable and another suitably qualified doctor will provide your treatment.

The specialist doctor you have chosen will provide medical care at no out of pocket expense unless he or she advises you differently. You should discuss any potential medical service charges directly with your doctor.

As an elective surgery patient you can opt to use your private health insurance at any stage during your admission process – from the time you are referred through to the day you are admitted to the hospital, and in some cases when you are in the hospital after your treatment has commenced.

 

Private rooms

As a private patient you may request a single room. However, we cannot guarantee single room availability at the time of your admission, as priority is given to patients according to medically-assessed needs. Accommodation is usually on a shared basis – two beds to a room. All of our beds have access to television and telephone facilities.

 

Options at SGH

Before you are admitted you will be asked to make a decision regarding your admission classification for your stay as a:

• Public patient
• Private patient
• Veterans’ Affairs patient
• Overseas visitor

Patients with private health insurance can choose to be treated as either a public or private patient.