Out of pocket costs and your private health insurance

[sucker]

Bupa silver + hospital cover -out of pocket expenses $3100 of $4500 bill (operation only) not including anaesthetist, tests, scans or specialist appointments etc.) for wife’s breast cancer surgery. Medicare $1000 approx. Bupa ‘Hospital cover’ $ 400. Yes …the room only, not the doctor or surgery. Be very careful what you think ‘hospital cover’ actually is. We were not prepared. Fair to say Bupa ‘Hosptial cover’ relies on your specialist being ‘signed up’ to the Bupa gap scheme. Even then there are still significant out of pocket expenses. Out of pocket tool - worth checking prior to any private hospital surgery … alternatively (preferable) choose another health insurance provider.