How Much Does Haemorrhoid Surgery Cost?

What are haemorrhoids? 

Haemorrhoids, also known as piles, are lumps that grow in and around your anus. Excess pressure on your veins and blood vessels can cause them. This tends to come about if you strain while constipated. However, there are other risk factors, like if you’re regularly lifting heavy objects, are overweight, experiencing diarrhoea or are pregnant. Even your age can play a part, with haemorrhoids most often occurring for those aged between 45 and 65. They can also be more common in certain families (but we understand if this is a discussion you skip at your next family reunion).  

Although it’s very possible to have haemorrhoids without symptoms, this isn’t always the case. Symptoms can range from mild, like a little discomfort around your anus, to more worrying, like severe pain and/or bright red blood after a bowel movement. (The latter is also a symptom of bowel cancer and should be checked out by a doctor as soon as possible.) If you’re experiencing pain, you could be dealing with a prolapsed haemorrhoid — that’s an internal haemorrhoid that’s protruding. 

Some haemorrhoids can be left to go away on their own. However, if they’re causing you pain, it may be worthwhile sending them packing. To do so, there are a lot of options, including over-the-counter and prescribed medications and creams. Your GP or another doctor might also be able to help with internal haemorrhoid treatments like: 

• photocoagulation, where an infrared light burns the haemorrhoid away
• sclerotherapy, where a chemical is injected into them, numbing the area and causing the haemorrhoid to shrink
• banding, where a tight band goes around the haemorrhoid to cut off its blood supply, leading it to fall off. 

For more complicated cases, like larger prolapsed haemorrhoids, or when other treatments haven’t worked, you may need a haemorrhoidectomy. This haemorrhoid surgery can include cutting away the haemorrhoids, pulling them back inside the rectum and stapling them in place, or even closing the arteries that feed them to cut off their blood supply so they shrink. You’ll need to go into hospital to have this surgery. 

How much does haemorrhoid surgery cost? 

If you choose to use the public hospital system for your haemorrhoidectomy, Medicare will cover the surgery costs. 

If you have hospital cover, you also have the option of using your health insurance to go through the private system. This can mean some out-of-pocket costs, though. For instance, in 2022–23, 69% of private patients who used their health insurance to pay for the surgery had out-of-pocket costs, which typically amounted to $350.¹Medical Costs Finder – Excisional hemorrhoidectomy
These are the amounts patients typically paid for these services, rounded to the nearest dollar. They do not include hospital payments such as excesses, co-payments or other payments. These fees may vary depending on your situation. Not all patients had out-of-pocket costs; those who didn’t aren’t included in these figures. Data retrieved August 2024. This doesn’t include hospital fees, like accommodation, though. 

While choosing to go private might mean some out-of-pocket costs, it does also mean you can enjoy the benefits of being a private patient and skipping the public waiting list. 

Are there out-of-pocket costs for haemorrhoid surgery? 

Your out-of-pocket costs as a private patient can depend on your insurer, policy, and choice of hospital and doctor. 

For starters, you could have a gap payment to cover the difference between what your doctor charges and what your insurer covers. 

You could also have an excess to pay. This is a set amount you’ll need to pay towards your surgery before your insurer will take care of the rest (or up to their set limit). Having a greater excess can mean you pay less in health insurance premiums, but come surgery time, you’ll need to handle that bigger excess along with any out-of-pocket costs. 

Additionally, you may need to make a co-payment. This is a set fee for every day you’re in hospital. For a haemorrhoid surgery, you’re unlikely to be there longer than a day, so you’ll probably only need to make one co-payment. Like a larger excess, opting for a co-payment can help you keep health insurance premiums within your budget, but could mean more out-of-pocket costs. 

Your health insurance policy documents will state whether you have an excess and co-payment, and how much these are. 

What about costs after haemorrhoid surgery? 

Despite your hemorrhoidectomy usually only being a day surgery, you’ll probably still need to take extra care of yourself afterwards. Unfortunately, this can also mean a couple more out-of-pocket costs. 

For instance, recovery can take a few weeks — even requiring up to a fortnight off work — as everything settles down. As part of this, you might need to take some pain medication to help stay comfortable. Additionally, you might need to add laxatives to your shopping list. After all, constipation is often what leads to haemorrhoids, so you’ll want to avoid it moving forward.  

These medications are likely to be over the counter. This can be convenient, since you won’t need to visit your doctor for a prescription. However, this comes with the downside that likely neither the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme nor your private health insurance will cover the costs of these medications. 

Along with medications, your healthcare team might advise you to adjust your diet to minimise your risk of needing a haemorrhoidectomy again. Sadly, while a healthy, well-balanced diet is a cornerstone of looking after yourself, it’s not something Medicare or your insurer will pick up the bill for. 

How long will I have to wait for haemorrhoid surgery? 

There’s no guarantee for exactly when you’ll be next on the list for haemorrhoid surgery, whether you choose public or private. However, it’s worth noting that in 2022–23, the median wait time for this surgery at a public hospital was 90 days, with 12.8% of public patients waiting over a year.²Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – Elective surgery waiting times 2022–23 data tables

On the flip side, if you’ve only bought your health insurance policy recently or just upgraded it, you might need to get through a waiting period before you can use the private system. This can be as long as 12 months if your haemorrhoids are a pre-existing condition. If they’ve only occurred since you’ve bought the policy though, it’s just a two-month wait. Similarly, if you’ve had the policy for a while — perhaps for another condition — you may have already served your waiting period and can start booking in a time that’s convenient for you and your specialist. 

What level of health insurance do I need to cover haemorrhoid surgery? 

As standard, health insurance policies at a bronze tier and above will include cover for haemorrhoid surgery.  

Other haemorrhoid treatments, like banding and sclerotherapy for instance, will also have coverage under the same tier. This is because they fit into the standard digestive system category all private health insurers must recognise. The only difference here is that you might not need to go into hospital to have these procedures; instead, your doctor may be able to treat you at their rooms. 

For less invasive treatments, like over-the-counter medications, your health insurance will unfortunately not cover the costs. 

Where can I find and compare health insurance? 

Haemorrhoids can be more than just embarrassing; they can also be painful. But you don’t have to grin and bear it. With an appropriate level of health insurance, you can skip the public queue, pick from participating doctors and hospitals, and have your haemorrhoids removed where medically necessary. The first step, though, is finding a policy. 

Thankfully, you can compare and choose health insurance options from a range of insurers online with iSelect. Alternatively, you can speak with one of our health comparison experts on 1800 784 772.