Hospital Excess

How much will it cost?

No matter what cover you've got, it's possible you'll have to pay something towards going to hospital. It's usually the difference between what NIB pays for, and the total cost of your stay in hospital. They're known as out of pocket expenses. And they come from your pocket - and can't be claimed back.

Will I have to pay an excess?

An excess is the amount you elect to pay towards your hospital stay, before we pay a benefit. It's one of the things you can't claim back. Selecting an excess means your contributions are lower.

The excess is only payable if you, or someone on your membership, go to hospital - it does not apply to extras cover.

Depending on your health cover, you'll have to pay the excess each time you are admitted to hospital. But we cap it to a set amount per year. The amount varies depending on your health cover.

Before going to hospital, you should always check your cover's hospital excess.

What other costs are there?

Like all other big purchases, you should always get a quote. You'd be amazed at how quickly a simple procedure can rack up the bills. You could also be charged for items that NIB does not cover.

Get your doctor or hospital to itemise the costs and explain your treatment thoroughly beforehand so you know what's covered, and what out of pocket expenses you might have. Your doctor must get your full agreement on your treatment and its costs before you go to hospital (where possible). This is called 'informed financial consent'.