What is the difference between a public and private hospital?

Public hospitals

In Australia, public hospitals are funded by the Australian, state and territory governments and services are free for anyone with a Medicare Card.

Public hospitals may be your first choice in an emergency or for an acute health problem. They may have better medical facilities than a private hospital for your condition and are usually equipped to handle more complex cases.

In a public hospital as a public patient, your choices are limited:

• A doctor and/or specialist is allocated to you.
• If you need elective surgery, you are placed on a waiting list.
• You cannot choose when you get treated.
• You do not have the option of a private room and are more likely to have to share.

Private hospitals

In Australia, private hospitals are privately owned and operated. This means you have to pay to be treated in a private hospital. 

You may want to be treated in a private hospital because you will have more choices about your care:

• You can choose your own doctor or specialist. 
• You generally have more choice about the care you receive.
• Your waiting time for elective surgery (such as a knee reconstruction) is usually shorter.
• If you have health insurance, you may be able to stay in a private room if one is available.

Many Australians decide to take out Hospital Cover because it helps with the cost of being treated in a private hospital.

Comparing public and private hospitals

Here are some examples of how you might decide whether to go into a public or private hospital for a particular procedure: