30 January 2020

Australia’s largest not-for-profit private health insurer, HCF, and NSW’s largest not-for-profit private hospital, Sydney Adventist Hospital (The San), have joined forces to guarantee Australia’s first end-to-end no-gap obstetric care package for HCF members.

The San & HCF pregnancy and birth package, (called Swaddle by The San), is the result of a collaborative effort between HCF, the Sydney Adventist Hospital and its medical specialists to provide a no-gap experience for parents across the entire pregnancy journey.

HCF’s Chief Officer for Member Health, Julie Andrews, said the partnership represents a paradigm shift in the way that insurers and providers can collaborate to provide greater value to private health members.

“From your first scan to the moment your baby enters the world, HCF and the San are proud to guarantee from today no out-of-pocket costs for parents when they enrol with this package,” Ms Andrews said.

“We know that out-of-pocket costs have been a big issue for expectant mums and have led to a drop in the number of births in private hospitals. This is the first example of its type in Australia that guarantees no out-of-pocket costs throughout the whole pregnancy journey and is another great example of HCF’s ‘Uncommon Care’ approach to private health insurance. This partnership in northern Sydney demonstrates that HCF, the San and its specialists are equally committed to working collaboratively to improve the affordability and sustainability of private healthcare for HCF’s members,” she said.

San CEO Brett Goods said the no-gap package means HCF members can have the full obstetrician-led private hospital experience with zero out of pocket costs – saving expectant parents an average of $5000.

 “As a leading private hospital in Sydney, the San is committed to delivering world-class care across the entire pregnancy journey. We are delighted so many of our specialists support this initiative to deliver no-gap obstetric care to HCF members,” Mr Goods said.

“The partnership between the San and HCF means that expectant parents no longer need to worry about out-of-pocket costs for ultrasounds, pathology or hospital services, or from their obstetrician, anaesthetist or paediatrician when they enrol in this program. We believe this Australian-first initiative will make it even more compelling for families to choose the San as the best place to welcome their newborn baby into the world,” he said.

Ms Andrews said: “This initiative demonstrates that the private health sector can collaborate to address fundamental concerns of privately insured members, like unexpected out-of-pocket costs. We know that our 1.6 million members are looking to us to do everything we can to tackle the rising costs of healthcare.

“As a not-for-profit organisation, we take these concerns seriously and we’re willing to rewrite the rule book on how we work with our providers to improve affordability and jointly bolster the value proposition of private health insurance. We are committed to making health care affordable and are willing to challenge the status quo to deliver innovative solutions for consumers.”

The package will be available to all HCF members who hold appropriate level of HCF cover (Pregnancy & Birth related services) and have served the 12-month waiting period for this cover^*. The excess the HCF member has chosen on their product still applies.

-ENDS-

For further information please visit:
https://www.hcf.com.au/no-gap-pregnancy-package  or www.sah.org.au/san-swaddle
HCF Members Contact number: 13 13 34

About HCF

HCF, Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund protecting Australians since 1932, covers over 1.6 million members with health and life insurance, travel and pet insurance. On average over the last five years, HCF has paid out more cents in every dollar in premiums to members as benefits than the industry average. With over 35,000 specialists participating in its Medical Gap Cover Scheme and over 19,000 provider locations forming part of its More for You network, HCF gives members access to quality health care with no gaps or minimal costs compared to non-participating providers. To empower members to put their health first, HCF also offers a range of health and lifestyle services, mobile Victor Chang Health Checks and the HCF second opinion service. HCF’s national network of branches and Australian-based call centres have earned multi-award winning status. HCF members also have access to low cost, high quality services at HCF Dental Centres and HCF Eyecare Centres. Having contributed $50 million to support the health services research funded by the HCF Research Foundation, HCF is devoted to investing in the future of Australia’s health. HCF has been voted the most trusted health insurer 2 years in a row – as voted in the Roy Morgan Net Trust Survey 2018 & 2019. To learn more about HCF go to hcf.com.au/about-us

About Sydney Adventist Hospital (the San)

Sydney Adventist Hospital, known affectionately as the San since it started in 1903, is an entity of Adventist HealthCare Ltd. The San is NSW’s largest private hospital, and is a not-for-profit organisation. A state-of-the-art redevelopment opened in 2014.

The San has more than 700 beds, and provides comprehensive acute surgical, medical and obstetric care including a large range of diagnostic, allied health and support services. The hospital’s 2400 staff, 1100 accredited medical practitioners and 500 volunteers care for more than 63,000 inpatients and 120,000 outpatients annually., and more than 18,000 patients present to Emergency Care.

Approximately 1800 San babies are delivered every year. This new no-gap pregnancy and birth package is administered by the San under the name “Swaddle”, and HCF members can enrol by contacting the San.

The San is a teaching hospital of the University of Sydney and a partner in nursing education with Avondale University College. The San has had many firsts throughout its 117 years. It was the first private hospital in NSW to offer Radiotherapy services in 1977, and the first private hospital in Australia to offer a fully-integrated cardiac surgery and catheterisation program in 1979.

The San’s onsite Integrated Cancer Centre provides a comprehensive range of cancer care including diagnostics, medical oncology, oncological surgery, radiation oncology, day infusion, cancer support and wellness services.

The San has 19 operating theatres, three cardiac catheterisation laboratories, four endoscopy suites, a 30-bed intensive care unit, a 25-bed coronary care unit, a 40-bed maternity unit, a renal dialysis unit, day infusion unit, and dedicated units for adults and children’s sleep disorders.

The San’s sister facility, the San Day Surgery Hornsby, opened in 1986 as NSW’s first private, free standing day surgery.

^*Available with select obstetricians, pathology and ultrasound providers at the Sydney Adventist Hospital. Must be accepted into the program by a participating obstetrician. Must have held HCF Hospital Cover with pregnancy and birth related services for 12 months by the baby’s date of birth. Excludes any policy excess. Not available to Overseas Visitor Health Cover members.