According to a report by the Productivity Commission in 2023, the number of Australians delaying or avoiding medical treatment due to cost soared by over 50%.
Unfortunately, taking care of our health is usually not optional, which makes it a big expense you might have no say in parting with.
Knowing how much some of the most common medical procedures can cost could come in handy. You can get a rough idea of what you could be in for and, more importantly, how much of that procedure is covered by our healthcare system.
In this article, we’ll discuss the cost of Australia's most common medical procedures and offer some tips for making medical care more affordable.
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Based on data from sources such as the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), here are 10 of Australia's most common medical procedures (in no particular order).
The top 10 listed above are generally the most common, but the results will vary depending on the age range and even gender, as well as other factors. For example, a teenage male won’t be getting a C-section anytime soon but could be far more likely to need help with dental procedures and sports injuries.
Here are some of the most common medical procedures based on age group.
| Children and Adolescents (0-17 years) | Young Adults (18-35 years) | Middle-Aged Adults (36-64 years) | Elderly Adults (65+ years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonsillectomy | Dermatological procedures (skin) | Gastrointestinal procedures | Cardiovascular procedures |
| Dental procedures | Sports injuries | Joint replacement surgeries | Joint replacement surgeries |
| Asthma management | Dental procedures | Cancer screenings | Cataract surgery |
An out-of-pocket cost is the difference between the amount a doctor charges for a medical service and what Medicare and any private health insurer pay.
Also known as a gap fee or payment, out-of-pocket costs are common but can vary significantly. If Medicare and your private health insurer contribute to your medical fee, your out-of-pocket cost is reduced.
Examples of out-of-pocket costs commonly charged in Australia include:
As you’ll soon see, the cost of medical treatment in Australia can vary wildly from one operation to another, even for the same procedure. Some of the main reasons for this are as follows:
Below are the average costs for each of the above medical procedures in Australia according to the Government’s Medical Costs Finder Tool.
Jump to each section:
| State | % with no out-of-pocket costs | Typical specialists’ fees | Patients typically paid |
| NSW | 83% | $1,300 | $250 |
| VIC | 79% | $1,100 | $130 |
| QLD | 80% | $1,200 | $130 |
| SA | 90% | $1,200 | $120 |
| WA | 95% | $1,100 | $110 |
| TAS | 88% | $1,200 | $20 |
| ACT | 51% | $1,300 | $330 |
| Accurate as at February 2024. The prices above are estimates for specialists' fees; Please refer to your medical professional for an accurate cost estimation. |
| State | % with no out-of-pocket costs | Typical specialists’ fees | Patients typically paid |
| NSW | 69% | $2,100 | $500 |
| VIC | 30% | $1,900 | $300 |
| QLD | 40% | $2,100 | $450 |
| SA | 49% | $1,900 | $300 |
| WA | 85% | $1,700 | $110 |
| ACT | 18% | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| Accurate as at February 2024. The prices above are estimates for specialists' fees; Please refer to your medical professional for an accurate cost estimation. |
| State | % with no out-of-pocket costs | Typical specialists’ fees | Patients typically paid |
| NSW | 83% | $960 | $190 |
| VIC | 79% | $910 | $130 |
| QLD | 80% | $960 | $100 |
| SA | 91% | $930 | $100 |
| WA | 94% | $850 | $130 |
| TAS | 91% | $880 | $10 |
| ACT | 59% | $1,000 | $210 |
| Accurate as at February 2024. The prices above are estimates for specialists' fees; Please refer to your medical professional for an accurate cost estimation. |
| State | % with no out-of-pocket costs | Typical specialists’ fees | Patients typically paid |
| NSW | 38% | $5,200 | $1,100 |
| VIC | 20% | $5,100 | $600 |
| QLD | 22% | $4,800 | $990 |
| SA | 30% | $4,600 | $350 |
| WA | 55% | $4,000 | $350 |
| TAS | 47% | $4,200 | $500 |
| ACT | 13% | $8,800 | $6,200 |
| Accurate as at February 2024. The prices above are estimates for specialists' fees; Please refer to your medical professional for an accurate cost estimation. |
| State | % with no out-of-pocket costs | Typical specialists’ fees | Patients typically paid |
| NSW | 52% | $2,800 | $500 |
| VIC | 36% | $2,600 | $420 |
| QLD | 38% | $2,800 | $510 |
| SA | 21% | $2,800 | $300 |
| WA | 52% | $2,800 | $450 |
| TAS | 32% | $2,700 | $350 |
| Accurate as at February 2024. The prices above are estimates for specialists' fees; Please refer to your medical professional for an accurate cost estimation. |
| State | % with no out-of-pocket costs | Typical specialists’ fees | Patients typically paid |
| NSW | 33% | $5,300 | $1,100 |
| VIC | 18% | $5,500 | $730 |
| QLD | 19% | $5,000 | $1,000 |
| SA | 28% | $4,700 | $350 |
| WA | 55% | $4,200 | $450 |
| ACT | 17% | $5,800 | $3,300 |
| Accurate as at February 2024. The prices above are estimates for specialists' fees; Please refer to your medical professional for an accurate cost estimation. |
| State | % with no out-of-pocket costs | Typical specialists’ fees | Patients typically paid |
| NSW | 48% | $2,900 | $500 |
| VIC | 26% | $2,900 | $350 |
| QLD | 24% | $2,900 | $500 |
| SA | 32% | $2,600 | $200 |
| WA | 49% | $2,600 | $230 |
| ACT | 12% | $3,600 | $1,800 |
| Accurate as at February 2024. The prices above are estimates for specialists' fees; Please refer to your medical professional for an accurate cost estimation. |
| State | % with no out-of-pocket costs | Typical specialists’ fees | Patients typically paid |
| NSW | 30% | $2,100 | $1,300 |
| VIC | 21% | $1,600 | $500 |
| QLD | 22% | $1,700 | $570 |
| SA | 19% | $1,500 | $430 |
| WA | 25% | $1,500 | $550 |
| Accurate as at February 2024. The prices above are estimates for specialists' fees; Please refer to your medical professional for an accurate cost estimation. |
| State | % with no out-of-pocket costs | Typical specialists’ fees | Patients typically paid |
| NSW | 43% | $4,600 | $500 |
| VIC | 38% | $4,400 | $450 |
| QLD | 46% | $4,800 | $500 |
| SA | 25% | $5,000 | $300 |
| WA | 72% | $4,900 | $440 |
| Accurate as at February 2024. The prices above are estimates for specialists' fees; Please refer to your medical professional for an accurate cost estimation. |
Here are some practical tips for saving money on your medical expenses now and in the future.
Before undergoing any medical procedure, it’s essential to compare prices from different healthcare providers, doctors and specialists. Prices for medical procedures can vary significantly between hospitals and clinics, and each specialist can charge their own set of fees, so do your research and shop around for the best prices.
As the tables above demonstrate, out-of-pocket costs without health insurance can be in the thousands. Health insurance can be a great way to save money if you need to pay for surgery, but the ongoing costs can be very steep. For example, you can expect to pay between $125 - $291 per month for a combined hospital and extras policy on average.
Review your health insurance policy coverage to save money on medical procedures and ensure you receive maximum benefits. Different policies will have different premiums and offer different levels of coverage: you can compare policies for free using the Australian Government’s compare health insurance policies tool.
Specifically ask your insurer if they cover you for the treatment you need, how much they’ll cover you for and whether there’s a waiting period or not. Get the Medicare item number from your GP or specialist and quote it to them to be sure. You can also:
Preventing health issues through regular exercise, healthy eating, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the need for medical procedures in the first place. Staying healthy can help prevent chronic conditions from developing, which can be costly to manage in the long run.
This obviously may not be possible for everyone, but speaking to a qualified health professional can give you some ideas for how you can keep your physical fitness as high as it can be.
The Australian Government offers various different subsidies and programs to help eligible individuals manage their healthcare expenses. For example, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) provides subsidies for prescription medications, and the Medical Expenses Tax Offset can provide a tax benefit for eligible medical expenses.
If you can withstand the waiting periods that might apply in public hospitals, going through the public system for your healthcare needs can also be a good way to save money, but it’s worth weighing up the pros and cons of public and private healthcare first…
Whether you should have private health insurance depends on your health situation. While you might not think you’re likely to need private health coverage, you never really know. Health insurance is designed to provide peace of mind against the unexpected. And as you can see, the out-of-pocket costs for some of these common procedures can be in the thousands of dollars.
For a detailed breakdown of the pros, cons and costs of private health insurance and Medicare, see our article on whether you need health insurance. It might be worth considering getting personal advice from a qualified financial or medical professional if you’re unsure whether health insurance is necessary.
If you’re getting an expensive medical procedure but would prefer to avoid dipping into your savings to pay for it, don’t worry. Jac’s got your back, both figuratively and literally, if you’re getting a back operation.
One of our most popular loan purposes is a medical loan: a loan you can take out to pay for a procedure over a set period of time in manageable instalments. Our medical loans are available for up to $25,000 and as little as $3,000, so there’s a good chance we could cover most medical expenses.
Check out how our medical loans could help, or contact our customer service team today if you have any questions.
$3,000 - $25,000
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