The Hidden Gap in Medicare: When Women's Health Comes with a $14,000 Price Tag

Australia’s Medicare system is often praised as one of the world’s best. And in many ways, it is — covering hospital care, GP visits, and essential medications for millions. In fact, it works so well that when we do get hit with a bill, it’s a shock.

That’s exactly what happened to me.

After years of pushing through pain, fatigue, and bloating so severe it looked like I was six months pregnant by lunchtime, I finally got some answers: fibroids. And possibly endometriosis — though, as many women know, that diagnosis is rarely simple. The solution? Surgery. The cost? $14,000.

I was stunned.

Even more confronting: the fibroids could return within two years. So not only was the surgery prohibitively expensive — it wasn’t guaranteed to be a long-term fix. With a price tag like that, it’s no wonder so many women are left to just suffer through the symptoms.

Fibroid removal (myomectomy) and endometriosis excision surgery aren’t fully covered under Medicare unless you go through the public hospital system — and wait months, even years. Going private offers faster access and surgeon choice, but the cost is sky-high. And despite fibroids affecting 1 in 3 women, and endometriosis affecting 1 in 9, these conditions remain underfunded and overlooked.

What is covered? A hysterectomy — the complete removal of the uterus.

Now, that might sound extreme, and it is. It’s major surgery, with long recovery, possible complications, and lifelong consequences. But it also comes with upsides: no more periods, no risk of cervical cancer, and no more fibroids or endometriosis recurrence. For mums who’ve finished having children, it’s a real option worth exploring.

That’s the path I chose — and I want to share a Medicare-friendly workaround.

Many private surgeons also operate in the public system. My GP referred me to a private appointment with a specialist who also worked in our local public hospital. After reviewing my options, we agreed a hysterectomy was the right step. He added me to the public hospital list, and three months later, I had surgery — completely covered by Medicare.

If you’re in the thick of this decision, know you’re not alone. Share your story below, and let’s help each other navigate a system that still has some catching up to do when it comes to women’s health.

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