Payment Information

Overview

While we will ensure you have everything you need for your procedure and stay at our hospital, it is your responsibility to make arrangements to pay your hospital account.

The following is a guide to assist you. If you have any queries or concerns regarding your hospital account please get in touch with our accounts staff.

Prepayment and prior approval

Payments prior to admission

A payment will be required prior to your admission in the following circumstances:

• If you are paying for the cost of your procedure yourself (see “Private Payment” below)
• If an insurer is paying your hospital fees, and a co-payment is required

See below for payment options.

Approval from Insurer or ACC

If you have received documents from your insurer or ACC regarding prior approval, please ensure you bring these with you on your admission day. If you have completed your admission through our eAdmissions online admission portal, you are able to upload these documents directly to our staff.

Cost estimates

You may request an estimate of the costs of your procedure. First, please ask your specialist about the expected cost (specialist and anaesthetist fees). Also ask about the expected time in theatre (where applicable), and the length of your stay in hospital (e.g. day stay or overnight).

We can then provide you with an estimate of the hospital charges that may apply to your visit, based on our experience.

We are only able to provide you with an estimate of your surgery costs. The actual cost will not be known until after your surgery has been completed and your account is made up at the time of your discharge.

Private Payment

If you are paying for the cost of your procedure yourself, a hospital fee prepayment is required prior to your admission.

The prepayment amount will be based on the estimate provided and when you have been discharged an invoice will be completed. If the invoice is for more than the prepayment received, the additional amount will need to be paid as per our Terms and Conditions of Payment. If the final invoice is for less than the prepayment, a refund for the difference will be made to you either by direct credit to your bank account, or to your credit card.

Please note that your specialist, anaesthetist and any other independent health provider (e.g. physiotherapist, occupational therapist, radiology and laboratory) may send an account to you separately, as each practitioner is independent of the hospital and will have a separate account, which you are responsible for paying.

Accepted payment options include:

Online payment

Your payment to Royston Hospital may be made here online via credit card and debit card. Evolution Healthcare imposes a 2% surcharge on all credit and debit card transactions.

If you are making a prepayment please use the patients date of birth as the invoice number. Payments are processed through a secure Windcave payment system. Any credit card or debit card details stored for payment are done so on Windcave in compliance with legislative requirements.

EFTPOS and most Credit Cards. Please note we do not accept AMEX. Credit cards can be accepted over the telephone.

In addition to the above methods, we also accept direct credit to our nominated bank account 3 days prior to admission:

Internet Banking – Bank of New Zealand (BNZ)

Account: 02-0108-0418759-003

Account Name: Evolution Healthcare NZ Ltd

Reference: Patient Name

Code: Patient Date of Birth

We are pleased to offer our patients a convenient way to pay for their healthcare needs.

With 12 months no payments and no interest* on treatments $200 and over, you can get the treatment you want, when you want it.

Talk to your Specialist today to find out if this payment option is available for your treatment.

*12 months no payments and no interest (“Payment Holiday”) is available on Q Card Flexi Payment Plans. Minimum spend $200. Account Fees may apply. A $55 Establishment Fee for new Q Cardholders and a $35 Advance Fee for existing Q Cardholders will apply. Q Card Standard Interest Rate applies to any outstanding balance at end of Payment Holiday. Offer is ongoing. Q Card lending criteria, fees, terms and conditions apply.

Other costs / payment options

Additional costs that may apply to your admission

Take home medications

You will need to pay for any take-home medication when you are discharged.

Mobility equipment

We have a variety of mobility equipment for hire or purchase (e.g. crutches and walking frames).

Physiotherapy

Your specialist and nursing staff will discuss with you the need for any physiotherapy. There is an additional cost for this service.

Occupational therapy

We can facilitate an occupational therapist to visit you at home to assist with your requirements on discharge. There is an additional cost for this.

Ambulance transfer costs

In the unlikely event that your condition deteriorates and requires the care of another facility, a transfer will be arranged. In the case of private patients there is a fee charged by the Ambulance Service. This fee may not be covered by medical insurance.

If you have health insurance and your procedure is covered by your health insurance policy, you must obtain “prior approval” before admission and bring this letter with you on admission. In such cases, you will not have to pay for your procedure, except for any co-payment or excess which may apply. A prompt claim from your insurer, and settlement by you of any shortfall, is expected – please refer to Terms and Conditions of Payment, or contact us for more information.

It is important to bear in mind that if your surgery is only partially funded by insurance, you will be asked to make a prepayment for the expected balance or to pay the balance of your account prior to leaving our hospital.

Also depending on your insurance provider and policy, you may still receive a separate account from your specialist, anaesthetist and any other independent health provider (e.g. physiotherapist, radiology, and laboratory).

If your treatment is covered by ACC please bring your letter of approval and present it on admission.

Your surgery can only go ahead with ACC’s approval. We suggest that you confirm this with your surgeon prior to admission.

If your surgery has been approved under an ACC elective contract, your hospital accounts will be paid directly by ACC. You are required to pay any personal expenses incurred such as a refundable bond for mobility equipment loaned to you, or any ancillary charges that you may incur (e.g. suite upgrade, toll calls etc).

If approval is under ACC Regulations (co-payment), the shortfall applicable is due for payment as per our Terms and Conditions of Payment.

We take pride in our DHB Partnership to serve our community. If your surgery is by the DHB, there is no charge other than any ancillary charges that may be incurred (e.g. suite upgrade, etc).

Terms and conditions of payment

Payment terms are 7 days following date of invoice.

Any balance remaining unpaid 1 month after the date of invoice will attract interest at the rate of 14% per annum. Interest will be calculated daily from the due date of invoice and may be added to the outstanding balance at the end of each calendar month, up to the actual date of payment.

Any debt collection, legal or other costs incurred in the collection of outstanding amounts will also be payable by you, known as the debtor. Any variation to these terms will be at the discretion of hospital management.

If there is a delay with your insurance claim, or another reason that you are not able to pay your account within 7 days (1 month for insurance claims) of the date of invoice, please ensure you contact us before the due date.

If you have any queries or concerns regarding your hospital account, please discuss these with our hospital accounts staff.