We have a network of contracted private hospitals that allows members to access covered services without additional costs. However, hospital contracts may vary and staying in a non-contracted hospital may incur out-of-pocket expenses. You can view our contracted hospitals below.

For new members or members upgrading their cover, a two month waiting period applies for all hospital services and home care programs. With the exception of pre-existing conditions, and pregnancy and birth, which have a 12 month waiting period.

Hospital cover pays towards the costs of medical services you receive when admitted to hospital and treated as a private patient. For included services we provide medically necessary inpatient treatment, accommodation, theatre fees, intensive care and hospital provided medication.

We do not provide benefits for treatment that is not considered medically necessary, services excluded under your policy, visits to Emergency departments, outpatient doctor or specialist consultations, booking or administration fees.

Hospitals and doctors will usually bill us directly if you provide your membership details upon admission and we’ll advise once we’ve paid the invoice on your behalf. If your cover has an excess, you will need to pay it directly to the hospital before or on admission. Usually, besides an excess you will have nothing else to pay for unless there are medical out-of-pocket expenses. Out-of-pocket expenses are additional payments that you are required to for services not covered under your policy.

It's within your right to know what you’ll need to pay upfront before you receive any hospital treatment as a private patient and to receive this information in writing. It’s important to ask your treating doctor, the hospital and us about any out-of-pocket expenses you may have to pay. 

Access Gap Cover is available with all Union Health hospital policies and aims to eliminate or cap out-of-pocket medical costs incurred during hospital admission. Medical costs are the fees your specialist or doctor charges you for your hospital treatment.

A pre-existing condition is an ailment or illness that existed before starting or upgrading your hospital cover. Even if the condition had not yet been diagnosed.

If your hospital cover includes pregnancy and birth-related services with no exclusions, you're fully covered for accommodation, theatre and labour ward charges when admitted to a hospital. Medical costs for inpatient services by specialists are covered except for pathology, radiology and any incidentals.    

Some of the costs of IVF services are covered by Medicare and your private health insurance. However, there can also be significant additional costs, so it’s important to understand what costs you’ll be responsible for before going ahead.

In some cases, yes. Union Health's Care Coordination Service is available to members who have recently been discharged from hospital and have complex health needs. The Care Coordinator will contact members who may benefit from the service, but you can also call to find out more.

We've partnered with Valion Health to fund a Cancer Support Complete Program at no extra cost to eligible Union Health members. This program is suitable for those diagnosed with any cancer type who are currently receiving medically approved cancer treatment, have completed treatment within the last 24 months or have a diagnosis of advanced (metastatic) or incurable cancer.

No, ambulance cover is not included in private hospital cover. Each state and territory has differing arrangements when it comes to emergency ambulance cover. Find out whether ambulance is covered in your place of residence below.

After a hospital visit, you may receive a Voice of the Patient survey email conducted by an independent party. It is used to collect information on the quality of healthcare services you received as a private patient in hospital.