Hemorrhoid surgery
What is hemorrhoid surgery?1
Hemorrhoids, commonly called piles, are lumps that occur inside and around the anus. They are usually caused by straining when going to the toilet because of constipation, and sometimes occur during pregnancy or labour.
Hemorrhoid surgery is an operation to remove severe hemorrhoids. It’s usually performed in hospital as a day procedure under general anaesthetic (you’ll be ‘put to sleep’). The surgery is simple and safe, but recovery can take weeks and be painful.2
Hemorrhoids often don’t require surgery. They can be treated with medicines or nonsurgical procedures. They may also be avoided by eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, drinking enough water, and getting regular exercise.
Hemmorhoid surgery is usually performed by a gastroenterologist.
The medical term for hemorrhoid surgery is hemorrhoidectomy.
Note: The proper spelling of ‘hemorrhoid’ is actually haemorrhoid. We have used ‘hemorrhoid’ here because it’s the more commonly used spelling.
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Public and private hospital options
It’s important to understand how getting your procedure in a public or private hospital differs.
| Question | Public system (Without health insurance) | Private system (With health insurance) |
|---|---|---|
| Will I avoid public hospital waiting lists? |
No. |
Yes. |
| Will I be able to choose my hospital? |
No. |
Yes. |
| Will I be able to choose my doctor or surgeon? |
No. |
Yes. |
| Will I have out-of-pocket costs? |
No. |
Yes. |
What’s covered in a public hospital?
In a public hospital, hemorrhoid surgery is covered by Medicare for eligible residents.
Once you are discharged from hospital, you may still need to pay out-of-pocket for things like medicines and health services (like physiotherapy or occupational therapy).
What’s covered in a private hospital?
In a private hospital, private health insurance can cover some costs of hemorrhoid surgery.
You may have an out-of-pocket cost if you use private hospital cover when you get treatment. You can minimise some of these costs by choosing a hospital and specialist that have agreements with your health insurer.
If you have an excess on your cover, you will have to pay for that out of pocket.
What is hospital excess?
Hospital excess is the amount of money you contribute upfront (out of your own pocket) before you can claim a benefit on hospital treatment. With HBF hospital cover, you choose a set excess option when you first get hospital cover, but you can change your excess at any time.
With HBF, you only pay hospital excess once per person, per calendar year (to a maximum of twice on a family policy) when you’re admitted to hospital.
Are you an HBF member? You can check your excess in myHBF or the HBF App. This is the set amount you’ll pay when you’re admitted.
What is an out-of-pocket cost?
A hospital out-of-pocket cost is the portion of a hospital bill that you pay from your own pocket for which you won’t be reimbursed – by either health insurance or Medicare.
How to find health cover for hemorrhoid surgery
If you want private health insurance cover for hemorrhoid surgery, look for HBF hospital cover (not extras cover) that includes a category called ‘Digestive system’.
You need to hold hospital cover that includes Digestive system for two months before you can claim for it (or 12 months if you need hemorrhoid surgery due to a pre-existing condition).
Ask your GP for an open referral
Your GP is the one who’ll most likely refer you to a specialist – but you may want the option to choose your own specialist.
Asking for an open referral can let you:
- Choose your own specialist.
- Find a specialist with good availability who can perform treatment at the hospital you prefer.
- Find a specialist that you trust to perform your surgery.
- Find a specialist with minimum out-of-pocket expenses for you.
Find a gastroenterologist with minimum out-of-pocket costs
To find surgeons who have an agreement with HBF, just search for ‘gastroenterologist’ or ‘colorectal surgeon’ in our find a provider tool.
- Look for the “Full Cover” tick mark or “Access Gap Cover” tick mark.
- These specialists will help minimise your out-of-pocket cost.
If you’ve already started working with a specialist
If you’ve already got a specialist, ask them these questions:
- Do you have a Full Cover or No Gap agreement with HBF?
If they don’t, you may need to consider if their fees work with your budget. - What hospital(s) do you operate in?
You can then check if the hospital has a Full Cover or No Gap agreement with HBF.
Alternatives to hemorrhoid surgery1
Preventing constipation can be helpful in avoiding hemorrhoids. A diet high in vegetables, fruits, cereals, and water, and getting adequate exercise can help.
Alternative treatments include:
- Ointments or suppositories.
- Band ligation.
- Injection (sclerotherapy) where a chemical is injected into the hemorrhoid to numb the pain, stop any bleeding and cause it to shrink.
Hemorrhoid surgery recovery2
Many people get surgery and go home the same day. But recovery can take a few weeks and can be painful.
- The general anaesthetic might make you feel sick and tired for a few days.
- Many people need to take one to two weeks off work.
- You may have some bleeding.
- You may need to take stool softeners.
- Drink plenty of water and eat a healthy diet that is high in fibre, fruit and vegetables.
- Hemorrhoids can return.
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Further reading
