Teachers Health withdrawing their Homebirth package

[Arcadia]

I just rang our health fund to find out exactly what our cover was for homebirth, to be told it is being scrapped as of April 1st! I was pretty shocked and explained the only reason we went with top cover was because of the homebirth package, which is $1500 and is for ante and post natal care with an independent midwife.

Anyway, I thought I should put it here in case anyone has Teachers Health and is planning a homebirth.

*Sigh* who is still offering cover for Independent Midwives?

[Nelle]

Oh no! Do they make exceptions? That's so dumb. What if you go over? Maths not my forte...how far would you be by April?

[*Ash*]

Oh no! Do they make exceptions? That's so dumb. What if you go over? Maths not my forte...how far would you be by April?

Good point! I was just assuming that Arcadia would still be entitled to the rebate because she had already paid her midwife. For both my homebirths, I had paid my midwife by 36 weeks. Am I making the correct assumption Arcadia?

[Nelle]

Oh that would be good - I don't know about organised homebirth, I've only done it by happy accident.

[Arcadia]

Thanks for the concern Nelle You're right Ash, I will pay the invoice asap and then put the claim in before April 1st. Lucky really since I *might* not make the deadline...my due date is 27 March (ticker is a bit out) so I am cutting it fine.

I think my midwife will have medicare cover soon too, so with any luck I might be able to make a claim through Medicare as well. not really suyre how that works though???

[*Ash*]

Oh that's good Arcadia. Get that paperwork in ASAP! I don't know how the Medicare system operates in relation to home birth either. My last homebirth was 2009. But I'm hoping to have another one later this year or next year...So I will have to look in to it eventually.
Nelle, I will have to go looking for your accidental homebirth story, I'm intrigued. Oh I'm just assuming it's on BB?

[*Ash*]

Oh that's really bad news. That is such a backward step. Hopefully you are not the only person to express disappointment with their decision. Hopefully they are swamped with complaints from their members.

Woah, you will still make it. What a relief!

[Jennifer13]

I'm with Aust Unity who still pay for HB. But you need to have had over for 12 mths and give them written notice at 20 weeks of your intention. We will have held cover for 12 mths by Sept this year, since we transferred from another fund that didn't offer HB. We will def be dropping back from top level after the birth, we don't have any need for it otherwise.