Yes Laurie that is totally correct.
Also we have what is called a 'public health system' and a 'private health system'. Some hospitals are 'public' and some 'private', but to be confusing both can and do take both public and private patients. Mostly that dictates how the hospital is run and funded. So the wealthy would have this done as elective surgery within the private health system and pay for it all, and then pay for all after care and assistance at home. It is the public health system that have turned this person down as it is not designed to take on this kind of 'elective' surgery, but more so, the after care of the trached person.
A trach is placed in any emergency situation in the public system of course if someone comes into emergency for example as result of an accident. Usually that will involve an insurance claim anyway and the hospital will recoup the costs of the care.
When my Chris had ALS (and I want to note for any aussies reading this, that this was pre-NDIS days, so things have now changed in how they work), he was immediately granted a pension, and so was I as his carer, and all his care both in hospital, and at home was fully funded by our health system, including having a case manager, being registered with palliative care and having nurses come to the home.
The only cost for us was that any prescription medications cost a nominal fee of $6 each time they had to be filled (because he was now on a health care card).
While things are different now in how the funding for care at home, equipment, home modifications and vehicles is worked out, we are able to receive a lot of assistance. We also have awesome MND associations in each state that provide free services.