When you are admitted to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital you can elect to be treated as a private or public patient.

Being treated as a public patient

Public patients, who are eligible for Medicare are not required to pay for their stay in hospital.  There may be other costs incurred by public patients including;

• Discharge medications.
• If you are admitted for more than 35 days and are not an acute patient, you will need to pay a daily contribution.

Being treated as a private patient

Private patients can be treated by a doctor of their choice, provided that doctor has a right to private practice at the hospital.

Workers compensation, veterans’ affairs and Defence Force patients will have their hospital expenses covered by these third party providers.

When a patient elects to be treated as a private patient, they are provided information about any potential costs at or as soon as possible after admission.

Health insurance

Patients admitted to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital are given the choice to elect to be treated as a private patient, and use their private hospital insurance to pay for the admission.

Hospital Patient Options Liaison Officers assist patients in determining the level of cover provided in their health insurance, including costs of care cover such as hospital accommodation, medical and diagnostic services and the services provided by your doctor and other medical specialists, such as anaesthetists.

When electing to use private health insurance, you may not be required to pay an excess or co-payment if this applies to your health insurance policy, however if you are transferred to a private hospital on the same day of admission any excess or co-payment discounts may not apply.

If you are admitted privately from your specialist’s rooms, excess and co-payments are applicable for this type of planned private admission. Hospital staff will contact you prior to admission to provide an estimate of costs.

Benefits of using your private insurance

In many cases you are able to choose your doctor (excluding obstetrics) to treat you as long as your doctor of choice has the right to practice at the hospital and agrees to treat you.  Otherwise you will be provided with a specialist at the hospital who will treat you.  You can request a single room if your health fund policy covers this however please be aware that while private patients are treated in Queensland Health hospitals, a single room is not guaranteed. We always prioritise singles rooms for very ill or infectious patients.

Making the decision

Personal advice on your health insurance coverage should initially be sought from your health insurance fund. Further advice on the use of private insurance, workers compensation, veteran’s affairs, third party, interstate and overseas coverage in this hospital can be obtained by contacting the Patient Options Liaison Officers.

Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
Phone:  (07) 3646 4026
Email: POLORBWH@health.qld.gov.au

Medication costs

You can pay your medication bill online, in person or by mail.