Victoria hospital cost estimates for non-Medicare patients 2026-27: ICU $6,881

According to health.vic.gov.au’s fee guidance for patients not covered by Medicare, the estimated average 2026-27 ICU charge is $6,881 per inpatient day; the same schedule lists $644 for a non-admitted emergency department category and $456 for hospital in the home (HITH). Outpatient estimates are $386 per medical encounter and $223 per allied-health encounter. These are guidelines rather than fixed prices: individual health services set their own fees, and separately billed medical, diagnostic, prosthesis and drug costs may add to the amount (checked 1 October 2026).

What are the estimated inpatient charges for 2026-27?

The inpatient stay charge is described as a fee per day. The published estimates are:

Patient classification	Estimated average cost for 2026-27
Same day: Medical ward	$894
Same day: Surgical ward	$917
Same day: Advanced Surgical ward	$1,585
Overnight: Medical ward	$1,957
Overnight: Surgical ward	$2,016
Overnight: Advanced Surgical	$2,702
Intensive Care Unit	$6,881
Coronary Care Unit	$2,580

The ICU figure is an estimated average daily charge, not a guaranteed total for an entire ICU stay.

What do outpatient, emergency and hospital-in-the-home estimates show?

Patient classification or category	Estimated average cost for 2026-27
Outpatient: Medical	$386
Outpatient: Allied health	$223
Emergency department: non-admitted	$644
Hospital in the home (HITH)	$456

Medical and allied health are outpatient classifications, and the source describes their charge as a fee per encounter. The schedule does not attach the same “per encounter” description to the non-admitted emergency department or HITH rows, so confirm the billing basis with the health service.

How were these estimates produced?

The inpatient estimates are based on the 2023-24 Victorian Cost Data Collection. They combine inpatient costs including nursing, ward expenses, non-clinical salaries and on-costs, plus emergency department and critical-care services where relevant. The figures also include allowances for indexation and depreciation.

The outpatient estimates start with the previous year’s charges and apply cost-growth rates aligned with the Victorian Efficient Price to estimate 2026-27 charges. Neither method makes the resulting figure a compulsory invoice or fixed price.

Why might the final fee differ from the estimate?

Several conditions affect the amount:

• Health services are required to set their own fees for patients who are not covered by Medicare, including overseas patients.
• Fees can vary between hospitals and may be calculated using a Diagnostic Related Group (DRG) or a per-day basis.
• A DRG-based fee may be calculated using the national weighted activity unit (NWAU) price weight.
• The published schedule is only a guideline, and the individual health service determines the fees charged.
• Where possible, the guidance says patients ineligible for Medicare should be charged the full cost of their care.

Consequently, an estimated average cannot be treated as a maximum price, a guaranteed quote or an all-in total.

Which charges may be billed separately?

The source says a number of costs are excluded from the listed charges. Health services should also charge for:

Item	How the source describes the charge
Treating medical practitioner	Medical costs may be billed separately by the treating practitioner
Diagnostics	May be charged at or above the Medicare Benefits Schedule
Prostheses	Charged in line with the Commonwealth’s schedule rate
Drugs	Charged at cost

These items may therefore take the final amount beyond the hospital, outpatient, emergency or HITH estimate shown above.

What should I check before receiving care?

Before admission or treatment:

1. Ask the health service for a current estimate and confirm whether it is charged per day, per encounter or under another basis.
2. Ask which practitioner, diagnostic, prosthesis and drug charges are excluded or will be billed separately.
3. Tell the billing staff if a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement or other financial assistance may apply. The guidance notes that some overseas patients are entitled to financial assistance, but eligibility must not be assumed.
4. Check your policy documents for cover, limits and exclusions relating to inpatient care, outpatient care, emergency treatment, HITH, intensive care and separately billed items.
5. Check the Department of Home Affairs information for your visa, because visa requirements may affect the cover you need.

Health.vic.gov.au also encourages people not covered by Medicare to obtain appropriate health insurance where possible because care can involve significant costs.

Sources

• Fees for patients not covered by Medicare | health.vic.gov.au

FAQ

Is $6,881 the maximum ICU charge?

No. It is an estimated average daily charge in a guideline schedule. Individual health services determine their own fees, and separately charged items may increase the final amount.

Is $6,881 the total cost of an ICU stay?

No. The source describes inpatient stay charges as a fee per day, so $6,881 is the listed estimated ICU daily charge rather than a guaranteed total for the whole stay.

Can I assume emergency or HITH care is included in another estimate?

Do not assume this from the table alone. The guidance says inpatient charges include emergency department and critical-care services where relevant, but it also lists non-admitted emergency care and HITH separately. Ask the health service what its estimate covers.

Could a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement reduce my bill?

Some overseas patients may be entitled to financial assistance, including through a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement. Eligibility varies, so ask the health service to assess any possible assistance rather than assuming it applies.

Will visitor health insurance cover the whole amount?

That depends on the policy documents. Check whether the policy covers the relevant hospital accommodation, outpatient, emergency, HITH or ICU category, as well as separately billed items, limits and exclusions. Also check the Department of Home Affairs information for your visa.