Ramsay Newsroom

Bupa’s contract with Ramsay Health Care, which operates Peninsula and Beleura Private Hospitals, is set to end on 2 August 2022. About one in five patients at these hospitals is insured with Bupa and consequently could soon face additional out-of-pocket costs.

Hospital CEO Michelle Henderson said the teams at Peninsula and Beleura Private Hospitals have been working tirelessly during the pandemic to care for the local community, especially the most vulnerable members.

“Our health workers have been focused on continuing to provide excellent patient care while also protecting our patients from exposure to Covid,” Ms Henderson said.

“We have provided PPE, increased our cleaning, and delivered additional infection prevention training to our staff. This increase in vigilance and ensuring patient safety comes at a significant cost.

“Unfortunately, the offer Bupa has put forward is well below inflation and well below what our staff deserve in terms of wage increases. Any agreement between Bupa and Ramsay must address the significant cost increases hospitals have been experiencing to protect our patients and health care workers. 

“Unless a new agreement can be reached with Bupa by 2 August, Bupa patients accessing Peninsula and Beleura Private Hospitals may be required to pay the shortfall for treatment costs as an additional out-of-pocket expense. 

“We are particularly focused on informing and protecting our cardiac patients because Peninsula Private Hospital performs approximately 80 per cent of interventional cardiology cases on the Mornington Peninsula.

Internationally respected cardiologist, Dr Greg Szto, said it was important for his patients to be fully informed about the potential impacts as soon as possible so that they had time to review their health cover.

Bupa patients wanting to access Peninsula and Beleura Private Hospitals may like to consider reviewing their private health insurance to ensure they know what they’re covered for.

Peninsula and Beleura Private Hospitals have agreements with all other private health insurers in Australia.

By law, consumers changing funds won’t have to re-serve the waiting periods for hospital benefits again if retaining the same level of hospital cover. More information is available in the Ombudsman’s Right to Change brochure: bit.ly/RightToChange2022

Ramsay Health Care is committed to continuing to work toward a fair and sustainable agreement with Bupa that removes the need for additional out-of-pocket costs to be passed on to patients. If an agreement is not reached, Ramsay’s contract with Bupa will end on 2 August 2022. 

More information is available at www.protectyourcover.com.au.