Private Patients
At Osborne Park Hospital (OPH), we are committed to providing a high standard of care and treatment to every patient.
Patients with appropriate private health insurance can take the opportunity to make their stay in hospital a little more comfortable.
With appropriate private health cover, a patient will have no out-of-pocket expenses for their hospital stay and procedures (e.g. hospital accommodation, prosthetics, pathology, radiology, theatre fees).
Opting to use your private health insurance provides some direct benefits to you and helps our hospital too.
Patients admitted to OPH as a PRIVATE inpatient for care under a medical team (Rehabilitation/Acute/Geriatric Management) are guaranteed no out-of-pocket expenses. The hospital absorbs any excess or gap payments your health fund may stipulate as part of your cover. Using your private health insurance greatly benefits our hospital to fund research, maintain existing services, and supply medical and nursing staff.
Benefits
It is important to remember that all patients receive the same quality of treatment and range of services, whether private or public. However, there are additional benefits that patients can enjoy by using their private health insurance.
Complimentary Amenities
To thank you for choosing to use your private health insurance, you will be offered some complimentary amenities:
- Free access to our TV entertainment system.
- Meals for your visitors (one per day).
- Toiletry pack on arrival.
- Daily newspaper.
- Credit towards telephone calls.
Patients admitted for surgical procedures can also choose to use their private insurance, however, some surgeons and anaesthetists may charge an out-of-pocket expense. If you do not wish to pay anything out-of-pocket, you may choose to be treated publicly. Patients can check with the Private Patient Liaison Office (PPLO) team to determine whether there is likely to be a ‘gap’ payment required for a booked procedure.
For more information about your level of health fund coverage, and for advice about using your private health insurance at OPH, please call or email our Private Patient Liaison Officer.
What are the benefits of being admitted as a private patient?
For you
- Access to the State’s leading doctors, specialists, and equipment.
- 24/7 access to appropriate medical support, services and emergency treatment.
- No out-of-pocket expenses for your hospital stay and procedures[1], even if you have an excess or co-payment on your policy[2].
To thank you for choosing to use your private health insurance, you will be offered a range of amenities to make your stay more comfortable. These include:
- free daily newspaper
- television rental
- meal vouchers for your visitors
- toiletries pamper pack.
As a private patient you may request a single room for your admission, and we will record your room preference.
Single room accommodation cannot be guaranteed, as the clinical needs of all our patients take priority. If a suitable single room is available for your stay, we will do our best to ensure that one is available to you.
For the hospital
Your private health insurance helps us to ensure that our hospital has the resources to continue to attract and retain the State’s leading doctors, specialists, nursing and allied health staff, and can continue to provide our patients with the highest quality care in a safe and caring environment.
[1] Hospital accommodation, prosthetics, pathology, radiology, ICU, theatre fees, pharmaceuticals, etc.
[2] Your specialist doctor / consultant will provide medical care at no out-of-pocket expense unless he or she advises you differently. You should discuss the cost directly with your specialist.
When can I choose to use my private health insurance?
You can make a decision to be treated as a private patient either before, or at any time during your stay. Please ask to see a Private Patient Liaison Officer who will be able to answer all your queries and change your admission to private.
What if my private health insurance only provides basic hospital cover?
Basic hospital cover still entitles you to admit as a private patient at our hospital. Your health fund policy may have some exclusions for certain services (for example, cardiac, orthopaedic, obstetric).
Our Private Patient Liaison Officers will be able to assist you to determine the type of cover you have, and whether your cover applies to the specialist care you will receive in our hospital.
Elective surgery admissions
If you use your private health insurance, you will be able to choose the doctor who provides 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 while you are in the hospital after your treatment has commenced.
There are no out-of-pocket expenses, gap or health fund excess payments for treatment received or your stay in hospital.
For further information about being treated as a private patient, contact the Private Patient Liaison Officer.
Private Patient Liaison Officer
Tel: (08) 6457 8709
Email: OPH.PPLO@health.wa.gov.au