What does it mean for patients if St Vincent’s and NIB fail to reach a funding deal?

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The hospital network says it will walk away from its contract with the private health insurer in three months if a fairer agreement can’t be reached. Has this situation happened before?

St Vincent’s says that in its 167-year history it has never given notice to a private health fund that it intends to end an agreement.St Vincent’s says that in its 167-year history it has never given notice to a private health fund that it intends to end an agreement.

Ben Harris, the director of policy and research at Private Healthcare Australia​, says these agreements are in the interests of both insurers and hospitals; the health fund wants to make sure their members can get treated in good hospitals, and hospitals want to be well paid to provide that treatment.St Vincent’s says it has never – in its 167-year history – given notice to a private health fund that it intended to end an agreement.

In the case of St Vincent’s and NIB, NIB members will remain covered as usual for any treatment at St Vincent’s hospitals while the parties work through negotiations. What if a patient is admitted to hospital after the agreement has terminated and I am not covered by the transitional arrangements? The hospital should provide patients with an estimate of fees outlining any out-of-pocket expenses they will need to pay before admission, the ombudsman says.

 

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