Does private health insurance cover tonsil and adenoid removal?
Tonsils and adenoid removals are covered by Medicare, but yep, there are a few perks of private health cover.
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If you need your tonsils or adenoids removed, private health insurance has you covered. All you need is a basic policy, and you can pick your own doctor to do the procedure. A basic policy can be quite affordable, and in addition to the tonsil and adenoid removal cover, you'll be covered for accidental injury, ambulance transport and more.
How does private health insurance cover tonsil and adenoid removal?
With private health insurance, tonsils or adenoids removal is covered with a basic hospital policy. It generally comes with a $500 excess and is classed as "surgical removal of tonsils or adenoids".
Whilst it can cost a little more, private health cover ensures your child's health is your primary concern, not the cost of treatment. There's also a lot less waiting around, so you or your child will get the procedure they need faster.
Private health insurance allows you to use the services of a private ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT), so you know your child is in the best possible hands. It also lets you choose your own doctor and when you want the procedure.
What does the operation for adenoid or tonsil removal involve?
Doctors usually place you under general anaesthesia during adenoid or tonsil removal. Because adenoids and tonsils can be accessed through the back of the throat, they don't need to make any external incisions.
The surgeon will cauterize and cut away your tonsils or adenoid tissue. In most cases, the surgery takes less than an hour, and you can go home on the same day. It's common that your doctor will remove both the tonsils and adenoids since they both cause similar problems.
What are the side effects of adenoids removal?
Although adenoid removal surgery is generally safe, the possible side effects and risks include:
Swallowing problems
Fever, nausea and vomiting
A sore throat
Sore ears
Although adenoid removal can improve sleep and reduce the occurrence of a sore ear and throat, it's important for parents to remember that they will not disappear completely.
What's the difference between a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy at private or public hospitals?
A tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy can be performed at a public or private hospital. However, the cost, waiting times and extra benefits will differ depending on which system you are treated under.
Public health system. While you can elect to have the surgery performed at a public hospital where the procedure will be covered by Medicare, waiting times can be as long as years and many patients don’t have the luxury of time.
Private health system. Using the services of a private ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) is quicker. However, the out of pocket expenses can run into the thousands of dollars if you’re not insured. Private hospital cover gives you the option of choosing the doctor you want as well as having the surgery performed when you want.
Public vs Private waiting list for tonsil and adenoid removal
In 2016-2017, wait times for adenoid and tonsil removal in the public system was around 56 days. In private hospitals, waiting times were around 25 days.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) Private health insurance use in Australian hospitals 2006–07 to 2016–17
How much is health insurance including tonsil and adenoid removal?
You'll find this treatment in hospital cover. Below you will find a selection of policies from Finder partners that cover adenoid and tonsil removal. All have a 12 month waiting period for pre-existing conditions, and 2 months for new. All prices are based on a single individual with less than $97,000 income and living in Sydney.
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Depending on your age, you may be eligible for an
aged-based discount. This is used to estimate your
rebate.
Under 65
65 - 69
70 or older
What's your household's taxable income?
This is the combined income you and your spouse earn before tax. It's needed to calculate the correct Australian government rebate.
$93,000 and under
$93,001 to $108,000
$108,001 to $144,000
$144,001 and over
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Combined (Extras + Hospitals)
Extras
Hospital
What level of hospital coverage would you like?
You can change this at any time later.
Legend
Covered
Restricted cover, You may be partially covered for
this category.
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*Prices updated March 2024, in line with Finder's
database of health insurance policies. Prices are based
on a single individual with less than $93,000 income and
living in Sydney with a $750 excess.
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Who can benefit from cover for removal of tonsils and adenoids?
The removal of tonsils and adenoids is a common procedure for children to have done, which makes having private health cover important for families. However, it’s not just children who have their tonsils removed, so it’s something to think about even as you get older.
Surgery to remove the tonsils and adenoid glands is covered by Medicare, but waiting lists can make public cover an unattractive option for children. This is one of the reasons why having private health insurance is so important. Not only can private health insurance help you avoid waiting lists, it also provides you with the opportunity to choose your own doctor.
Some tonsil and adenoid treatment statistics you might find interesting
What is an ENT doctor and how do you choose one?
An ENT doctor is someone that specialises in ear, nose and throat (ENT). These doctors are also known as Otolaryngologists.
Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy procedures are typically performed by an ENT specialist and take about an hour to complete. Patients are required to stay overnight in hospital.
You will need to see a general practitioner (GP) to get a referral to an ENT. Your GP may be able to recommend a preferred or trusted specialist, but you can also choose your own.
Your insurer may be able to provide a list of ENT specialists who have a relationship or agreement with your fund. You can also check the registry of the Australasian College of Surgeons to find a doctor in your area.
Questions to ask you ENT specialist and insurer
The following questions will help you find a ENT specialist and prepare for a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy procedure.
What is the waiting period? (The waiting period can be influenced by whether or not tonsillitis or adenoiditis is a pre-existing medical condition.)
Questions to ask your ENT specialist
What are the costs for initial consultations, the procedure and follow up consultation(s)? (You will be given a list of the expenses you will incur and you’re required to provide consent to these charges.)
What’s the best way to prepare for the procedure?
What’s the best way to recover from tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy surgery?
Common questions about adenoid and tonsil removal
Your adenoids are the glands between the back of your nose and throat. They are part of the immune system and react to foreign invaders in the body.
Tonsils are the glands located on each side at the back of your throat. Like your adenoids, they are part of your immune system and prevent your body from infection.
Medicare will cover a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy, providing you have the surgery done at a public hospital. Whilst this may suit some patients, the waiting times can be very long, which is why many parents opt for the shorter waiting period private health insurance can guarantee.
Tonsils can get infected, which can lead to a condition called tonsillitis. When this happens to your adenoid glands the condition is called adenoiditis. The two conditions are related and adenoiditis can lead to tonsillitis and vice versa. Recurring infections of the tonsils and adenoids need to be treated by a either a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy.
The symptoms of tonsillitis and adenoiditis can include: • Bad breath • Nausea • Fever • Ear infections • Swelling of the tonsils and adenoids
Although the tonsils and the adenoids are one of the first layers of defense against external sources of infection, they're not the last. Your body can function quite well without your tonsils and adenoids, and removal of the lymphatic tissue is a common enough procedure, especially among young children.
Gary Ross Hunter was an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio
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Gary Ross has written 644 Finder guides across topics including:
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Depending on your age, you may be eligible for an
aged-based discount. This is used to estimate your
rebate.
Under 65
65 - 69
70 or older
What's your household's taxable income?
This is the combined income you and your spouse earn before tax. It's needed to calculate the correct Australian government rebate.
$93,000 and under
$93,001 to $108,000
$108,001 to $144,000
$144,001 and over
What kind of health insurance do you need?
Combined (Extras + Hospitals)
Extras
Hospital
What level of hospital coverage would you like?
You can change this at any time later.
Legend
Covered
Restricted cover, You may be partially covered for
this category.
Not covered. Optional for insurer to include.
*Prices updated March 2024, in line with Finder's
database of health insurance policies. Prices are based
on a single individual with less than $93,000 income and
living in Sydney with a $750 excess.
What extras cover do you need? (Optional)
Select as many as you want or move to the next step
Preventative & general dental
Major dental & implants
Optical
Physiotherapy
Podiatry
Non-PBS pharmaceuticals
Chiropractic
Emergency ambulance
Remedial massage
Email me my results (optional)
To get a copy of your results for later, add your email below
