Re: [ozmidwifery] Private Health Funds
Further to Justines fantastic comments HBA do offer a refund to Private midwives somewhere in the vacinity of $1500 I am told. The person to speak to is Jenny Doherty 99374074 Wen - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2006 7:06 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] Private Health Funds Can anyone assist with their knowledge of private health funds ? Which health fund covers the best for midwifery care I have a lady looking at care for her next pregnancy having a history of 3 lscs after 2 vaginal births and we have sought the support of an obstetrician thus the attempt to look at joining a health fund prior to conception ? Any help appreciated Marie Heath Midwyf Services No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.10.9/417 - Release Date: 8/11/2006
Re: [ozmidwifery] Private Health Funds
Ping Bullock wrote: TEACHERS FEDERATION HEALTH: An SA midwife has just had a client with this company who is expecting to receive $1500 from them to cover her homebirth. The midwife had to give her an invoice with her ABN on it, setting out how much she had been charged for antenatal, birth/labour postnatal, as they were specific about how much they would reimburse for each 'part'. Yeah that was me, last year. They did eventually pay $1500 after we both (me new mum) jumped through some hoops to satisfy criteria they were probably making up on the spot. Im birthing with the same woman again (due any day now), so Im hoping it will be more straight forward this time seeing as they've now dealt with this before (with the same client even!). The problem seems to be that they just dont deal with this situation often enough to really know what to do with it, ie have identified procedures etc. I agree with Justine, the more women ask about it then ask Why the hell not?, the more its in their faces they then have to create policy. I think its worth while to add that 'other' insurance companies *do* offer homebirth/midwifery reimbursement - health insurance is a very competitive business, a few of them make a big deal about offering 'alternative therapies' cover to attract a wider client base - if they want to trot out the 'numbers' argument (ie the number of women wanting homebirths is very small so why should they offer 'specialised' insurance to such a minority), just remind them that it wasnt very long ago that NO insurance companies offered rebates for homeopathy acupuncture etc - these therapies were only accessed by 'hippies', werent they? cheers -- Jennifairy Gillett RM Midwife in Private Practice Women’s Health Teaching Associate ITShare volunteer – Santos Project Co-ordinator ITShare SA Inc - http://itshare.org.au/ ITShare SA provides computer systems to individuals groups, created from donated hardware and opensource software -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: [ozmidwifery] Private Health Funds
Dear Jennifairy Please if possible get your Mum to write a quick letter to the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman outlining her concerns and previous treatment. Also if $1500 is not the full amount repaid (which I assume it isn't) then also why does the fund discriminate against wellness re maternity when it promotes it in other areas. If we know he is receiving letters we can then lobby him JC -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: [ozmidwifery] Private Health Funds
Hi all NSW Teachers Federation Health Society also pays out ... Home Births by a qualified midwife (9 months waiting period) A benefit of up to $850, including antenatal and post natal visits, for services of a registered midwife nurse in private practice. (Confinement $500) Defence Health Commonwealth Bank NRMA (through MBF) Grand United also pay (ask your midwife to register with them 02 9370 6712 or toll free on 1800 800 245 outside Sydney) . Government Employees Health Fund (postnatal care only) Navy Health (call 1300 30 6289 to register with them) Manchester Unity (only if your midwife has PI insurance) NIB Healthcover also will provide a one off payout if you have been a long-standing member Cheers Jan Jan Robinson Independent Midwife Practitioner National Coordinator Australian Society of Independent Midwives 8 Robin Crescent South Hurstville NSW 2221 Phone/Fax: 02 9546 4350 e-mail address: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> website: www.midwiferyeducation.com.au On 13 Aug, 2006, at 21:21, Justine Caines wrote: Dear Marie and All Australian Unity offer $2000 towards HB (I don’t know if they cover midwifery outside the home). I assume this is a planned Hosp birth with 1-2-1 Mid. MBF are now hard to deal with but even when they were good they only pay for one or the other ie HB or Hopsital services. They have in the past paid the whole amount but now you would need to fight for that. They do not advertise this at all. All arrangements are 1 off’s If the woman is going public with the Ob (Assume that’s where you’d get the support) then it should be fine. NIB offer Mid services (only $750) so pretty poor. I believe HBA also cover midwifery. I can’t find it on their site however. I would ask that even if she goes with Aust Unity that she writes to them and seeks the full amount she is charged. It is ridiculous for PH funds to pay out $5000 to $15,000 for a c/s (often with no medical indication) and yet peanuts for midwifery. But unless we ask we won’t get. Also could she please cc this to the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman (I’ll attach some points for her letter to both the PH fund and the Ombudsman below) JC Private Health Insurance Ombudsman Mr John Powlay (and this is from their site) www.phio.org.au You can raise a complaint with us by phone, email, fax or letter. Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Private Health Insurance Ombudsman Level 7, 362 Kent Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Complaints Hotline:1800 640 695 Telephone: (02) 8235 8777 Facsimile: (02) 8235 8778 Points to raise to PH Funds and the Ombudsman in support of Midwifery Care *There are more babies born each year than any other health procedure. Appropriate cost effective PH options re maternity will affect all policy holders. Funds offer bonuses and incentives for maximising wellness and yet with childbirth they totally promote sickness and discourage women from maintaining wellness and minimising intervention. *In private health insurance there is absolutely no competition, it is totally medically dominated. *It is also an area that is crippling health funds (so much so that smaller funds actually tell you which Obstetrician you can see as they can only afford some). *Some funds are looking at providing a midwifery benefit (as they recognise the huge cost saving) but where is the Government support?? Still no assistance with insurance. - (this would be for the Ombudsman) With insurance all funds could offer choice (that would also double as a HUGE cost saver). Importantly it would also make PHI a viable option for rural consumers (currently as most rural areas do not have private Obs or even Obs there is no point joining up). This shows what a giant waste of money PHI is in its current form. (this would be for the Ombudsman)
RE: [ozmidwifery] Private Health Funds
http://www.bellybelly.com.au/articles/conception/private-health-funds-coveri ng-midwifery-and-homebirth Best Regards, Kelly Zantey Creator, BellyBelly.com.au Gentle Solutions From Conception to Parenthood BellyBelly Birth Support - http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth-support -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tania Smallwood Sent: Sunday, 13 August 2006 8:17 PM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] Private Health Funds I think MC have done a bit of a roundup of this...not sure where to look but their website would be a good place to start. Tania At 7:06 PM +1000 13/8/06, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Can anyone assist with their knowledge of private health funds ? Which health fund covers the best for midwifery care - I have a lady looking at care for her next pregnancy having a history of 3 lscs after 2 vaginal births - and we have sought the support of an obstetrician - thus the attempt to look at joining a health fund prior to conception ? Any help appreciated Marie Heath Midwyf Services -- Jo Bourne Virtual Artists Pty Ltd -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.10.9/417 - Release Date: 11/08/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.10.9/417 - Release Date: 11/08/2006 -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
