I have been asked to forward this message re someone who may have some good
ideas about actions re: the insurance issueRegards, Mary Murphy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Samuel Weinstein" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Mary Murphy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2001 12:27 PM
Subject: Re: Just an update...
Hi Mary,SusanJane mentioned the insurance isssue and we tried with our
insurerr for yoga and breastfeeding consultes ect but they said no and
because of the collapse our premiums would also double.So I emailed one of
our founders Jane who now lives over east but is very world smart and
involved. I include her reply below and a draft letter she scratched out
for you to work with. I am positive she is ok if you email her direct for
help as well or contact names at brokers ect. I have only sent this to you
as I thought it had better have a central consensus on how it is worked
out. Let me know if there is any way you need help including if you need a
mass letter singning of a pre-done letter.Or a few moms with babes to get
out in front of some office or news coverage.However I feel strongly that
before that happens you should try Janes way.
Good Luck
Sam the Family Nurturing Centre
-------------------- Begin Forwarded Message --------------------
From: Jane Oliver, INTERNET:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Samuel Weinstein, FncConsciousParentingHelpline
Date: Sun, 8 Jul 2001 7:10:12 PM
RE: Re: Just an update...
Dear Sam
How amazing! I have just spent 19 working hours negotiating an insurance
package for our local Community organisation - who wants to take teenagers
on wild weekends in the bush with abseiling, and trips in buses to see
polar
bears and dolphins.
For 24 kids to do it, it will cost us $4,667 for one year.
(Public Liability $10,000,000 with Professional & Products Liabilit thrown
in - which covers faulty goods, negligence, and physical damage, plus
trauma.)
We got rejected by 7 underwriters. Finally, TRITON insurance provided it,
and it was negotiated through the ARADLAY INSURANCE BROKERS (who cover many
community organisations across Australia). They bulk-negotiate to keep
rates
down (but they re not that cheap).
ARADLAY INSURANCE BROKERS:
Tel: (02) 9953 7722.
Whoever is doing the research should also advise their local member of the
troubles, and also prepare the State Member to lobby on their behalfs by
sending out a press release about their plight.
Be prepared for a hefty premium - this sicko Insurance Industry is getting
paranoid and finally getting accountable, so they're being very picky about
who they will insure and who they won't.
The Midwives would be very clever to show statistics in writing, that show
what a low-risk rate they have, AND be careful with the fact that "home
births" are governmental-statistics-wise considered to be those that occur
during transition to hospital (in vehicles). All requests from the midwives
should be handled in writing � particularly as if the case gets really
difficult, documentation showing professional and careful applications for
insurance have been made.
Failing Aradlay, the HIH Collapse has certain regulatory obligations to
fulfil in terms of new insurers, and the HIH Helpline (whatever yours is in
the WA) should be really hassled to pass this on to another large insurance
company.
MAKE A NOISE - WE DID AND INVOLVED OUR FEDERAL MINISTER TO REDUCE OUR
PREMIUM FROM $10,000 TO $4667. PLAY THE GAME QUICKLY, OTHERWISE IT COULD
CRIPPLE THE MOVEMENT. GET YOUR MEMBERS TO START WRITING LETTERS.
(sample here)> KEEP IT BRIEF - NO SENTENCES WITH MORE THAN 11 WORDS
WHEREVER POSSIBLE - SO THAT THE MINISTER WILL READ IT, AND THEIR PRESS
CORPS WILL HANDLE IT EFFECTIVELY.
"DEAR MINISTER
WE WERE DISMAYED TO DISCOVER THAT OUR MOST PROFESSIONAL AND ACTIVELY
INVOLVED HOME BIRTH UNIT, THE "WHATEVER THEY'RE CALLED INC." HAVE BEEN
FACED
WITH EXTREME OPERATING DIFFICULTIES AS A RESULT OF THE COLLAPSE OF HIH
INSURANCE. THIS IS A GROUP WHO HAVE NO (OR FEW?) CLAIMS ON THEIR PREVIOUS
PREMIUMS SINCE (199?) AND OPERATE CLOSELY WITH THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
HOME BIRTHS IN OUR DISTRICT PROVIDE AN EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE, REDUCING
PRESSURE ON THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM. MORE IMPORTANTLY, A PROPERLY INSURED
MIDWIFE GIVES A DEMOCRATIC CHOICE TO WEST AUSTRALIAN WOMEN TO BIRTH THEIR
BABIES NATURALLY AT HOME WITHOUT MEDICAL INTERVENTION AND WITH THE SUPPORT
THEY NEED TO HAVE A STRESS-FREE START FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
IN THIS ELECTION YEAR, WE WOULD CONSIDER THIS A CRITICAL FAMILY MANAGEMENT
ISSUE, UPON WHICH MY VOTE DEPENDS. I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOUR INTERVENTION
WILL SEE THIS ORGANISATION RECEIVE PROPER INSURANCE AT A FAIR PREMIUM. YOUR
ADVICE WOULD BE SINCERELY AND GRATEFULLY RECEIVED.
YOURS SINCERELY
JANE OLIVER
MOTHER
2 CHILDREN
(ONE HOSPITAL BORN, ONE BIRTHED AT HOME.)
MEMBER,
FAMILY NURTURING CENTRE (
WOOPS I'M UNFINANCIAL :>)
Lots of love,
Jane.
on 7/7/01 2:00am, Samuel Weinstein at
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> Hi Jane just thought you might have a contact . The Homebirth midwives
> insurance company has been affected by the collapse of that big insurer.
> The need to insure for 10 million and are now having trouble finding
anyone
> to insure them which is a very serious problem as they cannot step into a
> hospital without insurancce. Any ideas.
> Love Sam
>
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Date: Mon, 09 Jul 2001 09:06:09 +1000
Subject: Re: Just an update...
From: Jane Oliver <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Samuel Weinstein <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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