Certain Extras benefits have changed from 1 January 2025. You can learn more about the Benefit Changes and how they may apply to you here.
Westfund members remain fully covered at Healthscope hospitals until 4 March 2025. Read on for more information you may need about our ongoing contract negotiations with Healthscope.
We want to assure members that they remain fully covered at Healthscope hospitals under their hospital cover until 4 March 2025. Westfund members who go to a Healthscope hospital before this date will not be impacted.
Read moreOur negotiations with Healthscope are ongoing, and our only priority is ensuring that our members get the best possible outcome. We apologise for any distress this ongoing process may be causing members.
We'll be updating this page as more information comes to hand, and will keep our members informed of any changes to the situation. Please continue to visit this page for updates. If there is any further impact on our members' cover at Healthscope hospitals we will contact them directly.
Transitional measures are in place for our members during this time.
If you're booked for treatment before 4 March 2025:
There is no change to your admission or additional out-of-pocket expenses at a Healthscope hospital.
For admissions after 4 March 2025:
| If treatment has commenced | If you are admitted and undergoing treatment before 3 March 2025 the transitional period will end on your discharge. |
| Pre-bookings | If you're pre-booked for a procedure within six months after the agreement end date of 4 March 2025 (other than maternity procedures), you will be covered until you are discharged. |
| Maternity bookings | If you're pregnant and booked for delivery, coverage will extend for nine months from 4 March 2025. |
| Course of treatment | If you have ongoing treatment that commenced prior to 3 March 2025, the transitional period will cover that course of treatment until completed or 3 September 2025 (whichever occurs first). |
We've got agreements with hospitals across the country outside of our Healthscope agreement. Use our handy tool to search for non-Healthscope locations.
If you need help finding a hospital or just want to discuss what these changes may mean, chat to our friendly team on 1300 937 838 or email [email protected]
We know that this may be confusing. We've got answers to some of your questions here.
Ongoing treatment booked at a Healthscope facility?
Transitional measures have been put in place for any members that have ongoing treatment or a pre booked admission; you can find that information under 'transitional measures' on this page.
We're here to support our members. If you have any questions about your ongoing treatment or admissions in general, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our team by calling us on 1300 937 838 or emailing [email protected]
Healthscope, who operate a network of 38 hospitals across Australia, have currently not been able to reach an agreement with the Australian Health Service Alliance (AHSA) which is why the contract has been terminated.
This termination was initiated by Healthscope as they requested higher increases in charges than the agreement they made with the AHSA in March 2024.
Health funds and hospitals have contracts with each other to ensure health fund customers can access high quality health care without charging out of pocket costs from the hospital.
Contracts provide higher than the minimum price in exchange for the hospital not charging patients for hospital and operating theatre expenses.
Nearly all private hospital services in Australia are provided under contracts between health funds and hospitals, with no additional out-of pocket-costs.
AHSA negotiates hospital contracts on Westfund's behalf.
The contract negotiations are still ongoing and it is our goal to reach an outcome that will be favourable for our members.
The following hospitals are owned by Healthscope:
NSW:
Queensland:
ACT:
Northern Territory:
Victoria:
South Australia:
Tasmania:
Western Australia:
Westfund understands that negotiations between health funds and hospitals can be complex and challenging. However, we believe that the fees outlined in the agreement reached with Healthscope in March 2024 were reasonable and equitable.
Our commitment is to balance the need for fair reimbursement to healthcare providers with our responsibility to our members. Paying hospitals more than what we consider justifiable could lead to an increase in premiums for our members. Given the current economic climate and cost-of-living pressures, maintaining affordable premiums is a top priority for us.
Additionally, we regularly assess our agreements with hospitals to ensure they are aligned with industry standards and provide value to our members. While we regret any inconvenience this situation may cause, we remain focused on delivering accessible, high-quality healthcare without placing undue financial burden on our members.
Negotiations with Healthscope are ongoing and our primary focus is achieving a positive outcome that benefits our members, while ensuring the sustainability of our health fund. We are committed to continuing discussions with Healthscope in good faith to find a resolution that supports both quality healthcare and affordability.
If, however, we are unable to reach an agreement, members will still have the option to receive treatment at Healthscope facilities. However, starting from 4 March 2025, the effective termination date of the contract, members may incur out-of-pocket costs for treatments or admissions at these hospitals. These costs could vary depending on the procedure, length of stay, and individual circumstances.
To avoid unexpected expenses, we encourage members to explore alternative options. Westfund has agreements with over 480 private hospitals across Australia, ensuring a wide range of choices for high-quality care without additional out-of-pocket expenses. If you are currently considering a procedure or treatment, we recommend speaking with your doctor about the possibility of receiving care at one of these contracted facilities.
Yes, you can still receive healthcare services at Healthscope hospitals even after the termination.
However, if the termination comes into effect on 4 March 2025, you will potentially face out-of-pocket gaps if you decide to be treated or are admitted to a Healthscope hospital from that date.
If you do not want to face additional out of pocket fees, you might consider talking to your doctor about going to any of the other 480+ private hospitals we have contracts with.
Healthscope are owned by North American private equity group Brookfield, which controls more than a trillion dollars' worth of assets worldwide. They are the second-largest private hospital group in Australia. Their hospitals include Nepean Private Hospital, Norwest Private Hospital and Hunter Valley Private Hospital in NSW and Brisbane Private Hospital and Gold Coast Private Hospital in Queensland.
You can inform to your doctor that Healthscope has terminated the contract with Westfund. You can ask your doctor if it's possible to be treated at another, contracted hospital.You can visit our hospital search to find alternate hospitals.
We understand this is an important issue for our members. Westfund attempts at all times to provide the best possible choice of private hospitals whilst maintaining premiums as low as possible. It was Healthscope, owned by North American Private Equity firm Brookfield, that decided to terminate the contract as we did not agree to them imposing an additional fee on our members. The introduction of this charge is not permitted by the agreement we reached with Healthscope in March 2024, which fixed hospital fees to be charged to our members. This is a binding agreement that AHSA expected Healthscope to honour and comply with.
We have contracts with over 480 private hospitals, providing certainty over quality and fees for our members
We are not privy to the agreements between other funds and hospitals and so we are unaware of what charges they have agreed to and whether Healthscope is complying with those contracts.
We believe that the fees applicable under the agreement we reached with Healthscope in March 2024 were fair.
This termination was initiated by Healthscope as they requested higher increases in charges than the agreement they made with the AHSA in March 2024.
We are conscious that if we pay hospitals more than is justifiable that may impact your premiums and we do not want that in a cost of living crisis.