Key points
- Out of pocket expenses can occur when there is a “gap” between the Australian Government’s set schedule of fees and the cost charged by a hospital, day surgery or specialist.
- Australian Unity's Gap Cover scheme can reduce or remove your out-of-pocket expenses for hospital treatment.
- Australian Unity has partnered with HealthShare, to enable our members and their GPs to search for doctors listed as being registered under Australian Unity’s Gap Cover Scheme.
A hospital visit that unexpectedly incurs hundreds or even thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket fees can really hurt. Undergoing surgery can be stressful enough without the added anxiety of financial pressure. But there are some ways you can decrease the chances of being hit with an unexpected gap-fee after medical treatment.
Firstly, why do out-of-pocket expenses happen anyway?
The Australian Government sets a schedule of fees (known as the Medicare Benefits Schedule, or MBS) for treatments performed by doctors in a hospital or day surgery facility. Medicare covers you for 75% of the MBS fee and private health insurers are required to pay (at a minimum) the remaining 25%.
A “gap” can occur for treatment in a hospital or day surgery facility if your doctor or specialist charges more than the MBS fee. Any amount that isn’t covered by Medicare or your health fund comes out of your pocket.
You can reduce (or avoid) out of pocket costs by choosing a hospital (or combined) treatment policy that offers access to a gap cover scheme. Such schemes can provide access to a list of all participating doctors and specialists, so that you can choose to be treated by someone who has agreed to, in certain instances, charge either no gap or else a known low gap payment.
Australian Unity’s Gap Cover scheme for hospital treatment
Australian Unity's Gap Cover scheme can reduce or remove your out-of-pocket expenses for hospital treatment.
As part of the scheme, we set our own schedule of fees, which is generally higher than the Medicare Benefits Schedule. This means that when you received treatment from a registered doctor or specialist (who has agreed to participate in Australian Unity's Gap Cover scheme), we can pay some, if not all, of the gap.
Gap Cover schemes are available with doctors who treat private patients in hospitals or day surgeries, but you should be aware that they are also free to participate in the scheme on a patient-by-patient basis.
If Gap Cover won’t fully cover your participating doctor’s fees, your doctor must tell you how much you’ll have to pay in writing before treatment can begin. This is called Informed Financial Consent.
You should always ask your doctor if they will participate in the Australian Unity Gap Cover scheme for your treatment prior to undergoing treatment.
Not all covers have Gap Cover, so to check your eligibility, please review your Product Fact Sheet or contact Australian Unity on 1300 724 018.
Note that Gap Cover only applies to the treatment of eligible illnesses or conditions that are listed as covered under your health insurance policy.
Find a Gap Cover Doctor
Australian Unity has partnered with HealthShare, a digital health platform that enables our members and their GPs to search for doctors listed as being registered under Australian Unity’s Gap Cover Scheme.
Remember that Gap Cover doctors listed on the HealthShare platform are still free to participate in Australian Unity’s Gap Cover Scheme on a patient-by-patient basis.
Members and their GPs can search the HealthShare directory by specialty, name, hospital, suburb or postcode.
What about extras?
Extras cover can help you get money back on common health treatments that aren’t generally covered by Medicare. This could be considered a budgeting tool that helps reduce the cost of ongoing healthcare needs—like dental, optical and physio—over the course of the year.
You’ll get either a percentage of the cost back, or a set dollar amount, on included Extras every time you claim, until you reach your yearly limit. Therefore, you only pay the difference between what you get back from Australian Unity and the cost set by your provider.
How to get more out of your extras
Having extras included in your cover can help to promote good health, because you’re actively encouraged to attend check-ups. Accessing these services on a regular basis means that any symptoms or issues that could potentially lead to a bigger problem are spotted early and, if needed, treated immediately.
Make sure you annually check your policy and what extras or preventative services you are eligible for. Depending on your level of cover, you may be able to claim or access a wide range of rewards, discounts, programs and services designed to help you get healthy and stay healthy.
It also helps to know your limits and when they reset. Annual extras limits are reset on 1 January every year. So, when it’s getting close to the end of the year, check your limits to see how much you have left to use.
Disclaimer: Information provided in this article is not medical advice and you should consult with your healthcare practitioner. Australian Unity accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any of the opinions, advice, representations or information contained in this publication. Readers should rely on their own advice and enquiries in making decisions affecting their own health, wellbeing or interest. Interviewee names and titles were accurate at the time of writing.
