Consultation & Surgical Fees

An initial comprehensive consultation with Mr Goldbloom will cost $250. In the majority of cases, Medicare will provide a rebate that we can claim electronically for you upon providing your Medicare details and a valid GP referral. The consultation fee is to be settled on the day of your appointment.

There is no out of pocket cost for Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Gold Card Holders or those with valid WorkCover or TAC claims.

Private health insurance can financially assist to you to have your operation in a private hospital, by the surgeon of your choice and a reduced wait time. Having private health insurance does not mean the entire cost associated with your surgical treatment is covered. There are several costs to surgery in the private setting and most of these are outlined below.

Mr Goldbloom’s fee structure is guided by the Australian Medical Association (AMA). Please refer below for further information:

AMA: Position Statement on Setting Medical Fees and Billing Practices
AMA: Guide for Patients on How the Health Care System Funds Medical Care

Some contribution is made to this cost from Medicare and a variable contribution is made by your private health cover. The variation is dependent on your choice of insurance policy and this is what determines how much “Gap” or out of pocket expense is left for you to cover.

We aim to keep the gap to the absolute minimum. Please discuss this with our team at your consultation.

Assistant’s Fees: Mr Goldbloom will often need a doctor to assist him during surgery, this assistant may attract a small out of pocket fee.

Anaesthetist’s Fees: Anaesthetists work as independent practitioners and as such their fee varies but is often lower than the surgeon’s out of pocket fees. Your anaesthetist will discuss this with you.

Hospital Bed and Theatre Costs: There is a cost for the hospital bed and use of the operating theatre. This is often covered by your private health insurance but you may be required to pay an “excess”. It is important to check prior to your surgery.

Implants and Prosthesis: The cost of any implants or prosthesis needed for your operation are often covered by your private health insurance. It is important to check this prior to surgery.

Blood Tests, X-rays, Scans and other Investigations that are needed during or after your operation may incur added costs.

Allied Health: A physiotherapist will see you in hospital to provide you with appropriate footwear, crutches and instructions about weight-bearing. An exercise program to do at home to promote blood flow and maintain motion of other joints during recovery will be given to you. Additionally, to achieve your personal goals of surgery you may need to see your physiotherapist or podiatrist after your operation. This may incur added costs to your bill.

Post Operative Foot and Ankle Supports: It is very likely you will be require to purchase some sort of foot or ankle support to protect the work done during surgery. Examples include a “post op shoe” used after forefoot surgery and a “CAM boot” used after ankle surgery. These range in price from approximately $100 to $500 and will usually be fitted by trained staff.

Pharmacist: There may an out of pocket cost for medications on discharge that needs to be confirmed with the hospital.

Review by a Medical Specialist (if required): Some patients may require review by a medical specialist around the time of their surgery. This is often covered but may incur an out of pocket fee that needs to be checked with the physician.

Mr Goldbloom sees public (uninsured) patients at his practice.

Your condition might not need operative treatment and you just want the advice of a surgeon. You can get a referral from your GP or Health Care Professional and make an appointment with Mr Goldbloom.

When surgery is recommended, you are given an approximate price of self-funding surgery in the private system. If you wish to proceed with surgery, then an exact quote will be drawn up for you for which we require up front payment. The cost of the quote is then deducted from the final cost of surgery. If you choose to self-fund your surgery, our team are able to arrange a payment plan for you.

For non-urgent problems, it may be worth investigating with private health funds regarding their policies on ‘waiting periods’. This waiting period might still be shorter than waiting for your operation to be performed at a public hospital.