Going to hospital
- Do you need to attend a pre-admission clinic?
Doctors sometimes ask you to attend a pre-admission clinic before certain procedures. These clinics prepare you for your hospital stay. The clinics are a good opportunity for you to ask questions about your procedure/s. You may be asked to bring things like current medications, test results, x-rays and other documentation.
- What other costs might be involved?
Ask about any additional costs you might have to pay. These costs could come from services provided by the anaesthetist, assistant surgeon, physiotherapist, pathology, x-rays/scans, drugs, telephone, newspapers or parking, for example. Asking the hospital about these when you book in for your procedure allows you to give fully informed financial consent.
- Have you signed your Procedural Consent forms?
Operations, anaesthetics and some procedures need a written consent from you before they can be performed. Make sure you fully understand what you are signing before you do so.
- Has an 'eligibility check' been performed?
The hospital will perform what is called an 'eligibility check'. This is where the hospital checks your level of cover with nib.
- Have you given Informed Financial Consent?
Before having hospital treatment, you will be asked to give your Informed Financial Consent for the procedure. This is where you declare that you fully understand all costs that might be involved with your procedure - including any gaps or out-of-pocket amounts. The National Private Patient Claim Form (which you will need to complete) includes space for you to declare your Informed Financial Consent. The form is a legal document, so make sure you understand it fully before signing. nib cannot pay the hospital without this form.
|