Can you please confirm where a knee replacement operation would be covered under medicare, or would it require private health insurance?

All depends on when you want it done. It can be done through medicare but you will have to wait far longer for the privilege, it's generally elective surgery.

Why is it classed as elective, when a person is virtually crippled with pain and quality of life is suffering?

'cos you won't die if it doesn't take place in a hurry.

Like creature says, it's not life saving.

Yes, it is covered by Medicare, but bear in mind that if you're done in a public hospital your wait time is likely to be very long and you're almost sure to have a registrar/fellow do your procedure (not that that's necessarily a bad thing) and you don't get to choose your consultant.

If you have private insurance you can choose who does your op, get it done sooner and usually get longer in hospital.

As Dorothy says, you will get it done sooner and you will pay more.

Having the privilege of "choosing" who does your op....to me, is not a material benefit, it is more of a fluffy feel good one. How can a member of the public ascertain the skills (or otherwise) of a medical professional ?!!!

Private hospitals like to keep you in - more fees. Public want you out as soon as medically possible so they can treat the next patient.

If it was me the best alternative would be having the surgery done in a public hospital but as a private patient.

p.s. Not all Medical Insurance covers this. I looked at my Medibank Private cover the other day and it specifically excludes hip and knee replacements - and that's one of the more inclusive policies.
[It excludes pregnancy as well but it not something us males have to worry about too much]

When we got our Medibank we looked at the one that covered cataracts, hips & knees and heart stuff. Mind you, I would defo come to RPH if I had a heart problem - but like you said, public hospital as private patient. Now to figure out who's on call so I can time my heart attack around the roster.