Hospital costs
You can choose to be a public or private patient when you go to hospital. As a public patient in a public hospital you don't need to pay if you have a Medicare card.
This includes going to one of our emergency departments, or a community or primary health care facility.
Getting a Medicare Card
Find out how to enrol and get a Medicare card on the Services Australia website.
You can get your own Medicare card and number if you’re 15 or older and enrolled in Medicare.
The Services Australia website also explains Medicare services for Indigenous Australians.
Long stay patient fees
If you need to stay in hospital more than 35 days and don't have an Acute Care Certificate, you'll need to pay a daily fee.
The long stay fee is indexed against the aged pension. Fee increases occur in line with pension increases. This is the same for self-funded retirees.
If you need more information, ask your nurse or social worker.
Private patients
You can choose to get treated as a private patient in a public hospital.
If you do:
- eligible services will be bulk billed to Medicare
- your private health insurance may cover some of your hospital fees and charges
- we'll discount all or part of your private health insurance policy excess or co-payment up to the cost of your hospital admission.
We can help you make an informed choice about getting health care as a public or private patient. Call our patient options liaison officer on 07 3810 1816 for more information.
Discharge medicine
You'll have to pay for your discharge medicine. You can get this from the hospital pharmacy or any other pharmacy as long as they have the medicine you need.
Travel costs
If you live in a rural, remote or regional area and have to travel more than 50 km to your local public hospital, you may be eligible for the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme.
The subsidy helps with travel and accommodation costs if you need to use specialist medical services that aren't available in your local area.
Read more about the subsidy scheme on the Queensland Government website.
People visiting Australia
Some of your treatment in Australia might be free if your home country has a reciprocal health care agreement with us.
The Services Australia website has information about reciprocal health care arrangements.
People seeking asylum who don't have a Medicare card
If you're seeking asylum in Australia and don't have a Medicare card, you can still get health care in public hospitals.
The Queensland Health website has:
Paying your account
You can pay your account in person at our hospital service desks. We accept cash, cheque, EFTPOS and credit cards. You can also pay online, over the phone or mail your payment to our Accounts Receivable team.
Ipswich Hospital
By phone: 07 3810 1213
By post
Patient Accounts Ipswich Hospital
PO Box 73
Ipswich Qld 4305
Boonah Health Service
By phone: 07 5463 3300
By post
Boonah Health Service
PO Box 93
Boonah Qld 4310
Esk Health Service
By phone: 07 5424 4600
By post
Accounts Receivable Esk Health Service
PO Box 47
Esk Qld 4312
Gatton Health Service
By phone: 07 5468 4188
By post
Accounts Receivable Gatton Health Service
PO Box 167
Gatton Qld 4343
Laidley Health Service
By phone: 07 5466 8100
By post
Accounts Receivable Laidley Health Service
75 William Street
Laidley Qld 4341
Goodna Community Health
By phone: 07 3818 4800 or 1800 607 030
By post
Accounts Receivable Goodna Community Health
PO Box 188
Goodna Qld 4300
The Park Centre for Mental Health, Treatment Research and Education
By phone: 07 3271 8222
By post
Accounts Receivable
The Park Centre for Mental Health – Trust Office
Locked Bag 500
Archerfield Qld 4108