Our Fee Policy
About Private Care
The cost of private medical care is a significant consideration in your choice of care. Benefits of private care include:
- your choice of specialist and ongoing one on one care with that specialist both before and after surgery
- surgery by the specialist
- shorter waiting times to be seen by the specialist
- shorter waiting times for surgery
- more choice of timing for surgery
- usually less delays with appointment times
Billing Types
Surgery in the private sector can be performed with
- private health insurance
- DVA
- return to work SA
- Uninsured and self funded surgery
Fee Estimates
Dr Graff offers informed financial consent to all patients prior to surgery. This is a pre-treatment estimate of your surgical costs.
While fees charged may depend on the specific course of treatment, Dr Graff’s fees are in line with or less than the Australian Medical Association recommended fee schedule. This means in most instances there will be a ‘gap’ between our surgical fee and what is covered by Medicare and your health insurance fund.
If there is a any problem with either the fee estimate or any other billing issue, it is important that you ask our staff. They can help you navigate what can be a complex process by either advising and helping to explain the charges and rebate structure.
All Fee Categories
Our practice fees for either Consulting or Surgery may sometimes only be part of your treatment cost.
Other possible fees or disbursements involved in your care are dependant on which course of action is chosen for your treatment. You may need to also check with your health fund to see what is covered for additional areas of service. Potential fee categories to be sure of can include:
- Hospital Fees,
- Anaesthetists Fees,
- Diagnostic Tests (Radiology, Pathology), and
- Post-Operative Care.
Payment Policy
About Our Payment Policy
Our reception staff will be happy to advise you of the consultation fee upon booking an appointment over the telephone. Fees for consultation along with other necessary forms will also be sent to you for your convenience upon booking an appointment.
To receive a Medicare rebate, you will need a valid referral from a general practitioner or specialist doctor. A general practioner referral lasts 12 months, and a specialist referral lasts 3 months.
Without a valid referral, you will not obtain a Medicare rebate. Our reception staff will discuss this with you at the time of booking the appointment.
Medicare does not completely cover the cost of your consultation. There will be a gap for the consultation fee. Fees for consultation will be sent to you at the time of booking your appointment.
Surgical fees are billed directly to the Health Insurance Providers by Dr Graff’s team. Often there are additional fees for out-of pocket co-payments, these amounts may vary depending on the payment type and the complexity of your surgery or procedure. Patients will be advised, in writing, after the consultation, with a fee estimate and the amount of any gap payment
How to Pay
Payment will be expected on the day of the appointment. Dr Graff’s reception team may contact you for payment prior to the appointment in exceptional circumstances.
