Breast cancer cover dumped

Claims changes to health fund policies discriminatory

WOMEN will have to buy top health cover if they want to be insured for breast cancer treatment but men will receive prostate cover in the cheapest policies under controversial Federal Government changes.

Cancer groups are staging a revolt against the changes, which they claim are discriminatory and could force thousands of women back to the public hospital system treatment.

A government committee has been working for almost two years on simplifying health funds products into gold, silver and bronze levels.

Initial stages of the reform planned to allow 12 of 32 key treatments to be excluded from bronze and silver cover, including heart attacks, joint for replacements, dialysis and cataract surgery.

Breast Cancer Network Australia and the Cancer Council have written to Dr Jeff Harmer, the chairman of Health Minister Greg Hunt’s private health ministerial advisory committee, to say they are “deeply concerned” about the changes.

They believe changes that will see cancer categorised according to where it occurs in the biological system may mean women can only be covered for breast cancer in more expensive health fund policies.

Other types of cancer, however, will be covered in the cheapest policies.

Already many women are finding health insurance poor value for money. Many are left with out-of-pocket bills of $20,000 to $38,000 for breast reconstruction surgery not covered by their fund.

Some women have to raid their superannuation to cover the bills.

Opposition health and Medicare spokeswoman Catherine King said the development was concerning.

“Simplicity must not come at the expense of equity,” Ms King said.

“Forcing women to pay for expensive gold cover so they can access breast cancer treatment when many other oncology treatments are covered under cheaper bronze cover would be unacceptable.

“Greg Hunt must immediately reassure Australian women that they will not be disadvantaged under his new scheme.”