Paying $4,000/year for private health insurance, then copping a $1,500 gap fee on top? There’s a better way.
Get the same procedure at JCI-accredited hospitals in Chennai for less than your gap fee alone — no insurance premiums, no excess, no surprise bills. Just straightforward pricing.
Let’s Talk About Gap Fees
You know the drill: You’ve paid private health insurance premiums all year. You pay your $750 excess. Medicare pays 75% of the MBS fee, your insurer pays 25%. But the doctor charges above the MBS fee.
Result? You’re still out of pocket.
The average gap for hip and knee replacements is now $1,531. That’s on top of your premiums and excess. As one health economist put it: “People are paying for insurance and then they’re paying twice. They’re paying for the privilege of paying.”
Here’s the thing: That same hip replacement in Chennai costs $10,000-$12,000 AUD all-inclusive — surgery, hospital stay, post-op care, medications. Even with flights ($1,500-$2,000), you’re still paying less than the Australian gap fee alone, and you’re not shelling out insurance premiums all year.
What It Actually Costs
Here’s an honest comparison. All prices in AUD:
| Procedure | Public Wait Time | Private (Premium + Excess + Gap) | Chennai All-Inclusive | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip Replacement | 43+ days average | $4,000 premium + $750 excess + $1,531 gap = $6,281/year | $10,000-$12,000 (one-off) | Pay once, no ongoing premiums |
| Knee Replacement | 43+ days average | $4,000 premium + $750 excess + $1,531 gap = $6,281/year | $9,000-$11,000 (one-off) | Pay once, no ongoing premiums |
| Cardiac Bypass | Varies by urgency | $4,000 premium + $750 excess + gap fees = $7,000-$10,000+ | $12,000-$15,000 (one-off) | No insurance needed |
| Spinal Fusion | Weeks to months | $4,000 premium + $750 excess + gap fees = $8,000-$12,000+ | $11,000-$13,000 (one-off) | Transparent total cost |
| Cataract Surgery | 8-16 weeks | $4,000 premium + $750 excess + gap = $6,000-$8,000 | $3,500-$4,500 (one-off) | $2K-$4K saved |
| Hysterectomy | Varies | $4,000 premium + $750 excess + gap = $6,000-$9,000 | $6,000-$8,000 (one-off) | No annual premiums |
| IVF (Per Cycle) | Public rarely covers | $10,000-$15,000 (limited insurance coverage) | $5,000-$6,000 (one-off) | $4K-$9K saved per cycle |
Chennai costs include: Surgery, surgeon fees, hospital stay, post-op care, all medications, follow-up consultations. Add ~$1,500-$2,000 for return flights and you know your total cost upfront. No gap fees, no surprises, no ongoing premiums.
Your Three Options
Public Hospital (Medicare)
Cost: Free with Medicare
Wait time: 43 days average (315 days for some procedures)
Quality: Good public healthcare
The issue: Waiting months while dealing with pain, reduced mobility, and time off work. For many, it’s just not practical.
Australian Private
Cost: $4,000/year premiums + $750 excess + $685-$1,531 gap fees
Wait time: Shorter, but still weeks
Quality: Same surgeons as public system
The reality: You’re paying three times — insurance premiums, excess, and gap fees. Out-of-pocket costs up 71% in five years. As many Aussies are finding, you’re “paying for the privilege of paying.”
Chennai Treatment
Cost: $7,000-$15,000 all-inclusive (one payment, no ongoing costs)
Wait time: 2-3 weeks from inquiry to treatment
Quality: JCI-accredited hospitals (same standards as Australian private hospitals)
The difference: Pay once, know the total cost upfront, no gap fees ever. Quality care without the insurance runaround. It’s why 15,000 Aussies already do this annually.
Is the Quality Actually Comparable?
Fair question. Here’s the straight answer:
JCI Accreditation = Same Standards as Australian Private Hospitals
JCI (Joint Commission International) is the global standard for hospital accreditation. It’s the same organization that accredits top Australian private hospitals. Of the 26 Chennai hospitals we work with, six hold JCI accreditation — meaning they meet identical standards to Australian private facilities.
The remaining twenty hold NABH certification (India’s national hospital accreditation). Both require:
- Regular independent audits
- Strict infection control protocols
- International patient safety standards
- Transparent outcome reporting
Surgeons with Western Training
Thousands of Indian surgeons hold fellowships from Royal Colleges (FRCS, MRCP). Many trained at institutions like Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, and yes, Australian medical schools. They returned to India where operational costs are lower, but medical standards remain high.
Why Is It So Much Cheaper?
Lower costs aren’t about cutting corners:
- Lower operational costs: Nursing staff, admin, and facilities cost less in India
- No gap fee games: Transparent pricing, no inflated fees above scheduled amounts
- No insurance bureaucracy: Direct billing, no claims processing overhead
- Competition: 26 accredited hospitals competing on quality and price
The medical care is equivalent. The administrative costs and profit margins are lower.
Why Chennai Over Thailand or Bali?
Most Aussies think of Thailand or Bali first. Here’s the honest comparison:
Thailand’s Advantages
- Close proximity (6-9 hour flight)
- Familiar holiday destination
- Good for dental work and simple procedures
Where Chennai Pulls Ahead
- More JCI facilities: Chennai has 6 JCI-accredited hospitals. Thailand has more overall, but Chennai’s concentration means better choice.
- Specialization in complex procedures: 150+ international surgeries daily across Chennai hospitals = refined protocols for cardiac, orthopedic, transplant, and complex spine work.
- English as medical language: All doctors speak fluent English. Medical records in English. No translation issues.
- Lower infection rates: JCI-accredited Chennai hospitals report infection rates of 0.5-1.5%, comparable to top Australian hospitals.
- Similar flight time: Perth to Chennai is actually closer than Perth to Bangkok (7.5 hours direct vs 8+ hours).
- Cost advantage: Even compared to Thailand, Chennai is 10-20% cheaper for major procedures.
When to Choose Thailand
- Dental work (established infrastructure)
- Simple cosmetic procedures
- You want beach recovery
When to Choose Chennai
- Major orthopedic surgery (hip/knee, spine)
- Cardiac procedures (bypass, valves)
- Transplants (kidney, liver)
- Complex cancer treatment
- Fertility treatment (high IVF success rates)
How It Works
No mucking about. Here’s the process:
Get Your Quote
Send us your medical records and scans. We’ll get verified quotes from JCI-accredited hospitals. Total cost upfront, no gap fees hidden in fine print.
Review & Decide
Compare costs, check surgeon credentials, ask questions. Take your time. We’re not here to pressure you — just provide straight information.
We Sort Logistics
If you go ahead, we coordinate everything: hospital scheduling, visa help, flights, accommodation, airport pickup. You just turn up.
Treatment & Home
Get your procedure, recover 5-7 days in Chennai, then home. Your Australian GP receives full medical records for follow-up care.
Timeline: Quote within 48 hours → Treatment in 2-3 weeks → Home in 7-10 days
Total time away: About a week for most procedures. Fly out Saturday, surgery Monday/Tuesday, home the following weekend.
Why Anvita Medtours
We’re not all the same. Here’s what sets us apart:
| What We Do | What Others Do |
|---|---|
| Fixed transparent fee — Hospital rates passed directly to you, no markup | Commission-based (15-25% added to your bill) |
| Best hospital match — We recommend based on your condition from 26 accredited options | Limited to hospitals paying highest commission |
| Medical advisor reviews every case — Independent physician oversight | Just booking coordination, no medical review |
| Full support — From inquiry through recovery and Australian GP coordination | Support ends at hospital discharge |
| Total cost upfront — No surprises, no hidden gap fees | Hidden markups, surprise charges |
How we price: Fixed coordination fee + hospital’s negotiated rate = your total. No markup on medical costs. See our complete pricing breakdown →
What You Get
- Verified cost estimates — Real quotes from JCI-accredited hospitals, reviewed by our medical advisor
- Complete transparency — Total cost before you commit. No gap fees appearing later.
- Hospital matching — Best facility for your condition, not our commission
- Full coordination — Visa, flights, accommodation, airport pickup, hospital admission — sorted
- 24/7 support in Chennai — English-speaking coordinator throughout your stay
- Australian GP coordination — Complete medical records sent to your doctor for seamless follow-up
- No sales pressure — This is a big decision. We provide information, you decide.
Why Chennai
Chennai is India’s medical capital, attracting 45% of the country’s international patients:
- 26 internationally accredited hospitals in one city
- English-speaking medical staff — No language barriers
- 350+ years of medical heritage — India’s first hospital established here in 1664
- Latest technology — Robotic surgery, advanced imaging, modern facilities
- High volume = better outcomes — 150+ international surgeries daily across the city
Learn more: Why Chennai Leads India in Medical Tourism
You’re Not Alone
Medical tourism is growing fast among Aussies:
- 15,000 Australians already travel abroad for treatment annually
- 57% of Aussies would consider medical tourism to escape gap fees
- Top reason: Cost savings (37% cited this as primary motivation)
- Most popular destinations: Thailand, India, South Korea, Turkey, Malaysia
It’s not experimental — it’s an established option for Aussies fed up with paying insurance premiums, excess fees, and gap fees all at once.
Ready to See What It Costs?
Get a verified cost estimate. No obligation, no pressure. See what your procedure actually costs without gap fees.
Straight answers. No sales pitch. Just honest information about your options.
15,000 Australians already travel abroad for treatment annually. They’re not taking risks — they’re making practical decisions to avoid gap fees and insurance runarounds. If you’re tired of paying for the privilege of paying, this might be worth a look.
Related Links
- Cultural Tips & Etiquette for International Travellers International