Fees and Billing
How do we set out fees?
Acorn Anaesthesia LLP sets its own fees using national guidelines published by the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI). We set our fees according to the voluntary code of practice for billing private patients from the AAGBI and also use AAGBI guidance from the published document, ‘Anaesthetic practice in the independent sector’. Our fee schedule is available on the website here.
How much will my Anaesthetic Cost?
If you are funding your procedure yourself as a total care package (TCP) with a private hospital, then the anaesthetic fee should be included in your bill and there should be no additional charge. It is your responsibility to check your anaesthetic fee is covered by the TCP as you will be responsible for any shortfall if applicable. If you are funding a procedure not covered by a total care package arrangement, then your fee will have been quoted in advance by your Consultant Anaesthetist for this procedure.
If you are using private medical insurance to help pay for your treatment, we charge a fee based on the code for your procedure given to you by your surgeon or the hospital. You may have been given multiple codes if you are having more than one procedure.
Will my Insurance cover all the Anaesthetic fee?
Some private medical insurers publish a schedule that determines the level of reimbursement that they offer to their customers for any given anaesthetic procedure. The companies do not determine the anaesthetic fee itself.
This may mean that Acorn Anaesthesia LLP has chosen to set a fee higher than that reimbursed by your Private Medical Insurer.
Acorn Anaesthesia LLP only works with Consultant Anaesthetists registered with the General Medical Council, all of whom undergo regular annual appraisal and subsequent revalidation as required by our professional bodies. This is so we can maintain the very highest standards of care for our patients.
This means that your Consultant Anaesthetist, despite being recognised and registered by both the General Medical Council and Royal College of Anaesthetists, may be referred to as ‘not fee assured or not recognised’ by your insurer. They may choose to only partially reimburse or not contribute any payment towards your anaesthetic fees.
We strongly recommend contacting your private medical insurer before your admission as you will ultimately be responsible for the payment of your anaesthetic fees.
Please do not hesitate to contact our office if you have any queries regarding our fees. Our practice manager Suzy Kiff will be happy to answer any questions you may have and provide you with any guidance or advice as necessary.