Manchester Unity Policy Change - Not including Reproduction services any more

[briggsy's girl]

so far (and i know i'm not really too far into the EPU/transfer side of things) i've not paid a thing for the in-patient side of IVF. our helth fund covers everything when it's an inpatient service at a participating hospital (so no excess) - and given that all of my procedures will be at the local hospital, i don't know that i'll ever have to pay. having said that, i think my health fund has a limit on the number of times we can claim on my particular plan - i used to be with another fund that was taken over/bought out, so i'm on an obsolete plan. if it comes to the point where i've used my limit, i will transfer to one of their current plans that covers unlimited ART.

we just got our letter about the rate increase - it's gone up $1.13 per fortnight - to about $90 - we have max hospital and most extra's. the excess is $50 in a non-participating private hosp, nothing in a linked one. in the 06/07 fin year, we paid about $2200 for PHI - and claimed over $13000 for hospital and extras, so well worth it for us. we pay an extra amount as DH was an old coot before he claimed PHI too - if not for that, it would be about $80 a fortnight at the moment...

FWIW - i'm with Latrobe - they also do general insurance - and on a quote i just got from them, to increase the insurance from what i have at the moment, it will ost me about 20% less than my current insurer... me thinks when my insurance is up for renewal in june we might do some reshuffling!

[nic]

pitapata, I think our PHI pays out for the FS EPU/transfer fee only. I can't remember if they paid out for our other visits in between? I know that we can claim for travel if we have to travel something like more than 180klms return, so when we saw our FS they paid us about $47, and then when we drove the big distance for pick up, they paid the majority of the other FS' fee and also paid out around $170 for our travel/fuel costs, it would've been more, but we had hit our limit with claiming for travel.

BG - It's nice to see figures work out like that for you hey. Makes you feel like that even if you don't claim another single thing from them for another 10 years, you're still in front.

Nic

[Cuddlepie]

Wow, BG, I want the fund you are with! But don't know if it is possible since I am in Sydney....but good information.

Currently I am paying around $135 per month, and if calculating all the day surgery fees that we claimed in the past 18 months, I think we are also got quite of a bit value as well...It seems that the top hospital cover is around $200 per month across the market, I might have to increase my budget on this...

ah, another project on top of my reproductive project...

[Hollybolly]

Just wanted to bump this thread after spending what seemed an eternity on the phone today with Manchester Unity!

They haven't taken off IVf etc from their policies - just changed the names of their policies and what is involved with various cover etc... Its still there in their top cover, instead of being called Healthmate Executive I think its now called Healthmate Ultimate??? Or something!!!

I've done some calling around myself (we've been with Manchester Unity for 6yrs) - and still deciding - atm HCF looks like the best one for IVF cover - we'd be looking at $252 per month wher Man U is $242 per month... but with Man U you have to pay a $200 excess twice a year for hospital (even with day surgery, which is EPU)... where as HCF you only have to pay the excess of you have an overnight stay... and even there you pay per night ($50 per night)... so if you consider the excess issue, HCF is a better deal.

I tried negotiating with a Man U phone person today - no luck at this stage, but we'll see! I keep asking them what they can offer me in order to stay with them as opposed to switching funds.. they haven't com eup with anything major yet!

HCF also takes your cover over which means no waiting periods as long as your current policy is up to date...

HTH!!!!!