Transplants, spinal fusions and hip replacements are some of the most expensive surgeries in Australia. That said, the amount you'll pay out-of-pocket can vary wildly.
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Surgeries can be roughly separated into 3 different categories:
Urgent or emergency surgeries
Elective and semi-elective surgeries
Cosmetic elective surgeries
In this article, we're only considering medically necessary elective or semi-elective surgeries. We only look at average prices calculated by several insurers in Australia: The overall cost of surgery can be far higher or lower, depending on how much a particular surgeon charges.
Australia's 10 most expensive surgeries
Transplants: $40,000-$150,000
No matter what organ you're considering, transplants are easily the most expensive surgery you can have. The amount of work involved transferring an organ from one body to another is immense, running close to $150,000 for a heart or liver. Even a single kidney will cost around $40,000 to install.
Surgery waiting list*: N/A
Coronary artery bypass graft: $44,000
This highly invasive surgery is used to improve blood flow to the heart. It involves grafting a healthy vein or artery to an existing blocked one, thus bypassing the blockage inside the vein or artery.
A common procedure for older individuals, hip replacement involves removing an existing hip, usually due to arthritis or similar, and replacing it with an artificial hip instead. It's intended to relieve pain and aid easy movement.
Surgery waiting list: 120 days
Colorectal surgery: $25,000
This involves the removal of part or all of your colon or rectum. This can be prompted by disease or damage to your colon or rectum from something like cancer or Crohn's disease.
The gallbladder is a non-vital organ located in your abdomen. It can sometimes grow painful gallstones or develop other problems, necessitating its removal – usually through a small keyhole incision in your torso.
Surgery waiting list: N/A
Pacemaker insertion: $16,000
The heart works by pumping blood through your body, timing its contractions so that oxygenated blood is pumped to your muscles and tissues and deoxygenated blood flows to your lungs. A pacemaker uses electrical impulses to regulate your heart's rhythm and make sure it's functioning properly with its contractions.
Surgery waiting list: N/A
Angioplasty and stent insertion: $16,000
Angioplasty and stent insertions serve a similar purpose: They increase blood flow through your veins and arteries. In angioplasty, a small balloon is inserted and inflated to open up blood vessels. A stent is a small tube that is inserted in the vein or artery to ensure that it stays open.
Surgery waiting list: N/A
Prostatectomy: $16,000
Prostatectomy is the removal of the prostate. Whether necessitated by prostatitis or prostate cancer, this procedure seeks to negate a prostate condition by removing the organ from the body.
Surgery waiting list: 44 days
*All figures are for the longest median waiting times, for elective surgeries, in public hospitals for 2019-20 – the most recently available figures.
How surgery costs work under Medicare
Medicare pays for certain treatments at a public hospital, including surgeries. Medically necessary elective, semi-elective and urgent/emergency surgeries you receive as a public patient in a public hospital are completely covered by the Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS).
Medicare will fully cover:
Operating theatre fees in public hospitals
Medically-necessary surgeries (for example, removing a tumor)
Necessary surgical consultations
However, if you are admitted as a private patient to a public hospital, Medicare will only partially cover your treatment. The rest must be paid by you or your private health insurance provider.
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How does private health insurance pay for surgery?
Private health insurance, combined with Medicare, can pay up to 100% of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) for the medical costs of your surgery in a hospital. But as a private patient, specialists can charge added fees and Medicare will only provide for between 75% and 85% of those extra costs.
Some insurers have a "medical gap scheme" that will help you to meet any additional costs. Private health insurance will typically cover some or all of this gap, depending on the procedure.
The cost of a particular surgery and what you actually end up paying out of pocket varies considerably depending on the circumstances.
The benefits of private health insurance
Despite the cost of premiums and potential out-of-pocket costs, there are a few advantages to getting surgery in the private system. These benefits include:
The choice of your own surgeon
Avoiding lengthy public surgery waiting lists
Flexibility on when you're admitted to the hospital
Access to a private room
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Frequently asked questions
Our research found that transplants are typically the most expensive surgery you can have. Costs can be as high as $150,000 for a heart or liver procedure.
Medicare will cover the cost of medically necessary surgeries for public patients in public hospitals. But Medicare only provides for between 75% and 85% of the costs of surgery charged to you as a private patient.
Health insurance policies won't cover any non-medically necessary procedures, such as cosmetic surgery.
As Finder's insurance group publisher, Alex Holderness aims to make confusing topics easy to understand. She's been published in Money Mag, Yahoo Finance, Hospital Health, and is a contributing author for Google's Startup Grind. She has a keen passion for running and is currently studying for her General Insurance certification. See full bio
James Martin was the insurance editor at Finder. He has written on a range of insurance and finance topics for over 7 years. James often shares his insurance expertise as a media spokesperson and has appeared on Prime 7 News, WIN News, Insurance News, 7NEWS and The Guardian. He holds a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification and a Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification, both of which meet the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio
James's expertise
James has written 204 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
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