4 secrets to keeping your hospital costs down

A woman signing some documents held out by another wearing scrubs

Tips to keep your out-of-pocket expenses down

29 September 2017 3 minute read

Nobody likes paying big bills, especially when they include costs you could have avoided. When it comes to health care, there are definitely things you can do to make sure you're paying for the great quality care you need – and not a cent more.

To start with, you need to understand your policy – what it covers and what it doesn't. At nib, we believe that knowing what is and isn’t covered should be simple. With that in mind, here are a few tips to keep your out-of-pocket expenses down.

1. Know your out-of-pocket expenses

If they want to, specialists, pathologists and radiologists can charge more than the amount that Government deems as an ‘appropriate fee’ for their service. This ‘appropriate fee’ is called the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fee and the excess that a specialist or surgeon charges isn’t covered by Medicare. That means it may have to be paid out of your own pocket – it’s called a ‘gap’ or ‘out-of-pockets’ (learn more about the MBS here). It’s always a good idea to request a written estimate of the out-of-pocket expenses from your specialist before agreeing to a procedure, however if you’d like some guidance, you can call 13 16 42 or login to Online Services and we can give you information on the procedure’s average out-of-pockets. Just click on the ‘Going to Hospital’ link to get started.

Monopoly Community Chest featuring the Doctor's Fee card

2. Check waiting periods

If you want to be treated in a private hospital or as a private patient in a public hospital, and have recently joined nib or changed your cover, you should find out whether there's a waiting period before you can claim. There’s a two-month waiting period for most services and a 12-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions and pregnancy services. Log into Online Services or call nib on 13 16 42 to find out whether you need to serve any waiting periods.

3. Ask questions and do your homework

When you need to see a specialist, your GP will refer you and will order any tests you might need before you go. If you're concerned about how much it's going to cost, or aren't sure what you need, always ask for more information. Also, you don’t have to accept the specialist your GP is referring you to.

You can ask for an 'open referral' so you can go to a specialist you choose – a great option if you have friends or family who can recommend someone!

Don’t forget to call us on 13 16 42 before your specialist consultation; we may be able help you understand what the specialist charges on average for a procedure - including out of pocket expenses.

You can ask for an 'open referral' so you can go to a specialist you choose – a great option if you have friends or family who can recommend someone!

4. Take advantage of MediGap

Our MediGap Scheme is designed to reduce your hospital out-of-pocket costs. It's simple: we have a network of doctors, anaesthetists and specialists who may agree to charge us directly and ensure you don’t pay an out-of-pocket hospital expense. Before your procedure, ask your specialist whether they participate in the scheme. Alternatively, call us on 13 14 62 to check if your doctor is registered for our MediGap scheme and how frequently they participate.

Going to hospital?

If you’re an nib customer going to hospital, it’s important to get in touch with one of our experts to help you navigate through any out-of-pockets, waiting periods and annual limits. Call nib on 13 16 42 and head to our Going to Hospital page so we can support you through the journey.