Insured patients warned not to waive right to public care

All patients are entitled to free public care, but legislation allows hospitals to charge patients with health insurance as private patients.

Patients considering waiving their right to public healthcare in hospital should not do so until sitting in a private bed, a leading health insurance expert has advised.

All patients are entitled to free public care, but legislation allows hospitals to charge patients with health insurance as private patients. This was the subject of a High Court judgement in July outlining details of a previous decision which said patients can only be charged if they agree to this.