How can we help you?
I'm receiving Centrelink assistance
I’m experiencing temporary financial hardship
I’ve been affected by a natural disaster
I'm receiving Centrelink assistance
If you or your partner are receiving an eligible form of short-term income maintenance from Centrelink you may be able to suspend your membership. Short-term maintenance payments include:
- Austudy / ABSTUDY
- JobSeeker Payment - previously known as Newstart Allowance
- Parenting Payment
- Special Benefit payment
- Youth Allowance
Am I eligible to suspend my membership?
To be eligible for our Centrelink Assistance Suspension Policy you'll need to:
- provide a letter from Centrelink indicating the date you started receiving benefits; and
- hold any Hospital or Extras cover, except for Ambulance cover, Overseas Student Health Cover, Overseas Visitors Health Cover or Overseas Workers Health Cover.
Please note, if you’ve already suspended your membership under our Centrelink Assistance Suspension Policy, you'll need to have an active membership for at least 12 months before we'll suspend your membership again under this policy.
Additionally the minimum period between reactivation from an eligible Centrelink benefits suspension and a temporary financial hardship suspension is three months.
How do I suspend my membership?
You'll need to:
- Complete a Medibank Suspension of Membership Request form.
- Attach your letter from Centrelink indicating the date you started receiving one of the short-term income maintenance payment types listed above.
- Submit these documents for assessment to Medibank Private, GPO Box 9999 in your capital city, scan and email it to ask_us@medibank.com.au, or fax it to (07) 3026 0557.
- We'll get in touch with you within three business days of receiving your request.
If approved, you'll receive confirmation of your membership suspension and reactivation dates.
How long can I suspend my membership for?
You can suspend your membership for a maximum of two years.
I’m experiencing temporary financial stress
If you're experiencing temporary financial hardship, you may be able to suspend your membership.
Am I eligible to suspend my membership?
To temporarily suspend your policy you'll need to:
- hold any Hospital or Extras cover with Medibank for a minimum of 12 months. Excludes Ambulance cover, Overseas Student Health Cover, Overseas Visitors Cover or Overseas Workers Health Cover.
- agree to a declaration confirming your temporary financial hardship claim at the time the suspension application is made. You may also be required to provide documentation supporting your request for temporary suspension.
Please note, if you’ve already suspended your membership under our Temporary Financial Hardship Suspension Policy, you'll need to have an active membership for at least 12 months before we'll suspend your membership again under this policy.
Additionally the minimum period between reactivation from an eligible Centrelink benefits suspension and a temporary financial hardship suspension is three months.
How do I suspend my membership?
You'll need to:
- Complete a Medibank Suspension of Membership Request form which includes a declaration confirming your financial hardship claim.
- Submit these documents for assessment to Medibank Private, GPO Box 9999 in your capital city, scan or email it to ask_us@medibank.com.au, or fax it to (07) 3026 0557.
- We'll get in touch with you within three business days of receiving your request.
Please note, we may require some documentation to support your temporary financial hardship claim. If approved, you'll receive confirmation of your membership suspension and reactivation dates.
How long can I suspend my membership for?
You can suspend your membership for a maximum of three months.
I’ve been affected by a natural disaster
If you've been affected by a declared natural disaster and are experiencing financial hardship, you may be able to suspend your membership.
How do I suspend my membership?
As every situation varies, you will need to get in touch with us on 132 331 to discuss your circumstances. We can walk you through the different options to see if there's one that works best for you.
How long can I suspend my membership for?
If you're experiencing financial hardship due to a declared natural disaster you can suspend your membership for a maximum of two years.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Things you should know
If you’re considering suspending your membership you should note:
- To be eligible, you must hold any Australian resident Hospital or Extras cover. Ambulance cover, Overseas Student Health Cover, Overseas Visitors Health Cover or Overseas Workers Health Cover are not eligible for the suspension types listed above.
- Benefits are not payable for treatment received, services provided or items purchased during a period of suspension.
- You may be subject to the Medicare Levy Surcharge for the period you’re suspended.
- Any period of suspension won’t count towards waiting periods or benefit replacement periods.
- Any period of suspension can affect your entitlement to an increase in annual benefit limits (on applicable covers) for extras items and services.
- Members with both Hospital and Extras cover cannot suspend one without the other.
- Standalone Ambulance cover cannot be suspended under any circumstances.
- The maximum suspension periods are three months for temporary financial hardship, two years for eligible Centrelink benefits and natural disasters.
- The minimum period between reactivation and suspension for the same reason is 12 months for temporary financial hardship and eligible Centrelink benefits.
- The minimum period between reactivation from an eligible Centrelink benefits suspension and a temporary financial hardship suspension is three months.