Australians insured with HCF face hundreds of dollars per night in out-of-pocket fees if they are admitted to NSW public hospitals as private patients in a private room after the health fund became the latest to slash benefits. HCF, the nation’s largest non-profit fund, advised members on Monday it was clawing back higher fees charged by public hospitals in NSW and the ACT, leaving members there with out-of-pocket expenses of $320 per night. Staying in a NSW public hospital as a private patient is about to get more expensive for HCF and Medibank members.Credit:Louise Kennerley Private Healthcare Australia says NSW and ACT public hospitals charge $752 per night for private patients in their own rooms, compared with an average $432 in other states. After announcing the fund will only pay NSW the equivalent of what it pays other states, a spokesman for HCF said the fund "understands acutely that […]