Switching health insurance

1. Compare health insurance options and find cover that best suits your needs. If you need assistance, call us on 1300 576 282.

2. Once you’ve joined, we will contact your old fund to cancel your old membership.

3. Your old fund will then have 14 days to send your Transfer Clearance Certificate. This certificate helps us calculate your correct premium, check your remaining limits, and any waiting periods already served.

4. There’s no need to re-serve waiting periods you’ve already served with your old fund^#, so you'll be able to make the most out of your new cover straight away.

Yes, you can switch health insurance anytime – whether that’s at the start of the year, end of the year, mid-year, or whenever you feel it’s time.

But remember: you need to join Medibank within 2 months of leaving your previous Australian health fund if you want the waiting periods you've already served on equivalent services to be recognised. Also, keep in mind that any benefits previously paid under your previous extras cover this year will be deducted from your available limits with Medibank.

Many people think about switching health insurance leading up to the annual premium review. However, the “best time” is really “the time that’s best for you”. As our lives change, so do our health needs, so it’s worth regularly taking the time to check whether your health insurance is meeting your needs.

Here are some questions to ask yourself if you’re thinking of switching health insurance:

• Are you extending or starting your family?
• Do you reach your annual limits ahead of time?
• Do you have any specific health needs?
• Are you about to turn 31?
• Has your financial situation changed?
• Would you like to add or remove someone from your policy?
• Not quite satisfied with your cover?

If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, call us on 1300 576 282 so we can chat through your options.

We can cancel your old health insurance when you join Medibank (as long as you give us consent to do so).

You can also do it yourself – just remember to join Medibank within 2 months of leaving your previous Australian health fund so that we can recognise the waiting periods you’ve already served.

We recognise the waiting periods you have already served with another Australian health fund, as long as you join us within 2 months of leaving that fund.

If there are waiting periods that you didn't fully serve with your previous fund, you may still need to serve these.  Also keep in mind that if your new Medibank cover includes new or upgraded services or benefits, or a lower hospital excess, there will be waiting periods for these.

Unsure about your level of cover and what waiting periods you'll need to serve? Then call us on 134 190.

When you join Medibank – or any health fund – you’re entitled to a cooling-off period. This means that we give you 30 days from the date your new or changed cover begins to review your cover and make sure you’re happy with it. If you change your mind during that time and haven’t made any claims, we’ll either transfer you to a more appropriate cover from the original beginning date or cancel it altogether and refund your premiums. During the cooling off period, you generally can’t return to a cover that Medibank has closed.

Yes! Portability rules in Australia mean that you have the right to change to another hospital policy with the same insurer or another insurer. As long as your payments for your current policy are up to date, it’s a straightforward process. We recommend that you make sure your new policy includes all the pregnancy and birth services you previously had cover for so that you can look after yourself and welcome your new baby with peace of mind. To switch and chat about our cover that includes pregnancy and birth, call us on 1300 576 282.

Switching health insurance can be a good idea if your current cover no longer suits your needs, budget or life stage.

It’s important to compare what is included in your cover, check any waiting periods that may apply to new or higher benefits, and make sure the policy suits how you actually use health insurance.

Compare cover online or call us on 1300 576 282 to chat through your options.