A new study by Compare the Market Australia has revealed that Australians pay some of the world’s most competitive rates for common surgeries.
The study, which looked at the average cost of common surgeries across six countries, showed that major surgeries within Australia typically saw among the lowest costs compared to other countries, with colonoscopies within Australia slightly edging out Canada as the cheapest. Appendectomies, cataract surgeries, gastric bypasses and rhinoplasties within Australia also saw relatively low costs.
In contrast, hip and knee replacements within Australia saw significantly higher costs when compared to other countries within the study, with Australian hip replacements seeing a price of more than double that of the cheapest country, Germany.
Canada was the cheapest country in the study for cataract surgeries, gastric bypasses and knee replacements, while Germany was the most affordable destination for hip replacements and rhinoplasties.
America was the most expensive country for four of the seven procedures within the index (appendectomy, gastric bypass, hip replacement, and knee replacement), with cataract surgeries and colonoscopies among the most expensive.
Global Cost of Surgeries (AUD)
| Country | Appendectomy | Cataract Surgery | Colonoscopy | Gastric Bypass | Hip Replacement | Knee Replacement | Rhinoplasty |
| Australia | $6,185 | $4,700 | $2,050 | $14,300 | $25,600 | $23,200 | $10,300 |
| Canada | $6,737 | $3,818 | $2,502 | $11,994 | $19,033 | $17,680 | $11,488 |
| Germany | $12,018 | $14,939 | – | $13,993 | $12,018 | $29,667 | $9,054 |
| New Zealand | $11,679 | $4,495 | $2,783 | $24,037 | $26,411 | $27,041 | $16,845 |
| USA | $29,779 | $6,186 | $4,700 | $39,723 | $44,755 | $55,612 | $9,525 |
| United Kingdom | $4,937 | $6,564 | $5,332 | $21,014 | $22,087 | $21,014 | $13,839 |
Compare the Market’s Executive General Manager of Health Insurance, Steven Spicer, notes how private health insurance can help you with the surgery process.
“Surgeries are scary for anyone, especially those paying out of pocket,” Mr Spicer said.
“Having private hospital insurance in Australia can help you cover the costs of your surgery, provided your policy includes the procedure you need and you are out of the waiting period.
“Being treated in a private hospital presents many benefits, including your choice of available doctor, a private room to recover in (provided one is available), and the ability to avoid potentially long public waiting lists.
“When looking at health insurance policies, it’s important to search around to look for the best cover for your health status and lifestyle.”
For the full results, please visit: Global Cost of Surgeries
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For interviews and more information, please contact:
Lachlan Moore | [email protected]
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