New mums missing out on vital care due to Medicare safety net flaw

New mums are missing out on vital healthcare for their babies and themselves simply because of their delivery date.

A flaw in the Medicare system means families can face vastly different out-of-pocket costs, a loophole doctors are desperate to change.

“The system that is designed to provide relief for families is failing families,” Dr Amber Hart, founder of MIWM, said.

It’s a flaw in the Medicare safety net, forcing new mums like Lisa O’Halloran to go without vital postpartum care.

“There were a few things that would have really helped me as a new mum in those first, particularly in those first few weeks, that just weren’t accessible,” Laura’s mum Lisa O’Halloran said.

If you spend more than $2600 on medical bills in a calendar year, it triggers a safety net with an 80 per cent discount on any additional costs.

But it resets on January 1, so deliver a baby at the end of the year and lose the benefit just weeks later.

Give birth at the start of the year and you have to spend thousands before you qualify again.

“As it stands, the system disadvantages babies that are born earlier in the year and it would just be nice to have an even playing field for all families,” O’Halloran said.

“Because it’s calendar year based, it has become a bit of a lottery based on when your child is delivered as to how much financial support you receive,” Dr Hart said.

Mothers are delaying getting help for a range of issues, including breastfeeding and mental health.

“The first four months of a newborn’s life are critical and it’s very expensive as well, so any care that’s being delayed would be concerning,” Dr Aadhil Aziz, RACGP Vic Deputy Co-Chair, said.

The federal government has now launched a Senate inquiry into women’s health, which will include fertility and postpartum care.

“Amazing that this is the next step. Really, really sad that it’s taken us this long to get here,” Dr Hart said.