UPDATE, October 18:
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HCF have confirmed the HCF Bowral branch will close at 3pm on Wednesday, November 7.
A spokesperson advised that the decision was made following a “careful review” which found that “members in the Southern Highlands are choosing other ways to do business with us through channels such as online or over the phone.”
“In some areas, maintaining a branch is not sustainable for our business. As a not-for-profit organisation, we need to ensure we’re reinvesting money into areas where our members will receive the most benefits,” the spokesperson said.
“With this in mind, we’ve made the difficult decision to close the Bowral branch,” they said.
State member for Wollondilly, Jai Rowell said his office had begun to receive letters about the closure of the branch.
“We’ve received letters from constituents already. I am concerned that the older members of our community are losing services,” Mr Rowell said.
“I am also disappointed to see three full-time jobs lost in Bowral and another storefront closing,” he said.
The branch had three employees until last November when the branch manager retired and was not replaced. It is understood that the other two staff members have been made redundant.
Federal member for Whitlam, Stephen Jones said the closure would be “a big loss for the older Southern Highlands residents,” with the older demographic most likely to use the services offered by HCF.
“Locals are paying more than ever for their private health insurance, but they are getting less and less.”
October 17:
The last health care fund with a shopfront in the Southern Highlands is set to shut its doors for good.
It understood by customers that HCF, which has operated a branch in Bowral since 1981, will cease operations by early November.
Ann Beaumont, a Southern Highlands HCF customer of more than 10 years, said she was “absolutely appalled by the decision.”
“I joined HCF because it was the only health fund that had a shopfront in the area. I spoke to another customer, an elderly woman, and she was quite distressed by the news,” Ms Beaumont said.
Another HCF member, who did not wish to be named, said they believed the closure would negatively affect the older population in the district.
“It will make it harder for older people in the Highlands to claim their health benefits. Whenever I had a question about my health insurance it was always so much easier to pop in and ask rather than be stuck waiting over the phone,” they said.
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“The staff were always friendly and helpful; it will be sad to see them go.”
The Bowral branch has two full-time staff members. A third employee retired a year ago and was not replaced.
Ms Beaumont said she planned to write a letter of complaint to HCF CEO Sheena Jack and encouraged other HCF members in the Southern Highlands to do the same.
“It’s not as if we’re some little town; this is a growing area. There are all these new houses going up all over the place; a lot of young families and a lot of retirees,” Ms Beaumont said.
“I will be writing to Sheena Jack. I hope that something can be done to keep the branch open,” she said.
HCF members in the Southern Highlands are expected to receive an official letter advising of the branch closure next week.
Following the closure, the two nearest HCF branches will be in Campbelltown and Wollongong.
HCF was contacted for comment on Wednesday, October 17, but did not respond.
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