Millions of patients insured with Bupa and other smaller funds would be forced to pay extra fees to use Healthscope hospitals from next month after negotiations between the insurer and private healthcare giant broke down.

Healthscope said on Tuesday it would take the unusual step of charge patients insured with Bupa an extra $50 per day – or $100 for an overnight stay – if they want to be treated at one of its 38 hospitals from November 26. The company, the second-largest operator of private hospitals, is hoping to pressure insurers into giving it more funding to offset soaring wages.