Health funds no longer covering John James and Calvary - Canberra

Hi all, 

I'm assuming others got the same email as I did today from their health fund. Mine (Defence Health) have advised that they won't be renewing agreements with the Calvary group as at 21 November. They have said that 25 other health funds will also be doing the same. 

So no more John James or Calvary at Bruce. If you are planning surgery after this date I would check this out asap with your health fund. 

I rang mine and as I am already booked they will honour the agreement. Luckily I'm super anal and have already done my admission paperwork for December. But it was all only booked last week. Talk about skin of my teeth!

How very generous of them! Did they try to make you feel grateful?

I'm no fan of catholic institutions so I'm not fussed that Calvary Bruce and John James are so broke they've just got the entire insurance industry off side, meaning they'll go out of business in short order.

I hope the public system picks up the pieces before too long.

Had a letter come through today that Teachers Health are no longer covering any Calvary Hospitals including day surgeries.  Which means going to have to change health funds there are no other private hospitals within a 300 km radius.  Does anyone have any idea which other health funds apart from Teachers Health and Defence are affected.

It's doubtful any health fund will stick with Calvary for long under the circumstances. Find or stay with any insurance company you like and get your surgery done elsewhere IMHO.

Eventually the Little Company of Mary will give up and drop their prices, or they'll go broke and sell their hospitals to the highest bidder.

Toran wrote:

Had a letter come through today that Teachers Health are no longer covering any Calvary Hospitals including day surgeries.  Which means going to have to change health funds there are no other private hospitals within a 300 km radius.  Does anyone have any idea which other health funds apart from Teachers Health and Defence are affected.

You can be admitted to a public hospital as a private patient but that is no guarantees as you own room.  Might be best to call/visit the hospital yourself as they might be lovely.  If anything isn't up scratch, the nurses will tell honestly.

There never was any guarantee of a private room at Calvary anyway. The big questions are whether Dr's Mosse and Gananadha will work at Canberra Hospital (they might, I haven't asked) and whether Canberra Hospital has the capacity to take on all the extra work from every surgeon that currently works at Calvary and John James. It's a small city with only one big public hospital. That's worrying.

I think the whole thing is pretty disgusting the problem is out here we only have a district hospital very little surgery mainly C-sections and emergencies which are mainly airlifted out. The nearest Base hospital is 300 km away where the only private hospital is.  I've already had my surgery but for anyone in my area to have any form of specialised surgery even heart we have to go to Sydney 7 hours away, so for minor including Tonsils (not in district hospital) to give an example even private in the base hospital can take up to 18 months wait I've heard of longer.

I just hope they come around from the pressure otherwise it won't matter who's running the place to people out here.  I have heard from others that HCF will still cover, maybe they'll be getting a lot more business out here where we don't have a choice, mine included.

Sad state for rural areas.

Hey PC,

I see that you have lost over 45 kg.... well done!

Cheers

Well I have some good news for anyone in rural areas.  

I've just spoken to Teachers Health and Calvary group have given in, a letter will be sent out in a few days. Other health funds will also be covered not sure but understanding is all that were in dispute.