Things Worth Knowing
About the Federal Government Rebate and Medicare Levy Surcharge
The Federal Government 30% Rebate on private health insurance makes it more affordable by reducing your premium when you’re eligible.
How much is the Federal Government 30% Rebate if I take out health insurance?
That depends on your age.
- 30% off your premium if you’re 64 or under
- 35% off your premium if you’re 65–69
- 40% off your premium if you’re 70 or over.
You can claim the 35% or 40% rebates on your entire membership as soon as at least one member fits into either of the relevant age categories.
How do I access the rebate?
If you’re eligible for the rebate there are three ways you can access it.
- Automatic reduction in your premiums – just fill in and return the registration form in your application forms booklet, inserted in the back of one of our brochures. The rebate will then be automatically deducted from your premium.
- Through Medicare – contact us to request your Medibank Private receipt and then take it to any Medicare office to claim your rebate.
- Your Tax Return – at the end of each financial year, you’ll receive a Private Health Insurance Statement from us. Refer to this statement to find out the amount you’re eligible to claim on your tax return.
How does the Medicare Levy Surcharge work?
The Medicare Levy Surcharge works like a tax and applies to higher income earners, if you’re an Australian resident for tax purposes. If you have a taxable income over the applicable threshold and you don’t have an appropriate level of hospital cover for yourself, your spouse/partner and all your dependants, the Medicare Levy Surcharge will add on an extra 1% to your tax bill. This is on top of the standard 1.5% Medicare Levy you already pay. The Medicare Levy Surcharge applies proportionately for the period during the financial year when an appropriate level of hospital cover was not held .
The annual taxable income thresholds for the 2009/2010 financial year are:
- $73,000 for singles
- $146,000 for couples and most families (for families, the threshold increases by $1,500 for each additional child after the first).
These thresholds will be reviewed and indexed annually by the Federal Government for each subsequent financial year.
About Lifetime Health Cover (LHC)
What is LHC?
Under the Federal Government’s LHC initiative, a loading can be applied to your premium if you take out hospital cover later in life. It’s aimed at encouraging people to take out hospital cover early in life, and maintain it, by allowing them to pay lower premiums throughout their lifetime compared with those who take out hospital cover when they’re older or let it lapse for more than a total period of three years.
When does the loading apply?
If you don’t have hospital cover on 1 July following your 31st birthday, you’ll pay more for your premium once you take out cover because the LHC loading will apply. This means for every year you don’t have hospital cover, you’ll pay a 2% loading on top of a base rate on your premium – or your share of a couple or family premium (up to a maximum loading of 70%). The loading applies only to hospital cover or the hospital component of our packaged covers, not to extras covers.
For example
Bob turns 31 on 1 Dec 2007. If he takes out cover by 1 July 2008, he will pay the base rate premium. If he takes out cover on 2 July 2008, he will pay a 2% loading. If Bob further delays taking out hospital cover, for every subsequent year ending 30 June, he will pay an additional 2% loading.
Are there any exceptions?
Yes. Exceptions apply to:
- Anyone born on or before 1 July 1934.
Special rules apply to:
- Australians returning from overseas
- Norfolk Islanders
- Veterans’ Affairs Gold Cardholders
- Former members of the Australian Defence Force
- Australian Antarctic Division staff
- Refugees and all other categories of migrants to Australia.
If I have a LHC loading will I have it forever?
No, the loading will be removed after you’ve held hospital cover continuously for 10 years.
What if I drop my hospital cover or let it lapse?
If you drop your hospital cover for a total of three years (1,094 permitted days) or more, in most circumstances you’ll have to pay a LHC loading once you take out hospital cover again. If you’re already paying the loading when you drop your cover or let it lapse, it may continue to increase until you take out cover again.
There are some situations when you won’t incur the loading if you drop your cover:
- If you are living overseas for more than one year continuously (this includes visits back home of 90 days or less at a time, during which you are still considered to be living overseas)
- If your health fund has agreed to a period of suspension
- Any further periods that, in combination, amount to 1,094 days or less.
What happens if I change health funds?
If you switch to us from another fund we recommend that you keep your cover with your old fund until the date you transfer to Medibank Private. This way you avoid using up any of the 1,094 permitted days you can be without hospital cover during your lifetime.
About waiting periods
When does a waiting period apply to me?
A waiting period is the time you have to wait before you’re entitled to receive benefits. Waiting periods apply to you if you are:
- a new member
- rejoining Medibank Private
- changing to a different level of cover with us, although, during the waiting period, you will be entitled to benefits under either your new or old level of cover, depending on which is the lesser
- transferring from another fund, where there is a difference between the benefits under your former cover and your new cover. During the waiting period, you will be entitled to benefits at either the level of your former cover or your Medibank Private cover, depending on which is the lesser.
Please note, any excess that was part of your previous level of cover will transfer across with you until you have served the waiting periods for your Medibank Private cover. Benefits are not payable for items and services obtained while you are serving a waiting period.
How long is the waiting period?
That depends on the services or items you need.
| 2 months |
| All services, except those specified below: |
| 6 months |
| Optical items |
| PackageBonus |
| 12 months |
| Pre-existing ailments. However, the 12 month pre-existing ailment waiting period does not apply to hospital or hospital-substitute treatment for approved psychiatric treatment, approved rehabilitation or palliative care. |
| Obstetrics-related services. However, benefits are payable during this waiting period for premature births and complications arising from the pregnancy where a medical practitioner confirms that the baby was not expected to be born until after the waiting period. |
| Major dental services |
| Endodontic services (eg root canal) |
| Dental surgical procedures and surgical extractions (eg wisdom teeth) |
| Nebulisers |
| Peak flow meters |
| Spacing devices |
| 24 months |
| Blood glucose monitors |
| 36 months |
| Hearing aids |
Please note, waiting periods may apply to some betterhealth programs.
The 2 month waiting period is waived for treatment arising from an accident (excluding a school accident) occurring after joining or changing cover. However, the applicable longer waiting periods specified still apply.
About benefit replacement periods
What is a benefit replacement period?
A benefit replacement period is the period of time you need to wait after purchasing an item covered by us before you can receive benefits to replace the item. For example, if you use insulin delivery pens you can only receive a benefit for replacing them every two years. Please see the benefit replacement period table for replacement periods.
How long is the benefit replacement period?
It varies from item to item and applies per member except where shown.
| 12 months |
| External mammary prostheses |
| Repair of external mammary prostheses and health appliances |
| 2 years |
| Wigs |
| Hip protectors |
| Insulin delivery pens |
| 3 years |
| Blood glucose monitors |
Breathing appliances
- nebulisers
- peak flow meters (per membership)
- spacing devices |
| Mouthguards (for members up to 18 years of age, benefits may be payable for a replacement mouthguard each calendar year) |
| Dentures, crowns and bridges |
| Other health appliances and external prostheses |
| 5 years |
| Hearing aids |
| Sleep Apnoea – continuous pressure devices and other similar approved appliances under our hospital cover (excluding MyOptions and Accident Cover). |
About the pre-existing ailment rule
What is a pre-existing ailment?
A pre-existing ailment is an ailment, illness or condition where signs or symptoms existed at any time during the six months prior to you either taking out your new cover or transferring to a cover with higher benefits.
A medical or health practitioner appointed by Medibank Private is the only person authorised to decide whether you have a pre-existing ailment, based on information provided by the practitioner(s) treating you.
What if I have a pre-existing ailment?
If your ailment, illness or condition is considered pre-existing and you are:
- a new member – you’ll have to wait 12 months
- transferring to Medibank Private or are a Medibank Private member changing your cover to include higher benefits – you’ll have to wait 12 months to receive the higher benefits, including benefits for services not previously covered. Please note, any excess that applied under your former cover will transfer with you until you have served the waiting periods for your Medibank Private cover.
The 12 month pre-existing ailment rule can be applied to all hospital or hospital-substitute treatment (except for psychiatric, rehabilitation and palliative care) and extras services (except general dental).
About other assessment rules
Are there any other assessment rules I need to know about?
Yes. Other rules to keep in mind include:
- Benefits are only payable for items and services delivered by Medibank recognised providers
- Restrictions apply to some specific benefits. For example, for an initial consultation for an extras service, the higher benefit (if any) is generally paid only once in a course of treatment
- Limited hospital benefits apply to podiatric surgery (performed by an accredited podiatrist) and dental procedures that are performed in a private non Members’ Choice hospital
- If you no longer need acute care and stay in hospital for more than 35 days, the hospital must classify you as a nursing home type patient. If this happens, Medibank Private will only pay a small portion of the benefit per day and you will need to contribute towards the cost of your care. If you are in a private hospital, these costs may be substantial
- Benefits are not paid for services or treatments where you are, or may be, entitled to compensation and/or damages. For example State Government workers’ compensation schemes and traffic accident schemes
- Benefits are not payable for hospital procedures not recognised for Medicare benefit purposes such as cosmetic surgery.
Please call us on 132 331 for information on your benefits entitlement and recognised providers before commencing treatment.
About transferring from another fund (portability)
If I transfer to Medibank Private from another registered health fund am I covered immediately?
You’ll be covered for services that were covered by your former fund from the date you join if:
- you join us within two months of leaving your former fund
- you have served any waiting periods (equivalent to Medibank Private’s) with your previous fund.
Benefits will not be paid for treatments you receive before joining Medibank Private.
You’ll need to serve the waiting periods that apply before you are entitled to the higher benefits. And, any excess applied to your old cover will transfer with you until you have served the waiting periods for your new Medibank Private cover.
What if I’m still serving waiting periods with my former fund?
If you haven’t fully served the equivalent Medibank Private waiting periods with your former fund, then you’ll need to serve the balance of these waiting periods with Medibank Private before you’re eligible for benefits.
Please note, any excess that was part of your previous level of cover will transfer across with you until you have served the waiting periods for your Medibank Private cover.
I’ve accrued a loyalty bonus with my former fund. Can I transfer this?
Any loyalty bonuses or other entitlements accrued with your former fund, such as increased annual limits for dentures and crowns, cannot be transferred to your Medibank Private membership.
What if I want to change back to my former fund or go to another fund?
You can join or leave Medibank Private at any time. The Private Health Insurance Ombudsman has published a brochure called The Right to Change, which describes the rules that apply when you transfer between funds.
If you decide to transfer, get a transfer certificate request form from the fund you wish to switch to. Once you have completed the form your new fund can arrange to transfer your membership on your behalf.
About different levels of hospital cover
What’s the difference between included, restricted and excluded services?
You’ll generally receive higher benefits for included services than for restricted services. An excluded service is one you’re not covered for at all.
What does restricted services mean?
The benefits we pay towards private hospital accommodation for services listed on your cover as restricted services are paid at the minimum benefit level as set by the Federal Government. No benefit is paid for the costs of labour wards or operating theatres. You need to pay any costs over and above the benefit we pay.
If you choose a cover with restricted services it’s crucial you consider if you’re likely to need the restricted services because if you claim for these services, you could end up with significant out-of-pocket expenses. For example, if you’re young, you may be less likely to need hip or knee replacements. Or if you’re planning a family you should consider cover that has obstetrics-related services and assisted reproductive services.
So what sort of cover do I have for a restricted service in a private hospital?
In a private hospital, the benefits we pay towards your hospital accommodation (including intensive care) will be paid at the minimum benefit level as set by the Federal Government. No benefit is paid for the costs of labour wards or operating theatres.
And in a public hospital?
In a public hospital, if you’re treated as a private patient, your hospital accommodation will be fully covered (less any applicable excess) in a shared room or private room for overnight admissions and a shared room for same day admissions.
If you’re treated as a private patient in a private room for same day admissions, you may have to pay extra towards your accommodation.
About the excess options
What is an excess?
An excess is an amount that you agree to pay if admitted to hospital in exchange for lower premiums. Your excess is deducted from the benefits we pay when you make a hospital claim.
How does an excess work?
- If you have First Choice Hospital, Intermediate Hospital or Blue Ribbon Hospital the excess applies per member per calendar year. For example, you’re on a single membership and have chosen a $250 excess. Once you’ve paid $250 towards a hospital admission in a calendar year, your excess won’t be applied again until the following calendar year. For a couple membership, each of you would only pay up to $250 excess in any calendar year.
- If you have a packaged cover, the excess is $200 each time a member is admitted to hospital. However, you will pay no more than $500 per single membership, and no more than $1,000 per couple, family or single parent family membership each calendar year.
Note: The excess does not apply to extras claims under a packaged cover.
MyOptions and PremierPlus don’t have an excess.
About hospital out-of-pocket expenses
What is an out-of-pocket expense?
It’s any expense that has to be paid out of your own pocket when you go to hospital. Having private health insurance helps reduce your out-of-pockets but you may still have to pay for some things.
How can I reduce my out-of-pockets?
When you’re a Medibank Private member with hospital cover, there are two key ways to help reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.
The first way is to find out if your specialist participates in our GapCover scheme to help reduce your in-hospital medical costs. This scheme is detailed in the About GapCover below.
The second way is to take advantage of our Members’ Choice network.
When you go to a Members’ Choice hospital you may need to pay some costs, but these should be limited to:
- Any excess you may have with your cover
- Any difference between what your doctor charges (including pathology and radiology fees) and the Medicare Benefits Schedule fee not covered by GapCover or our arrangements with medical practitioners (see the section about GapCover further down this page)
- Any pharmaceuticals not covered by our agreement with the hospital. This includes the cost of any drugs issued on discharge from hospital
- The gap for surgically implanted prostheses and other items on the Federal Government’s Prostheses Schedule. We call these gap prostheses
- Costs for procedures not recognised for Medicare benefit purposes. No benefits are payable for cosmetic surgery
- Costs for services not covered, or fully covered, by our agreement with the hospital
- Costs for services such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, that aren’t covered in a small number of Members’ Choice hospitals
- Costs for treatment in an emergency department that aren’t covered by Medicare.
What if I’m treated in a non Members’ Choice hospital?
If you are treated in a non Members’ Choice hospital you may have significant out-of-pocket expenses. These expenses may vary between hospitals and are typically not subject to a maximum limit. For full details of benefits paid for treatment in a non Members’ Choice hospital, please call us on 132 331.
About hospital costs
About in-hospital medical cover
Generally any out-of-pocket expenses for medical costs associated with a hospital stay arise when a specialist charges more than the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fee.
When you go to hospital or a day facility, the benefits you’re entitled to for the in-hospital medical services you receive are based on the MBS fee. Medicare pays 75% of the MBS fee, and Medibank Private pays 25% (if the treatment is covered under your policy).
To help members lower out-of-pockets when a doctor charges more than the MBS fee, we have a scheme called GapCover.
About GapCover
What is GapCover?
GapCover is Medibank Private’s scheme which helps to minimise or eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for in-hospital medical services by paying higher benefits for our members where a doctor charges above the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fee.
Am I eligible for GapCover?
You will be eligible to participate in our GapCover scheme if (for a particular in-hospital medical service):
- you are eligible to receive Medicare benefits;
- you are eligible to receive benefits from Medibank Private; and
- your doctor agrees to participate in the scheme.
You can use GapCover if you have any of the following health insurance policies (or their corporate equivalents):
First Choice Hospital
Intermediate Hospital
Blue Ribbon Hospital
MyOptions packaged cover
HealthyPlus packaged cover
SmartPlus packaged cover
AdvantagePlus packaged cover
PremierPlus packaged cover
Please note that doctors are free to use the GapCover scheme on a case-by-case or episode-by-episode basis and more than one doctor may be involved in your treatment or procedure.
People who hold Medibank Private’s Visitors Covers or Overseas Student Health Cover are not eligible for GapCover.
How do I take advantage of the GapCover scheme?
If you anticipate being admitted to hospital for treatment or a procedure, we recommend that, before proceeding, you ask your doctor(s) whether they will participate in Medibank Private’s GapCover scheme. A listing of specialists who have participated in GapCover in the past is available in our find a provider search .
How exactly does the GapCover scheme reduce my costs?
Under GapCover, a specialist who treats you in hospital can elect to charge you either no gap or a limited known gap for their services. For a no gap service, you’ll have no out-of-pocket expenses. For a known gap service, the specialist must notify you of any out-of-pocket expenses for their services, usually before your treatment starts.
GapCover does not eliminate amounts that you’ve agreed to pay under your policy with Medibank Private, such as any applicable excess or other hospital charges. And it only applies to medical procedures performed by specialists in hospital or day hospital facilities.
Can I use GapCover when I go to the doctor?
No, it applies to in-hospital medical services only, not for visits to your GP or out patient specialist appointments.
What’s not covered under GapCover
Generally our GapCover arrangements do not apply to services provided by specialist pathologists and radiologists, such as blood tests and imaging. This means you will have some out-of-pocket expenses where these providers charge more than the MBS fee and are not covered under other agreements with Medibank Private. However, for these services you will still be entitled to receive 75% of the MBS fee from Medicare and 25% from us (if the treatment is covered under your policy).
Download the GapCover brochure
What's the gap?
GapCover checklist
About extras limits
How do the annual limits and sub-limits on extras work?
An annual limit is the maximum amount you can claim for the services and items within a particular extras category (for example general dental), within a calendar year. Within these categories there may be sub-limits that restrict the amount you can claim for specific services and items.
Once you’ve reached your annual limits or sub-limits for an extras category or item within a calendar year, you have to wait until the next calendar year before you can claim on these services or items again. The benefits payable for a particular claim are likely to be less than the annual limit or sub-limit.
For example if you have Smart Choice Extras and have both glasses and contact lenses, the most you can claim for items listed under optical items is $225 a year (annual limit). But of that $225, the maximum you can claim for contact lenses is $200 (sub-limit) leaving you $25 available for other services or items.
About prostheses
Does Medibank Private cover all surgically implanted prostheses?
Most of the common items found on the Federal Government’s Prostheses Schedule are fully covered under your hospital cover (no-gap prostheses). However you will have to contribute towards the costs of some surgically implanted prostheses and other items (gap prostheses). For every relevant procedure listed in the Medicare Benefits Schedule there will be at least one no-gap prosthesis available.
It’s important to discuss with your doctor the prosthesis that’s best for your needs, and ask for an estimate of your out-of-pocket expenses.
About ambulance transport
What is medically necessary ambulance transport?
It’s cover for ambulance transport which is necessary because your medical condition means you can’t be transported any other way. All health insurance covers shown on this site include medically necessary ambulance transport. But, there are differences between the three types of cover.
This is how it works for the different types of cover:
Hospital and Packaged covers
You’re eligible for benefits for medically necessary ambulance transport under all hospital and packaged covers shown on this site, except where there is an entitlement to benefits under third party arrangements such as ambulance subscription services or State Government ambulance transport schemes, like those operating in the ACT, NSW, Qld and Tas.
Extras covers
Under our extras cover you’ll be eligible to receive benefits for medically necessary ambulance transport, except if you live in Qld or Tas where State Government ambulance transport schemes operate.
Don’t I already have ambulance cover?
- If you’re 65 or over and live in WA – you may be eligible for free or subsidised ambulance services. If eligible for subsidised services, you may be able to claim the remaining cost from Medibank if you have medically necessary ambulance transport included in your cover.
- If you live in the ACT or NSW – you’ll pay an ambulance levy as part of your hospital cover premiums, and you’re entitled to cover under your State scheme. When you receive an account for ambulance transport, you should take it to one of our stores for endorsement, then send it to the administrator of the relevant scheme. Note: if you live in the ACT or NSW and have a Commonwealth concession card you might be exempt from paying the ambulance levy.
Please call us on 132 331 for a quote.
- If you live in the QLD or TAS – you may be entitled to cover for ambulance transport under the State Government scheme.
About the annual bonus with a packaged cover
Our packaged covers include a yearly bonus that can help pay for a range of approved membership and health-related expenses. There are two types of bonuses available:
- Flexi-Bonus for MyOptions
- PackageBonus for HealthyPlus, SmartPlus, AdvantagePlus and PremierPlus. You can keep your PackageBonus entitlements so long as you stay on the same membership and on a cover with a PackageBonus.
How can I use my PackageBonus?
You can use your PackageBonus towards any of the following:
Membership-related expenses
- Payment towards your hospital excess
- The difference between the Medicare Benefits Schedule fee and a doctor’s charge for in-hospital medical expenses
- Payment towards the shortfall for approved claims for hospital charges and extras expenses, such as dental.
Health-related expenses
- Travel vaccinations
- Health management program costs approved by Medibank Private (excludes goods purchased)
- Appliances or equipment such as wheelchairs and blood pressure monitors
- Stop smoking programs
- Any out-of-pocket expenses related to the cost of non-PBS pharmaceutical prescriptions
- A range of other health-related expenses including services, appliances and equipment approved by Medibank Private.
Please call us on 132 331 for more information.
What can’t I use my PackageBonus for?
- Your premium
- Any contributions towards PBS prescriptions
- Out-of-hospital medical expenses covered by Medicare
- Other non-approved expenses or expenses and costs precluded by law from being paid.
The expenses you can use your PackageBonus on are subject to review and can change. If you anticipate expenses that you’re expecting a PackageBonus benefit for, please call 132 331 before incurring the expense to confirm the benefit you expect will be paid.
About adding additional members to your membership
What if I want to add a spouse/partner to my single membership?
It’s easy to change from a single to a couple membership, but you should note that higher premiums apply to a couple membership and waiting periods may apply to your spouse/partner.
What if I want to add a dependant child to my single membership?
You can change from a single membership to a family or single parent family membership without serving additional waiting periods following the birth of your baby or at the time of adopting or fostering a child.
Your child must be added within two months of the birth or being included in your family unit. This change to your membership comes into effect on the date that your child was born, adopted or fostered. If other family members are added at this time waiting periods may apply.
Please note, MyOptions is only available as a single or couple membership.
Will my premium increase if I add a child to my single membership?
Higher premiums will apply if you change from a single membership to a family or single parent family membership. But it doesn’t increase if you change from a couple to family membership, or you’re already on a family membership.
Will my baby be covered when I’m in hospital for the birth?
When a newborn baby is in hospital with its mother, no accommodation charges apply for the baby unless the baby becomes an admitted patient in their own right.
This happens when:
- the baby requires admission to a neo-natal intensive care unit; or
- it is the second or later child of a multiple birth.
If I have children, how long will they be insured on my cover?
If your little ones are getting bigger they can still be covered at no additional cost on your family or single parent family cover until they turn 21 and, if they are fulltime students, until they turn 25.
We also have our Families With Adult Children membership option. This allows you to have your adult children on your cover if they are:
- aged between 21 and 25
- not full-time students
- not married or in a de facto relationship.
You will pay a higher premium, but generally it’s a more economical option than if they were to take out their own cover at the same level. Once they have served their waiting periods your children can enjoy the benefits of your cover.
Which covers include the adult children option?
The Families With Adult Children membership is available to members with family or single parent cover under most of our hospital and extras covers.
Exceptions to this include: MyOptions, Accident Cover, Visitors Cover, Overseas Student Health Cover and Ambulance Cover.
About the private room guarantee
What is the Private Room Guarantee?
The Private Room Guarantee is a benefit which is only available with our PremierPlus cover. It pays you $50 a night up to a maximum of five nights per stay, if there isn’t a private room available at a Members’ Choice hospital and you’re eligible to receive benefits under your cover for the treatment you received during your stay. You need to make sure you request a private room at least 24 hours before your stay.
The Private Room Guarantee does not apply if your doctor considers that you should be located in a shared room for clinical reasons or for same day admissions or admissions for sleep studies.
Other important information
How often should I review my cover?
At different stages of your life you may have different health cover needs. So it makes sense to review your health cover regularly – especially if your situation has changed. For example if you’re planning your wedding or starting a family, kids are leaving home or either you or someone in your family has developed a chronic illness.
And if you ever have any questions just call us on 132 331 or drop into a Medibank store.
We value your feedback
If you have any feedback about our products and services, or would like further explanation on anything to do with your membership, you can contact us:
- call 132 331
- email ask_us@medibank.com.au
- visit any of our Medibank stores
- write to us at Medibank Private GPO Box 9999 in your capital city.
What if I have a complaint?
We’re committed to efficient and fair resolution of complaints and to using the feedback you give us to ensure our products, policies and service continue to adequately address our members’ needs.
We’ll try to resolve any complaint you may have the first time you raise it with us – please contact us with any issues through the contact points listed. If you believe your complaint has not been satisfactorily dealt with, please let us know and we will escalate your complaint. You can also write to our Customer Resolutions team at Medibank Private, GPO Box 9999, Melbourne, VIC 3000.
Free independent advice is also available from the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman on 1800 640 695.
Private Patients’ Hospital Charter
Prepared by the Federal Government, this booklet is designed to inform you about what you can expect from your health fund, doctors and hospitals as a patient with hospital cover. A copy is available from any Medibank store.
Private Health Insurance Code of Conduct
Medibank Private is proud to be a signatory to the Private Health Insurance Code of Conduct. The code was developed by the private health insurance industry and aims to promote the standards of service to be applied throughout the industry.
The code is designed to help you by ensuring that:
- information which we provide to you is written in plain language
- Medibank Private employees are competently trained to deal with your enquiries
- Medibank Private protects the privacy of your information in line with the privacy legislation
- you have access to a reliable and free system of addressing complaints with Medibank Private.
A copy of the code is available at privatehealth.com.au/codeofconduct
Disclaimer
- Medibank Private encourages providers to offer high-quality products and services at competitive prices to its members.
- Where Medibank Private recognises a provider, advertises on behalf of a provider, or appears by reference of logo or otherwise in an advertisement of any provider, to the fullest extent allowed by the law, such advertising or reference should not be construed as: a) an endorsement; b) an acknowledgment or representation as to fitness for purpose; or c) a recommendation or warranty of, for, or in relation to, the product and/or service of the provider. Accordingly, Medibank Private neither takes nor assumes any responsibility for the product and/or service provided.
- Members should make and rely on their own enquiries and seek any assurance or warranties directly from the provider of the service or product.