Private surgery Australia
Private surgery cost in Australia
Private surgery costs in Australia can include surgeon, assistant surgeon, anaesthetist, hospital, prosthesis or lens, imaging and follow-up fees. For four procedures this hub sets out each payment route from its official source: the AIHW public wait, the Medicare item, APRA’s market-wide medical gap and the self-pay prices a hospital publishes.
Data last read: 6 November 2026. All prices in AUD unless stated.
Quick answer
The private surgery cost that matters is the gap after Medicare and private health insurance. Ask for an itemised quote showing surgeon, anaesthetist and hospital fees separately.
How each route pays, by procedure
Each cell comes from an official source or from a hospital’s own page; the procedure’s page gives the source and the date it was read. “Not tracked” means no figure has been read; nothing is estimated. The medical gap is APRA’s market-wide figure for the procedure’s MBS specialty, not for the operation alone.
| Procedure | Public wait | Medicare | Medical gap with hospital cover | Self-pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cataract surgery | 106 daysNational median, public patients, from listing to admission (2024-25); 11.5% waited more than a year | The schedule fee and benefit are published on MBS OnlineNot shown on this page yet. | A$280 average gap per serviceOphthalmology surgical operations, all states, Jun 2026 quarter. 64.1% of services were billed under a no-gap agreement. Source: Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), Quarterly Private Health Insurance Statistics, licensed under CC BY 3.0 AU. APRA does not endorse TreatCompare or its use of the data. | Epworth Geelongfrom $1,885Cataract extraction and intraocular lens implant: standard lens included, as the hospital publishes it. The card says its prices are current from 1 February 2026. It says prices will be reviewed from 1 July 2026, a date that had passed when it was read, so this price may since have changed. Epworth Geelongfrom $2,250Cataract extraction and intraocular lens implant: toric lens included, as the hospital publishes it. The card says its prices are current from 1 February 2026. It says prices will be reviewed from 1 July 2026, a date that had passed when it was read, so this price may since have changed. |
| Hip replacement | 130 daysNational median, public patients, from listing to admission (2024-25); 13% waited more than a year | The schedule fee and benefit are published on MBS OnlineNot shown on this page yet. | A$887 average gap per serviceOrthopaedic surgical operations, all states, Jun 2026 quarter. 46.9% of services were billed under a no-gap agreement. Source: Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), Quarterly Private Health Insurance Statistics, licensed under CC BY 3.0 AU. APRA does not endorse TreatCompare or its use of the data. | Mulgrave Private Hospital$29,500Hip replacement, as the hospital publishes it. Maryvale Private Hospitalfrom $29,000Total hip replacement, as the hospital publishes it. Cabrini Health$18,437Total hip replacement, as the hospital publishes it. Epworth HealthCare (group rate cards)from $17,800Hip replacement (unilateral), as the hospital publishes it. The card says its prices are current from 1 July 2026. |
| Knee replacement | 255 daysNational median, public patients, from listing to admission (2024-25); 23.2% waited more than a year | The schedule fee and benefit are published on MBS OnlineNot shown on this page yet. | A$887 average gap per serviceOrthopaedic surgical operations, all states, Jun 2026 quarter. 46.9% of services were billed under a no-gap agreement. Source: Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), Quarterly Private Health Insurance Statistics, licensed under CC BY 3.0 AU. APRA does not endorse TreatCompare or its use of the data. | Mulgrave Private Hospital$27,000Knee replacement, as the hospital publishes it. Maryvale Private Hospitalfrom $27,000Total knee replacement, as the hospital publishes it. Cabrini Health$16,677Total knee replacement, as the hospital publishes it. Epworth HealthCare (group rate cards)from $16,300Knee replacement (unilateral), as the hospital publishes it. The card says its prices are current from 1 July 2026. |
| Inguinal hernia repair | 73 daysNational median, public patients, from listing to admission (2024-25); 5% waited more than a year | Not tracked | A$131 average gap per serviceGeneral surgical operations, all states, Jun 2026 quarter. 73.2% of services were billed under a no-gap agreement. Source: Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), Quarterly Private Health Insurance Statistics, licensed under CC BY 3.0 AU. APRA does not endorse TreatCompare or its use of the data. | Not tracked |
Self-pay prices the hospitals read publish
Self-pay price pages read for 7 of 10 private hospitals and hospital groups checked (Cabrini Health, Epworth Freemasons, Epworth Geelong, Epworth HealthCare (group rate cards), Maryvale Private Hospital, Mulgrave Private Hospital, Northern Private Hospital); 11 more hospitals were not requested in this run. Each hospital is listed alphabetically with every procedure price it prints for a patient paying without insurance, the basis it states and the date read. They are named hospitals’ figures, not Australian prices. A hospital-fee-only floor excludes the surgeon and anaesthetist; a package that itemises them includes them. The two are not comparable, are never set against each other and are never added to a Medicare benefit.
Cabrini Health
Read 6 November 2026 · Hospital’s page ↗
| Procedure (as the hospital names it) | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Endoscopy (Gastroscopy or Colonoscopy) | from $981 | Hospital fee only: excludes surgeon and anaesthetist fees |
| Gallbladder removal (laparoscopic) | $7,248 | Hospital fee only: excludes surgeon and anaesthetist fees |
| Hernia repair | from $6,212 | Hospital fee only: excludes surgeon and anaesthetist fees |
| Tonsillectomy/Adenoidectomy | $3,117 | Hospital fee only: excludes surgeon and anaesthetist fees |
| Total Hip | $18,437 | Hospital fee only: excludes surgeon and anaesthetist fees |
| Total Knee Replacement | $16,677 | Hospital fee only: excludes surgeon and anaesthetist fees |
Epworth Geelong
Operator: Epworth HealthCare · Read 6 November 2026 · Hospital’s page ↗
| Procedure (as the hospital names it) | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Cataract Extraction & Intra ocular Lens Implant - StandardStandard lens included (Clareon AutonoMe). The source does not say whether this is per eye. | from $1,885The card says its prices are current from 1 February 2026. It says prices will be reviewed from 1 July 2026, a date that had passed when it was read, so this price may since have changed. | Hospital fee only: excludes surgeon and anaesthetist fees |
| Cataract Extraction & Intra ocular Lens Implant – Toric LensToric lens included (Clareon AutonoMe). The source does not say whether this is per eye. | from $2,250The card says its prices are current from 1 February 2026. It says prices will be reviewed from 1 July 2026, a date that had passed when it was read, so this price may since have changed. | Hospital fee only: excludes surgeon and anaesthetist fees |
Epworth HealthCare (group rate cards)
Read 6 November 2026 · Hospital’s page ↗
| Procedure (as the hospital names it) | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Colonoscopy | from $1,260The card says its prices are current from 1 July 2026. | Hospital fee only: excludes surgeon and anaesthetist fees |
| Gastroscopy | from $970The card says its prices are current from 1 July 2026. | Hospital fee only: excludes surgeon and anaesthetist fees |
| Hip Replacement Unilateral | from $17,800The card says its prices are current from 1 July 2026. | Hospital fee only: excludes surgeon and anaesthetist fees |
| Knee Replacement Unilateral | from $16,300The card says its prices are current from 1 July 2026. | Hospital fee only: excludes surgeon and anaesthetist fees |
| Laparoscopic Hysterectomy, Cystoscopy | from $5,930The card says its prices are current from 1 July 2026. | Hospital fee only: excludes surgeon and anaesthetist fees |
Maryvale Private Hospital
Morwell, VIC · Read 6 November 2026 · Hospital’s page ↗
| Procedure (as the hospital names it) | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Cataract SurgeryThe page does not name a lens or say whether one is included. The source does not say whether this is per eye. | from $2,720 | Hospital fee only: excludes surgeon and anaesthetist fees |
| Colonoscopy (including polypectomy) | from $1,318 | Hospital fee only: excludes surgeon and anaesthetist fees |
| Dental Surgery | from $1,890 | Hospital fee only: excludes surgeon and anaesthetist fees |
| Gastroscopy | from $972 | Hospital fee only: excludes surgeon and anaesthetist fees |
| Gastroscopy & Colonoscopy | from $2,084 | Hospital fee only: excludes surgeon and anaesthetist fees |
| Sleeve Gastrectomy | from $14,000 | Hospital fee only: excludes surgeon and anaesthetist fees |
| Total Hip Replacement | from $29,000 | Fixed package (contents not itemised on the page) |
| Total Knee Replacement | from $27,000 | Fixed package (contents not itemised on the page) |
Mulgrave Private Hospital
Operator: Healthe Care · Mulgrave, VIC · Read 6 November 2026 · Hospital’s page ↗
| Procedure (as the hospital names it) | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Colonoscopy | $2,100 | Package including surgeon and anaesthetist fees (itemised on the page) |
| Cystoscopy Flexible | $2,500 | Package including surgeon and anaesthetist fees (itemised on the page) |
| Cystoscopy Rigid | $2,500 | Package including surgeon and anaesthetist fees (itemised on the page) |
| Gas & Colonoscopy together | $2,350 | Package including surgeon and anaesthetist fees (itemised on the page) |
| Gastric Sleeve Surgery | $19,000 | Package including surgeon and anaesthetist fees (itemised on the page) |
| Gastroscopy | $1,550 | Package including surgeon and anaesthetist fees (itemised on the page) |
| Hernia | $7,050 | Package including surgeon and anaesthetist fees (itemised on the page) |
| Hip Replacement | $29,500 | Package including surgeon and anaesthetist fees (itemised on the page) |
| Knee Replacement | $27,000 | Package including surgeon and anaesthetist fees (itemised on the page) |
| Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy | $9,300 | Package including surgeon and anaesthetist fees (itemised on the page) |
| Transurethral resection of the prostate | $8,000 | Package including surgeon and anaesthetist fees (itemised on the page) |
| Vasectomy | $3,150 | Package including surgeon and anaesthetist fees (itemised on the page) |
Northern Private Hospital
Operator: Ramsay Health Care · Read 6 November 2026 · Hospital’s page ↗
| Procedure (as the hospital names it) | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Colonoscopy | $2,970 | Package including surgeon and anaesthetist fees (itemised on the page) |
| Cystoscopy | $3,000 | Package including surgeon and anaesthetist fees (itemised on the page) |
| Gastroscopy | $2,080 | Package including surgeon and anaesthetist fees (itemised on the page) |
| Gastroscopy and Colonoscopy | $3,200 | Package including surgeon and anaesthetist fees (itemised on the page) |
| TURP | $10,090 | Package including surgeon and anaesthetist fees (itemised on the page) |
| Vasectomy | $3,410 | Package including surgeon and anaesthetist fees (itemised on the page) |
Checked on 6 November 2026 and not read: Baringa Private Hospital (the page answered our reader with a bot check); Greenslopes Private Hospital (the page answered our reader with a bot check); Hollywood Private Hospital (the page answered our reader with a bot check). A page that could not be read says nothing about what that hospital publishes.
Not requested this run, so not counted as checked: John Flynn Private Hospital; Joondalup Private Hospital; North Shore Private Hospital; Peninsula Private Hospital; Pindara Private Hospital; St George Private Hospital; Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital; Warringal Private Hospital; Waverley Private Hospital; Westmead Private Hospital; Wollongong Private Hospital. Nothing is known about what these hospitals publish.
How the bill works
Cost anatomy
Specialist or surgeon fee
The doctor performing the procedure.
May have a no-gap, known-gap or full private gap.
Anaesthetist fee
Sedation or anaesthesia billed separately for many procedures.
Ask before booking; it can be separate from surgeon quote.
Hospital or theatre fee
Private hospital or day-surgery facility charge.
Private hospital cover may contribute if eligible.
Patient gap
The amount left after Medicare and insurer payments.
Depends on policy, provider agreement and chosen items.
Access routes
Public route
Referral and public hospital waiting-list pathway.
AIHW publishes the public wait; the hospital allocates the surgeon.
Insured private route
Private hospital cover plus Medicare and insurer benefits.
Check excess, waiting periods and gap arrangements.
Uninsured private route
Patient pays private hospital, surgeon and anaesthetist fees.
Needs an itemised quote before booking.
Private surgery cost components
| Cost component | Who charges it | Funding route | What to ask |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surgeon fee | Specialist | Medicare and insurance may contribute | What is the known-gap or no-gap amount? |
| Anaesthetist fee | Anaesthetist | Medicare and insurance may contribute | Is there an out-of-pocket gap? |
| Hospital fee | Private hospital | Private hospital cover | Is the hospital contracted with your insurer? |
| Device, lens or prosthesis | Hospital/supplier | Insurance may contribute | Which item is included and what upgrades cost extra? |
Typical patient journey
Before
Referral, specialist consult, diagnostics and written quote.
Ask for surgeon, anaesthetist and hospital fees separately.
During
Admission or day surgery, procedure, theatre and device/lens costs.
Confirm insurer agreement and hospital excess.
After
Follow-up, medicines, second-side procedure or rehabilitation.
Ask what is included in the original quote.
Insurance and access notes
- Use the Australian Government Medical Costs Finder as a benchmark for common surgery cost components, not as a fixed quote.
- Hospital cover is different from extras cover.
- Waiting periods can apply before private health insurance pays benefits.
- Medicare rebates do not remove every gap fee.
Usually included
- Cost-component framework
- Medicare and insurance prompts
- Hip, knee, hernia and cataract route links
May cost extra
- Surgeon gap
- Anaesthetist gap
- Hospital excess
- Premium lens or prosthesis
- Follow-up visits
Questions to ask before booking
- What are the surgeon, anaesthetist and hospital fees separately?
- Is this no-gap, known-gap or full private billing?
- Is the hospital contracted with my insurer?
- Are lens, device, follow-up or second-side costs extra?
Cost terms used on this page
Gap
The amount left for the patient after Medicare, insurer or subsidy payments.
MBS item
A Medicare Benefits Schedule service code used to calculate rebates.
PBS
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which subsidises eligible medicines.
Known-gap
A private insurance arrangement where the patient gap is disclosed in advance.
Hospital excess
A fixed amount a patient may pay when claiming on private hospital cover.
Related Australian pages
Related pages
Surgery costs
Hip, knee, cataract and hernia: public waiting times and private surgery.
Hip replacement cost and wait times
Public wait-time context and private-route cost questions for hip replacement.
Knee replacement cost and wait times
Public waiting times and the private cost components to check before booking.
Cataract surgery cost Australia
Surgeon fee, hospital fee, anaesthetist, lens choice and insurance gap checks.
Hernia operation cost questions
Surgeon, anaesthetist, hospital and insurance-gap questions for private surgery quotes.
Public vs private
Public waiting lists compared with paying privately.
Private surgery cost Australia
How surgeon fees, hospital cover, anaesthetist gaps and prostheses affect the bill.
Public vs private cataracts
Compare public waiting-list access with private cataract pricing and lens options.
Elective surgery waiting times
AIHW waiting-time context for cataract, hip, knee, hernia and other procedures.
Sources for the figures on this page
- AIHW MyHospitals: elective surgery, 2024-25. Read 26 October 2026. Based on Australian Institute of Health and Welfare material, licensed under CC BY 4.0. TreatCompare is independent of AIHW, and AIHW does not endorse this site.
- MBS Online: item 42702, schedule from 2026-11-01. Read 26 October 2026.
- APRA Quarterly Private Health Insurance Statistics: Medical Services, Jun 2026 quarter. Read 26 October 2026.
- Epworth Geelong: self-pay surgery. Read 6 November 2026.
- MBS Online: item 49318, schedule from 2026-11-01. Read 26 October 2026.
- Mulgrave Private Hospital: self-pay surgery. Read 6 November 2026.
- Maryvale Private Hospital: self-pay surgery. Read 6 November 2026.
- Cabrini Health: self-pay surgery. Read 6 November 2026.
- Epworth HealthCare (group rate cards): self-pay surgery. Read 6 November 2026.
- MBS Online: item 49518, schedule from 2026-11-01. Read 26 October 2026.
- Cabrini Health: self-pay surgery. Read 6 November 2026.
Sources & further reading
- Australian Government Medical Costs Finder — Department of Health tool giving guide costs for privately insured in-hospital services. Further reading only: its figures are not reproduced on this page.
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare — Public hospital and elective surgery context.
- Medicare Benefits Schedule — MBS item context and Medicare rebate framework.
- PrivateHealth.gov.au — Private hospital cover, clinical categories and waiting-period context.
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