Questions for your specialist
Here are some questions that you should ask your specialist or treating doctor, so you know what to expect with any potential out-of-pocket costs.
- What are the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item numbers you’ll be using?
- Can you provide a written estimate of any costs and out-of-pocket costs (also known as Informed Financial Consent)?
- Will you participate in the Bupa Medical Gap Scheme?
- Do you know if other treating doctors (i.e. anaesthetist, assistant surgeon) will also participate in the Bupa Medical Gap Scheme?
- Which hospital will I be treated in? How long is the estimated stay?
- Will there be additional costs for radiology, pathology, or prostheses?
For more information, read our Five tips to reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
Before you contact us
So that we can personalise our conversation, it's best to have the following information from your specialist or treating doctor before you chat with us:
Date (or estimated date) for when are you’ll be admitted into hospital
Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item number(s)
We use the MBS item numbers to check that the procedure is included in your policy, so that you can be covered as a private patient.
The MBS fee is an amount set by the Federal Government for each medical service covered by Medicare. The fees charged by a specialist, surgeon, anaesthetist, or another specialist for any treatment given when you’re in hospital could be equal to, or more than the MBS fee. It’s best to talk to your doctor or specialist to understand if you might have any out-of-pocket costs for these item numbers, or ask them if they participate in the Bupa Medical Gap Scheme.
Which hospital you are (or might be) going to
Your doctor's/specialist's details
When you contact us
When you know more about your admission, contact us and we'll confirm:
- if you're covered for the procedure.
- if you need to pay an excess or co-payment.
- if you've served all your waiting periods.
- if the hospital is part of our network, and what that means for you.
- other questions to ask your treating doctor.
- How to claim after your procedure.
Quick answers to common questions
What is Informed Financial Consent?
Informed Financial Consent is written confirmation from your doctor or hospital about how much your treatment will cost, including any extra money you may have to pay out of your own pocket, commonly known as a "gap" payment.
You're entitled to ask your doctor and hospital for Informed Financial Consent before you receive any treatment.
This is different to a clinical consent form. The clinical consent form (for your consent to the procedure itself) comes with the hospital's Admission Information pack. In your hospital's Admission Information pack, you’ll have to fill out the clinical consent form. It'll mean you've been given accurate information that you clearly understand and that you agree to the procedure itself.