Medibank Member Hub

All health funds have waiting periods. In short, a waiting period is a period of time you need to wait after taking out your cover before you can receive benefits for services or items covered.

You're not able to receive benefits for any items or services you might have obtained while you're serving a waiting period or before you joined Medibank.

In some cases yes, in other cases no. We'll pay towards services included on your new cover from the date you join if (i) those services were also included on your cover with your former fund, and (ii) you join us within two months of leaving your former fund, and (iii) you've already served the applicable waiting periods. So, although we'll recognise any waiting periods you've served with your former fund, if you haven't fully served the applicable waiting periods, you'll need to serve the balance with us before you're eligible for benefits.

Additional waiting periods will also apply for any increased benefits, where you have chosen a lower excess, or if you wait more than two months after leaving your former fund before you join Medibank.

Any loyalty bonus or other similar entitlements built up with your former fund (for example, orthodontic entitlements) will not transfer to Medibank. If you transfer to Medibank or to another Medibank cover, any benefits that may have been paid under your previous cover will be taken into account in determining the benefits payable under your new cover.

Although you as the policy holder 'are responsible' for the membership, your partner (if he or she is also included on the same membership) can (unless you otherwise advise) manage most aspects of the membership too, including (but not limited to): making claims, adding or removing dependants, changing cover and suspending the membership. 

However, as the policy holder you're the only one who can remove yourself from the membership or cancel the membership. It's important to be aware that this means that we may disclose registered membership details to both of you. If at any time you want to be the only person who can manage the membership or you require further information about the handling of personal information, please call us on 1300 974 337.