Innovative maternity partnership delivers in first year

Health insurer HBF and private maternity service One For Women have delivered significant savings for WA mothers in the first year of a partnership aimed at reducing the out-of-pocket cost of giving birth in a private hospital.

One For Women brings together a range of maternity and women’s health services and provides a centrally co-ordinated stream of care for mothers during and after pregnancy. Since partnering with HBF in May 2020, the initiative has, on average, saved expectant HBF mothers $3,111 in antenatal care with midwives and GP obstetricians, and resulted in low or no out-of-pocket costs for the delivery of their baby in a private hospital.

Under the program, HBF mothers have received:

• Two antenatal classes and up to four postnatal classes with no out-of-pocket costs
• Bulk-billed antenatal consultations with midwives and GP obstetricians
• Delivery of their baby in St John of God Hospitals at Mt Lawley or Murdoch or Ramsay Healthcare’s Joondalup Private Hospital (with a One For Women specialist or GP obstetrician on call at the time of birth) with no or reduced out-of-pocket costs

HBF Executive General Manager – Health Daniel Heredia said costs for maternity care had risen in recent years and it was incumbent on health insurers to innovate in response to members’ evolving healthcare needs.

“We know that large out-of-pocket costs associated with giving birth in a private hospital are one of the main reasons some members would opt to deliver in a public hospital,” Dr Heredia said.

“Together with One For Women, we are providing our members with a more affordable option to give birth in a private hospital, along with centrally co-ordinated, high quality pre- and post-natal care.”

To take part in One For Women, expectant mothers must meet One For Women’s clinical eligibility criteria. HBF members must also hold eligible pregnancy and birth cover. While antenatal appointments are bulk-billed and most HBF mothers experience low or no out- of-pocket cost for their baby’s delivery in a private hospital, if circumstances require, out-of-pocket costs may arise for some additional services such as scans and blood tests.