Momentum health maternity programme doula benefit

Momentum Health Maternity Programme - Doula Benefit

With our first born child in 2015, Momemtum health refused to cover the Doula benefit as part of their maternity programme benefits because we did not opt for an associated Gynaecologist. After a lengthy battle, Momentum approved the Doula benefit.

Now, nearly four years later we are expecting our second child, due in August 2019, and we are having the exact same problem as before. I have already registered my wife on the maternity programme and also requested the same Doula as before. Momentum again is refusing to approve/pay for the Doula benefit, as we are not using an associated Gynaecologist.

We live in the Helderberg area and the only associated Gynaecologists are all male, with which my wife is not comfortable with, thus we opted for a female Gynaecologist (in both cases). The closest other associated Gynaecologists are also only male, based in Bellvile, some 42km away.

List of associated Gynaecologist as received from Momentum on 2019-01-17: - Dr GH Jansen van Rensburg - Male - Bellville - Dr NP Schwartz - Male - Bellville - Dr GH Jansen van Rensburg - Male - Bellville - Dr JLN van Zyl - Male - Somerset West - Dr AL Brink - Male - Somerset West - Dr JJ Ackermann - Male - Somerset West

I received an email stating the three criteria that apparently has to met (which I have never seen in any brochure): - Natural birth - YES - DOSA or WOMBS registered Doula - YES - Use associated Gynaecologist - NO

Momentum has approved it on EXACTLY the same principles as before!

We are more than happy to make use of an associated Gynaecologist, if they are female and based in our area. Doesn't my wife have the right to choose the gender of the person who sees her in her most vulnerable situation?

Associated hospital, Vergelegen Mediclinic is 3.5km from our house. The registered Doula also lives in Somerset West. My wife is opting for natural birth. Now Momentum is declining the Doula benefit based on not using an associated Gynaecologist. I am trying to understand what diffence it makes whether or not we are using an associated Gynaecologist? They are not connected in any shape or form. Momentum pays for a Gynaecologist at 100% Momentum rate, irrespective of whether they are associated or not. If we opt for a different specialist, we cover the costs out of our own pockets anyway! So what is the difference?