AMA to Keep Health Funds Honest
The AMA will rate private health funds' products to help the public make informed decisions about private cover and keep the funds honest.
AMA Federal President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said there was a lot of confusion about gaps between medical costs and patient rebates, as well as misinformation about waiting periods for private cover.
"It is our intention to rate the funds' products and make these ratings widely available," Dr Phelps said.
"If they provide an inadequate product, their members must be free to change funds without detriment," she said.
Dr Phelps said health funds must accept responsibility for patients having the correct information.
"We have always strongly advocated informed financial consent. Wherever practical, doctors ensure that patients know exactly what their treatment will cost. That should also apply to health funds. Patients must also be told if they will be penalised if they choose a doctor who is not on a health funds 'preferred list'.
"Unfortunately, health funds have let the public down by providing less than accurate information about conditions of cover," she said.
Dr Phelps met with two of the major insurers in Melbourne and proposed that the funds establish a 24-hour hotline so that members and private hospitals could check patients' eligibility.
Dr Phelps said an Australian Consumers Association survey had found some health funds had failed to tell new members about waiting periods for cover for certain procedures, and some new members had been told, inaccurately, that they would be covered for all medical costs.
She said the AMA intended to publish basic information on private health cover for distribution through doctors' surgeries.
"We want people to question health funds about their rights so that they can better understand what they are buying," Dr Phelps said.