Your hospital journey
What do I need to do before a hospital admission?
If you haven’t already, start by visiting your doctor or GP. Your GP will begin the process of understanding what your health issue is, examining you and then running (or referring you for) diagnostic testing. They will then use all of this information to make decisions about your care. A GP acts as the coordinator of care if you are seeing multiple health practitioners for the same health issues.
If your GP has determined that next steps in your treatment are required, they may suggest you see a specialist. Your GP may recommend a specialist, or you can ask for a referral to a specialist of your choosing. Our find a provider tool can help you find a specialist.
Seeing a private specialist may help you get treatment sooner. If your specialist participates in GMHBA’s Access Gap Cover scheme, it may help to reduce the out-of-pocket costs for your inpatient medical treatment.
It’s important to know that you always have a choice in your care provider. If you’d like help understanding your cover, potential costs, or how your specialist works with GMHBA, you can contact us and we’ll talk you through your options.
To prepare for your upcoming specialist visit, you can:
Check your health insurance policy to confirm whether your procedure is covered. You can find this information in your fact sheet located in your member area or app. Your fact sheet provides a good overview but we do recommend contacting us for a full review so you clearly understand your cover and know what to ask your specialist for your individual circumstances.
Check you have served applicable waiting periods before booking your procedure. Waiting periods must be served in full in order for you to be covered for your procedure. Keep in mind a 12-month waiting period applies to hospital cover for pre-existing conditions. This applies to new members and to current members upgrading their hospital cover. The only exceptions are psychiatric, rehabilitation and palliative care, which have a 2-month waiting period.
It’s important to discuss with your specialist what your treatment or procedure will involve. They can provide a written estimate of costs (also known as Informed Financial Consent). This should include the Medicare Benefit Schedule (MBS) item numbers they expect to use and whether other specialists may be involved, so you can better understand any potential out‑of‑pocket costs before going to hospital.
If recovery or rehabilitation is likely, ask about care options such as Hospital in the Home or Rehab in the Home. You can also check out other programs that may be available to you. Eligibility depends on your clinical needs and level of cover, and must be arranged before discharge.
What to expect during a hospital stay?
For scheduled elective procedures, the admitting hospital will contact you prior to your admission to provide you with everything you need to know. Some of the information you should expect to be provided includes:
- Excess costs (if any) and when they need to be paid
- Time to arrive at hospital
- Preparation for surgery (such as fasting or change of diet, removal of nail polish etc.)
- What to bring with you
- If you will need someone to collect you after surgery
During your hospital stay, a range of medical and support professionals will be involved in your care. If you have any questions about your treatments, speak with your nurse, they are your first point of contact for clinical information.
For any non‑medical concerns, you can reach out to a patient liaison officer or social worker. They can help address your questions or direct you to the right person who can help you further.
What happens after hospital and with my recovery?
Before you leave hospital, your specialist should give you instructions for your recovery. This should include what’s normal, what to watch for, and who to contact if you have concerns. If anything is unclear or you don’t receive this information, it’s okay to ask for it again.
Before you leave the hospital, you may also find it helpful to ask:
- When should I book follow‑up appointments with my GP and specialist?
- When can I safely return to my usual activities, like going back to work or excercise?
- Can you provide a medical certificate for my employer?
Depending on your level of cover and recovery needs, you may be eligible for support beyond your hospital stay.
Contact us if you’d like help understanding what support may be available to you with the following services: