Your choices as an admitted patient

If you are an Australian with a Medicare Card, you can choose to come to hospital as a public or private patient.

If you choose to come in as private patient and do not have private health insurance, you will need to cover the cost.

As a private patient:

  • You may be able to choose your doctor
  • You will have the excess from your private health insurance waived
  • You may need to pay for medical and hospital services, such as Surgeons or Anaesthetists
  • If a single room is available and you are covered for it with your insurance, you will be given priority.

As a private patient coming through Prince of Wales Public Hospital Emergency Department you will be offered the option of being treated under our ‘No Gap’ billing arrangement. This means you:

  • Have the private health insurance excess applicable to your admission waived
  • Have no extra costs or out-of-pocket expenses for your clinical care
  • Will be admitted under an appointed specialist and their team.

By choosing to use your private health insurance you help us maintain accessible, high quality services.

As a public patient:

  • You must present your Medicare Card
  • You will be treated by a team of doctors nominated by the hospital and you will not be charged personally for medical or hospital services (except for the hire of some equipment)
  • No guarantee would be given that a procedure will be performed by a particular doctor.

See our brochure on your choices as an admitted patient. We also have information in:

Arabic Chinese Simplified Chinese Traditional Filipino Greek
Italian Greek Korean Spanish Vietnamese

For more information about using your private health insurance please contact our Patient Liaison Officers on 02 9382 3952 or SESLHD-PatientLiaison@health.nsw.gov.au

Workers Compensation

If you are admitted under workers compensation then your costs are covered by your insurer. Please bring your claim number and insurance details with you when you come to hospital.

Motor Vehicle Accident Claims

If you are admitted as a result of a motor vehicle claim then please print out and bring with you the relevant form from the State Insurance Regulatory Authority.

Public Liability and Compensation Claims

If you are admitted under a Public Liability or Compensation Claim then bring the contact details of your Solicitor when you come to hospital.

Mesothelioma Claims

If you are admitted under a Mesothelioma claim then please bring your ‘Letter of approval’ from the Dust Diseases Board.

You will need to pay for services if you are visiting from overseas and there is no reciprocal health care agreement with the country where you are a resident. You will be charged for each medical consultation and if you need to be admitted to hospital, you may receive additional invoices from services if they are used by you e.g. surgeon, anaesthetist, prosthetics, accommodation, physiotherapists, nurses, pathology, diagnostic tests and any equipment used or provided.

You will be required to provide your:

  • passport and visa as proof of identification
  • home address
  • email address.

The service you receive will be limited to medically necessary care unless you are able to provide one of the following:

  • Valid credit card details
  • A bank cheque to cover the estimated cost of your treatment
  • A personal guarantee from an Australian Citizen whose identity is verifiable
  • An authorised payment plan

More information about costs is in our brochure.

If you are seeking asylum in Australia, you can use NSW public hospitals free of charge. Please bring to the hospital a document that shows you are seeking asylum and inform our staff.

More information in your language:

If you have any questions about being a public or private patient or payments please contact our Patient Liaison Officers on 02 9382 9055 or 02 9382 9976. Or email: SESLHD-PatientLiaison@health.nsw.gov.au