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
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)
