Billing Enquiries
To help you prepare for your upcoming procedure, we have provided information about anaesthetic fees, how they are calculated, and what rebates may be available through Medicare and your private health fund.
Anaesthetic fees are separate from the fees charged by your surgeon, hospital, or other healthcare providers. Your anaesthetist’s fee reflects the care provided before, during, and after your procedure, including planning your anaesthetic, monitoring you throughout your procedure, and supporting your safe recovery.
There may be an out-of-pocket cost, sometimes referred to as a gap payment. This is the difference between the anaesthetic fee and the rebate paid by Medicare and/or your private health fund.
How are anaesthetic fees calculated?
Anaesthetic fees are generally calculated using a unit-based system.
The number of anaesthetic units depends on the complexity and duration of your procedure. These units are then multiplied by a dollar value per unit, which is determined by your anaesthetist.
Professional bodies such as the Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) and the Australian Medical Association (AMA) publish recommended fee guidance. Your anaesthetist’s fee may be based on these recommendations, but the final fee is determined by your individual anaesthetist.
What factors affect the anaesthetic fee?
Anaesthetic fees vary depending on your procedure and the level of anaesthetic care required.
Factors that may impact the fee include:
Your age
Your health
The type of surgery being performed
The duration of the surgery
The need for pain-relieving nerve blocks or complex invasive monitoring
Whether the procedure is an emergency or performed after hours
In general, longer or more complex procedures may attract a higher anaesthetic fee because they require more time, planning, monitoring, and clinical care.
Can I receive an estimate before my procedure?
Yes. If you would like to understand the likely anaesthetic fee before your procedure, please contact our rooms.
Where possible, we can provide an estimate based on the information available to us about your planned procedure.
Please note that this is an estimate only. The final fee may vary if the procedure changes, takes longer than expected, becomes more complex, or requires additional anaesthetic services such as nerve blocks, invasive monitoring, or after-hours emergency care.
If you have any concerns about your estimate or your ability to pay, please contact our rooms before your procedure so we can discuss your options.
Can I receive a rebate for my anaesthetic?
You may be eligible to receive a rebate for your anaesthetic through Medicare.
If you have private health insurance, you may also receive an additional rebate from your health fund. The amount refunded can vary significantly depending on your insurer, your level of cover, and your individual policy.
We recommend contacting your private health fund before your procedure to confirm:
Whether anaesthesia is covered under your policy
What rebate you may receive
Whether you are likely to have an out-of-pocket cost
Whether any excesses, exclusions, or waiting periods apply
There is often a gap between the anaesthetic fee and the rebate paid by Medicare and your private health fund. Any remaining gap payment is your responsibility to pay.
Understanding out-of-pocket costs
An out-of-pocket cost is the amount remaining after any Medicare and private health fund rebates have been applied.
This amount can vary between patients, even for similar procedures, because rebates depend on your health fund and your individual policy.
Your anaesthetist does not control the amount refunded by Medicare or your private health fund. If you are unsure what your fund will pay, it is best to contact them directly before your procedure.
Questions about your bill?
If you have questions about your anaesthetic fee, estimate, rebate, or payment options, please contact our reception team.
Sunshine Coast Anaesthetic Group
Phone: (07) 5493 4383
Our team can help explain your account and direct you to the right information.
