Health insurance funds have agreements with some doctors and hospitals to fill the complex of this gap known as „no gap agreement,“ or part of this gap called „known gap arrangements“ (these will have out-of-pocket costs of less than $500). From August 1, 2018, your doctors will be able to use the Bupa Health Insurance Scheme for your admission as a private patient to a public hospital or private hospital with which Bupa has an agreement. This applies to any doctor involved in your treatment. The amount your fund paid for hospital services depends not only on the type of coverage you buy, but also on whether your fund has an agreement with the hospital where you are being treated. „Managed Care cannot and will not perform in Australia. It`s total misinformation. The only change that applies to a very small number of sites means that doctors must advise a patient whether or not he or she goes to a contract hospital and then advise on the medical costs of the service. We advise you to talk to all doctors (from surgeons to anaesthetists) who participate in your health care to make sure you understand the costs you may have to pay. If it is convenient, it is best to receive this cost information in writing before your treatment. Bupa drew the ire of leading Australian medicine after informing doctors that insured patients would only be eligible for gap coverage if they were treated at a Bupa-approved hospital or medical centre. The Bupa Health Insurance System aims to eliminate or significantly reduce medical costs associated with hospital medical care by providing physicians with significantly higher benefits than under Medicare. Insured patients can currently choose the hospital where they are being treated, including at any public hospital where their surgeon is authorized to work. Informed Financial Consent (IFC) is providing information on costs to patients, including information on the likely out-of-pocket costs (also called gaps), by all physicians involved in the treatment of a patient, before hospitalization or treatment.
To see which hospitals have an agreement with Bupa, visit bupa.com.au/find-a-provider. From August 1, 2018, the Bupa Medical Gap Scheme will only be available to physicians who can use them for your admission to private hospitals with an agreement with Bupa.