AT HEALTHSCOPE HOSPITALS
A new Hospital Facility Fee will apply for some private health fund members at Healthscope Hospitals from November 26.
THE NEW FEE
The new fee will be $100 for overnight patients (per admission) and $50 for same day patients (per admission) for members of some private health funds.
This fee will go towards allowing Healthscope to sustainably offer high quality patient care going forward.
This fee will sit alongside other hospital out-of-pocket fees patients are already required to pay, which may include insurer excesses and co-payments.
EXEMPTIONS
Exemptions to the new fee will apply to patients undergoing treatment for chronic conditions (such as chemotherapy, and renal dialysis), mental health sessions and rehabilitation day patients. Palliative care patients will also be exempt.
WHO IS AFFECTED
See below if your private health fund is affected and what you can do to avoid paying the fee:
If you’re a member of one of these private health funds, from 26 November 2024, you will be required to pay a new insurer shortfall fee due your health insurer not providing sufficient funding to allow local Healthscope hospitals to sustainably continue providing quality healthcare. This fee will go towards allowing Healthscope to achieve this aim.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
You can avoid paying the new fee at Healthscope hospitals by switching* your private health insurance to a comparable product with another fund.
Australia's private health insurance laws allow members to move their cover to another health fund without re-serving waiting periods when transferring to a comparable product.
Compare funds for free at privatehealth.gov.au and choose a fund that is not affected.
How to Avoid the New Fee before you need a Healthscope Hospital
Step 1:
Before November 26, check to see if you’re in one of the affected private health insurance funds.
Step 2:
If you are a member of one of the affected private health funds, visit one of the links below to compare and switch to a fund that is not affected by the new fee. If your fund is not affected by the new fee, you do not need to change funds.
www.finder.com.au/health-insurance
www.compareclub.com.au/health-insurance/
www.iselect.com.au/health-insurance/
www.comparethemarket.com.au/health-insurance/
Step 3:
Make contact with your new chosen fund and ask them to help you make the switch*.
Who can I call to complain and express my concerns?
WHY are Healthscope private hospitals forced to charge a New Fee?
The private health insurers listed above are not providing sufficient funding to allow local Healthscope hospitals to sustainably continue providing quality healthcare.
Local Healthscope private hospitals rely on private health insurers to keep pace with the rising costs of local private hospitals. If private health insurers don’t properly fund local Healthscope private hospitals, they may be forced to close - adding further strain to the public hospital system. Hardworking nurses, doctors and support staff in local Healthscope private hospitals cannot do their job if their hospital is not properly funded by the health insurers.
What has Healthscope done to prevent the New Fee?
Healthscope has reached an agreement with many private health insurers, and members of those funds will not be charged the new fee. Unfortunately, the private health insurers shown above have not agreed to provide adequate funding to allow Healthscope to sustainably offer quality patient care in its hospitals going forward.
Healthscope has taken many steps to resolve this issue, including:
Working with other non-government hospital operators and industry groups to raise our collective concerns
Briefing government and asking the Minister for Health to intervene. (The result has been the federal government’s private hospital ‘health check’)
Negotiating with all funds, and we are still negotiating with the funds that are affected
Briefing colleges, societies and other relevant consumer and practice groups to seek their support
Implementing as many efficiencies as possible without compromising on our high-quality services and patient care
Unfortunately closing some services.
*Private health insurance is complex and it can be difficult to compare health insurance products. You should discuss your health insurance needs with the fund you are proposing to switch to so that you understand the new product, how it differs from your current product and can confirm that the product is right for you. Make sure you consider the products excess, co-payment, full cost and all out of pocket expenses that will apply in the event you require treatment at a hospital. You should also consider if you are obtaining a comparable product. If you switch to a comparable product with another fund that has the same level of benefits and same conditions as your current product, you will not have to re-serve any waiting periods that have already been served.