Fees and how to pay

Please contact your doctor’s office should you have a question regarding doctor fees.

It is your right to ask for information in writing regarding a doctors professional fees before you receive any service or agree to a proposed treatment.

Additional fees may include surgeon fees, surgical assistants, anaesthetists, medical services, imaging and other specialists.

Both Medicare and private health insurance contribute to anaesthesia costs. Contact your anaesthetist to get an estimate of fees and your relevant MBS item numbers.

As coverage for anaesthetist fees will vary according to your health fund policy, please get in touch with your provider and quote the fee estimate your anaesthetist has provided to you and the relevant MBS item numbers in order to receive an accurate estimate of the cost your fund will cover.

This covers the cost of your accommodation while you are in hospital. The fees include non-medical services, such as catering and housekeeping. It may also include fees for the use of an operating theatre or other hospital facilities while you are in hospital. It is not always possible to predict what the fees will be as an unexpected surgery or referral may be necessary.

Your hospital fee is generally covered by your health fund, with the exception of excesses, co-payments and exclusions associated with your level of insurance cover.

From Tuesday, 9 November 2021, Epworth will be introducing a surcharge on patient payments (e.g. ED fees, private hospital excess). This will apply to credit and debit card payments.

See below, for rates to be applied:

• EFTPOS (savings account – where card is inserted at terminal): No surcharge
• VISA / MASTERCARD DEBIT (Paypass or tap): 0.5%
• VISA / MASTERCARD CREDIT: 1.0%
• Amex: 1.4%
• Other: 1.65%

The surcharge may not be incurred in certain areas within our sites (e.g. various cafés) as these are separate businesses to Epworth.

Epworth Geelong - Emergency Department fees

Initial consultation fees

All private emergency departments will charge a flat fee for your treatment that is not claimable under Medicare or private health insurance.

Epworth Geelong charges a flat fee of $240 for an initial patient consultation.

Out-of-pocket expenses

Depending on your treatment, you may also incur out-of-pocket pathology or radiology costs on top of initial consultation fees. A portion of these may be claimable under Medicare.

Fees for international patients

International patients who don’t hold a valid Medicare card will incur higher fees, an initial consultation fee of $460 applies to all international patients.

Other associated fees must be paid up front.

Please contact us for more information.

Epworth Richmond - Emergency Department fees

Epworth Richmond

Epworth Richmond charges a flat fee of $400 per patient. This out-of-pocket fee is not claimable under Medicare or private health insurance.

Depending on your treatment, you may also incur pathology or radiology costs which are on top of the out-of-pocket fee. If you hold a Medicare card, a portion of these will be claimable under Medicare.

International patients

International patients who do not hold a valid Medicare card will incur higher fees and will have to pay associated fees up front.

The initial consultation fee for international patients is $500.

From Tuesday, 9 November 2021, Epworth will be introducing a surcharge on all patient payments, including Emergency Department fees. This will apply to credit and debit card payments.

You will be contacted by the hospital prior to your admission to inform you of any estimated out-of-pocket expenses that may apply to you. This may include excesses, co-payments and additional costs. All out-of-pocket expenses are required to be paid prior to or on your admission.

Please remember to bring a form of payment with you upon your admission.

Epworth accepts Visa, MasterCard, cash, bank cheques and EFTPOS. (NB: a surcharge on card payments may apply)

We do not accept American Express, Diners Card or personal cheques. We do, however, accept American Express at some sites. If paying by card, please ensure any daily or transactional withdrawal limits are sufficient to settle your account.

You can submit an Account enquiry online, contact one of our friendly patient service teams who can answer any further queries you may have:

Epworth Eastern and Eastern Kew

Phone: 03 8807 7772
Email: [email protected]

Epworth Freemasons

Phone: 1800 337 453
Email: [email protected]

Epworth Hawthorn

Phone: 03 9415 5720
Email: [email protected]

Epworth Richmond

Phone: 03 9426 8844
Email: [email protected]