Healthscope hospitals agreement

Updated 13 January 2025

Private hospital operator Healthscope has moved to terminate its contract with UniHealth and 22 other health funds. While negotiations are continuing, we’ve yet to agree on terms and the current agreement is set to end on 3 March 2025.

Please know that we are doing our utmost to reach a new agreement with Healthscope, which operates 38 hospitals across Australia. As with all hospital contract negotiations, we’re strongly resisting any unfair increases in charges (and in turn, premiums) that could impact you.

In the meantime, see below for more on pre-booked, and future, Healthscope admissions.

I have a Healthscope hospital booking – can I still claim for it?

Yes. Existing bookings scheduled before 3 March 2025 aren’t affected.

If you’ve pre-booked before 3 March for an admission before 3 September 2025 (excluding pregnancy and birth-related procedures), your booking is also unaffected.

I’m currently undergoing treatment at a Healthscope hospital. Can I continue?

Yes. You can continue your course of treatment (that’s already started) up until and including 3 September 2025. If your treatment is scheduled past 3 September 2025, please speak to your specialist about alternative hospitals.

I’m booked in to a Healthscope hospital to have my baby. Will I have to switch?

Pregnancy and birth-related admissions before 3 December 2025 aren’t affected.

What if I’m taken to a Healthscope hospital in an emergency? 

Emergency admissions up to and including 3 June 2025 aren’t affected and can still be claimed for. 

What about future bookings? 

You can still receive treatment at Healthscope hospitals after 4 March 2025 but, as with any non-agreement hospital admission, you may have significant out-of-pocket costs.

You can ask your specialist if they will treat you at another hospital. We currently have agreements with over 500 hospitals across Australia.

How many hospitals are in the Healthscope Group?

There are 38 Healthscope hospitals across Australia.

What is UniHealth’s view on the Healthscope situation?

Please know that we, along with the AHSA, are working tirelessly to achieve a resolution that provides value for you, our members. We’ve successfully resolved many hospital contract issues before agreements have expired, and fully intend to achieve this again.

Who’s negotiating with Healthscope?

As one of 22 funds that are part of the AHSA, they are representing us in these negotiations.

Will UniHealth go out of contract with any other hospitals?

It is unusual for us to go out of contract with a hospital; however, this situation can occur from time to time. We currently have agreements with over 500 hospitals across Australia and we expect that these will continue.

How will I know if anything changes? 

We’ll regularly update this page and will contact you directly if you’re likely to be impacted.

Why shouldn’t I switch to a fund which isn’t part of the Healthscope contract termination?

We get it. And we’re genuinely sorry if this issue causes you concern and distress. It’s not a situation that we want for our members.

We encourage you not to seek out another health fund at this stage. We’re still working with Healthscope with the aim of reaching an agreement that will work for our members.

Are other funds affected?

Agreement terminations will affect the members of the 22 health funds represented by the AHSA – all small to medium-sized not-for-profit funds. Healthscope has also moved to terminate its Bupa contract.

This would represent almost half the health insurance market in Australia – more than 6 million people.