GAP Australasian-Dentist-Mar Apr 2019

Category 122 AustrAlAsiAn Dentist By Merv Saultry Merv Saultry ColuMnIsts C urrent polling indicates a strong likelihood of a change of Federal Government. Governments may change but real change in policy and its implementation is another matter. Both liberal and labor are promoting health and educations as very high priorities but there is a real difference in their approach to health services. the liberal Party claims to have addressed the health insurance issues with a requirement for simpler and clear policies. We have yet to see the policies but we do know that the health insurance funds have welcomed the chance to revise their offerings as a way to be seen to be compliant with the health minister requirements. in reality they jumped at the opportunity to revise benefits available and re calculate fees as it gave them the opportunity to reduce risk exposure and increase profitability. We have already seen the exclusion of many essential high costs treatments from what was previously included in standard health insurance policies. While each fund will have its own restrictions and exclusions, the services and procedures listed below are commonly restricted or excluded by private health funds in Australia: u Plastic and reconstructive surgery u Assisted reproductive services u Cardiac and cardiac-related services u Pregnancy and birth services u Hip and knee replacements u rehabilitation and psychiatric services the change is clearly aimed at getting a higher contribution from policy holders for the higher cost treatments. the more expensive treatments are now included in top tier higher cost policies but even here the health insurance funds are being dishonest. i have had Bupa top cover for the past 40 years – in previous years it covered all expenses. i recently had a major operation and found out i had to pay a gap fee. i objected and gave evidence of having the top insurance cover and was told “no – that is no longer top cover, there is another Will a change in government change dentistry? higher policy called ultimate Care which covers all costs.” Bupa never informed me of the downgrading of the benefits of my longstanding policy. trust an insurance company? it makes a mockery of their heavy advertising telling policy holders that they have their best interest at heart and best know how to look after them. the two outcomes of the revised health insurance policies after the recent senate inquiry and recommendations which the Federal Governments claims to have implemented are higher costs to the policy holders and higher profits for the health insurance funds. Yet the federal health minister is claiming this is an improvement! it is another example of how the combined health insurance lobby private healthcare Australia has sold the government another dud deal. the health insurance funds have gained a compounding annual increase in premiums and lowered their operating costs: “All for the benefit of the Australian people!” in regards to ancillary insurance sources such as Choice and even the former federal health minister advised that there is no real benefit in taking this cover. they are aware that it is from ancillary insurance that health insurance funds make the biggest profit. it is heavily sold and promoted on two prime platforms: (a). Fear of what may happen. (b). Apathy- the majority of people just don’t get around to what they say they are going to do. Dentistry is the most utilised treatment claimed and biggest expense in ancillary insurance so this area has been targeted by health insurance funds in the new clearer policy drive. they have been steadily increasing the number of treatments excluded from existing policies and in some cases without informing policy holders who encounter a payment shock after they have tried to claim for the treatment that was included when they took the policy out. the ACCC has charged two major funds of this underhand behaviour. the funds responded that it was never their intention to deceive their members – comments worthy of the recent Bank royal Commission. the current movement in health insurance is people with health insurance are dropping their ancillary health insurance cover at a very high rate and taking the lowest hospital cover available because of the high costs they can no longer afford. the 56% of Australians without any health insurance and flying blind and simply hoping to stay healthy and will attend public hospitals and clinics and experience extending waiting times or resort to expensive temporary finance to cover treatments costs. the best option for cover of all ancillary health treatments is to take the personal care self-insurance option available through the independent Dentist network. People pay only for what they need when they need it – no third party costs involved. they have a Personal Care Plan that quarantines the health savings from daily expenses – the savings are held in their name in a trust account at a major bank. theywithdraw their money by submission of treatment account by a registered health professional. this ensures the money is there when it is needed – a sensible disciplined budget approach. Don’t let people striving for profit tell you they know best for you – take control of your money and your health and self- insure. u Mervin Saultry, Managing Director, Independent Dentist Network Mobile: 0414836296 www.independentdentistnetwork.com.au