What are Agreement Hospitals?

An Agreement Hospital is a private hospital which has a contract with a health insurer to treat the insurer’s members for an agreed fee. This means members will pay either no Hospital Gap or a ‘known Hospital Gap’ (a set fee) for inpatient treatment at that hospital.  

A Hospital Gap refers to the out-of-pocket costs you could face for fees such as accommodation, food and theatre costs that exceed how much your insurer will pay.  

Agreement Hospitals can be private day-surgery hospitals or night hospitals. Public hospitals are not Agreement Hospitals, but being treated as a private patient at a public hospital usually does not result in a Hospital Gap. 

If you are being treated at a private hospital that is not an Agreement Hospital for your insurer, you could face higher out-of-pocket fees.  

To find your insurer’s Agreement Hospitals, check your insurer’s website or search here.