BUPA has tried to discredit doctors over its Medicare Benefits Scheme Rebate by accusing them of of charging patients a gap. Which will be the case since BUPA will only pay 25% of the Medicare Benefits Scheme payment thus not allowing a no-gap option to be given to the patient in a public hospital or non-BUPA facility forcing the specialist to forward the cost the patient. The only way a patient will be able to get the full benefit is to go to a 'BUPA preferred hospital' and/or 'BUPA preferred specialist'. This taking autonomy away from the patient which is a fundamental right which BUPA is taking away from its unsuspecting members. Dr Crombie Managing Director has advised that he is "protecting us from unnecessary costs". This is a complete lie, he is forcing patient's to either forego their health insurance in a non-BUPA preferred facility i.e. Public Hospital so they don't have to pay or at most 25%. He also states: "This is the least we can do, in going to bat for them". I am completely flabbergasted as this hypocrisy. It is clear that BUPA has its shareholders at heart and putting profit before people and their families. They have increased their premiums above inflation year after year, whilst slashing benefits, maximisng their profits and building a multi-billion dollar monopoly. Just see the FAQ they have noted if you are in a non BUPA-preferred facility: "However; where a customer chooses to go to a non-contracted facility, it means they’ll go there with full knowledge of their expected costs." Also: https://media.bupa.com.au/dont-be-deceived-by-scaremongering-heres-why-bupa-is-changing-the-medical-gap-scheme/ "When this is combined with ad hoc use of the medical gap scheme by treating doctors, customers have been left with large out-of-pocket costs which they weren't expecting." With BUPA hiding behind this statement and rebating so low it is ensuring costs are passed onto its consumers if they elect to go private in a Public or Non-BUPA facility. Furthermore, "Doctors, never health insurers, will always determine patients’ treatment and care options as they do today; nothing has changed. However, customers have been asking for greater clarity on costs especially at locations where mixed arrangements were in place, and this change to the medical gap scheme is designed to support this. Managed care cannot and will not occur in Australia. This is complete misinformation." According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in 2015-2016. 1 in 5 patients admitted to to a public hospital were private (1). This funding helps contribute a significant amount of ancillary funding to deliver extra services to our public health system. BUPA is now Australia's largest health insurer with almost 30% of the market. By taking away a patient's ability to go private without sustaing a gap payment degrades our system and encourages patients to go to contracted private services if able thus creating a two tier system and eroding healthcare for all Australians. Leading to market-based healthcare to maximise profits similar to how many hospitals are run in America. BUPA is doing what they are doing to dentists and optometrists already in trying control the market with preferred BUPA providers which is the only way to get the full rebate for optional extras with many of their policies. The dental industry have also seen premiums rise and competition decrease as a result of BUPA sending its consumers to their own supaclinics enticing consumers so they can obtain the maximum rebate whilst degrading benefits for those who choose to go to an independent or non-BUPA dentist thus driving many independent business operators near their clinics to the wall. See: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-04/health-insurers-accused-of-anti-competitive-conduct/8414328 1. https://www.aihw.gov.au/news-media/media-releases/2017/december/national-report-presents-information-on-private-he