In most cases the fee for your anaesthetic will be higher than the rebate available from Medicare and your health fund. The difference between the combined rebate from Medicare and the fund, and the total fee charged is called ‘the gap’(see diagram). This is the part of the fee you will be required to pay yourself, sometimes refered to as your ‘out-of-pocket expense’.

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) and the Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) prepare a list of medical services and recommended maximum fees for private patient anaesthetic services and index this each year. These fees are carefully calculated using the AMA’s Medical Fees Index, to reflect the actual dollar value of the services provided. The fee charged to you is somewhere between the Medicare and fund rebate and the full AMA fee. If you receive a pension, a reduced fee is charged in many cases.

The rebates that you receive from Medicare and your Health Fund represent approximately 30% of the recommended maximum AMA fee. The amount that these rebates contribute to your bill will vary depending on the nature and duration of your surgery, the rebate policy of your Health fund and your anaesthetist’s billing policy. In most cases the rebate contribution will be greater than 30%. Medicare Schedule rebates for anaesthesia are the lowest for any medical specialist group.

Please use the ‘FEES ESTIMATE’ tab on the home page to receive an estimate of your anaesthetic fee for your procedure. If you have any questions please use ‘ASK A QUESTION’ tab on the home page. You will receive an estimate of ‘the gap’ which in most cases will only vary if the procedure is unduly prolonged or additional procedures are performed. Each anaesthetist within Macquarie Anaesthetics determines their own fees and is operating as an independent practitioner.

After you leave hospital you will be sent an invoice for the total fee. Please pay the total fee by cheque or credit card and a receipt will be sent to you. Send this receipt to your health fund and Medicare to claim your rebates. ( In some cases, it will be important to take the receipt to the health fund first to collect a higher rebate.)