20 March 2017 - Private health customers are confused about what to expect financially from common procedures and are in need of upfront information, new research has found.

HCF’s recent Hospital Patient Experience Survey uncovered patient uncertainty around what to expect during hospital stays, with cost a major cause for concern.

A number of patients experienced bill shock, not knowing in advance the cost of procedures or the make-up of extra charges they might receive. This combined with 60 per cent of respondents not receiving their choice of doctor in public hospitals and only 20 per cent being cared for in a single room, despite being admitted as a private patient, to prompt many to question whether private health insurance was of value at all.

In response, HCF launched a financial calculator and information hub, called ‘Preparing for Hospital’, which aims to arm patients with the information needed to make financially sound decisions in advance.

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