This is the amount you pay towards your hospital treatment before we pay any benefits. It's paid once per person, per calendar year. It does not apply to children on a family policy.
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Hospital cover
Helps towards the accommodation costs and doctors, specialists, surgeons and anaesthetists fees for the Included services below.
What is a waiting period?
A set period of time you need to wait before you can receive benefits for services or items included in your cover. You can’t receive benefits for any items or services you obtained while you’re serving a waiting period. This means you will have to pay the full cost of the service.
What is a pre-existing condition?
An ailment, illness or condition that, in the opinion of a Medical Practitioner appointed by Medibank, the signs or symptoms existed at any time during the six months before you either took out your new cover, or transferred to a higher level of cover (12 month waiting period applies).
| Inclusions | Waiting Period
What is a waiting period? A set period of time you need to wait before you can receive benefits for services or items included in your cover. You can’t receive benefits for any items or services you obtained while you’re serving a waiting period. This means you will have to pay the full cost of the service. What is a pre-existing condition? An ailment, illness or condition that, in the opinion of a Medical Practitioner appointed by Medibank, the signs or symptoms existed at any time during the six months before you either took out your new cover, or transferred to a higher level of cover (12 month waiting period applies). |
|---|---|
| Nil | |
| Nil | |
| Nil | |
| 2 months | |
| 2 months | |
| 2 months | |
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 12 months | |
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| 14 days
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
| Services that are Excluded |
|---|
Please note: Medibank does not pay any benefits towards the cost of cosmetic surgery/procedures e.g. surgery that isn’t clinically necessary and for which an MBS item is not billable.
Hospital cover explained
For the services listed as Inclusions in the table above, we pay benefits towards:
- Doctors' fees for Included in-hospital medical services (as set out in Medical benefits below).
- Surgically implanted prostheses (such as an artificial body part like a limb) and other items on the Australian Government’s Prescribed List of Medical Devices and Human Tissue Products^^.
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)** listed medication given to you as part of your admitted treatment for most medical conditions, including medication prescribed for after you leave hospital.
- Overnight accommodation in a private or shared room
- Same-day admissions
- Intensive care
Other benefits as set out in 'Hospital benefits' below.
- Overnight accommodation in a private or shared room
- Same-day admissions
- Intensive care
- Operating theatre fees
- Outpatient and emergency department charges
Hospital benefits
Members’ Choice hospitals
Medibank has agreements with most private hospitals and day surgeries in Australia. We call this our Members’ Choice network. When you visit a Members’ Choice hospital you will generally get better value for money compared to a non-Members’ Choice private hospital, provided the service is included under our agreement with the hospital and not Excluded under your cover.
To find your nearest Members’ Choice hospital, visit medibank.com.au/memberschoice. Members’ Choice hospitals are subject to change from time to time and are not available in all areas.
Private room promise
If there isn’t a private room available at a Members’ Choice hospital, you may be entitled to receive $50 a night, for up to five nights per stay.
You’ll need to request a private room from the Members’ Choice hospital at least 24 hours before your stay; you must provide supporting documentation to Medibank from the hospital about this request and you must be eligible to receive benefits for the treatment you received during your stay. Does not apply for same-day admissions or admissions for sleep studies, or where your doctor specifically requests a shared room for clinical reasons.
In-hospital Family Boarder Benefit
If you or someone on your membership is admitted to hospital for an Included service and either a partner, immediate family member, carer or next of kin (‘boarder’) needs to stay in hospital with them, we will pay towards the cost of accommodation and meals charged by the hospital for that boarder up to $150 per admission.
$1,000,000 Total Annual Benefit Limit
This cover has a total annual benefit limit of $1,000,000 per member, per calendar year (1 January to 31 December).
A total annual benefit limit is the maximum total amount of benefits we will pay for eligible hospital, medical and/or ambulance services within a calendar year. Once this limit is reached, no further benefits are payable for the remainder of that calendar year. The limit resets on 1 January each year.
If you change covers within the same calendar year from another Medibank cover (excluding OSHC), benefits already paid by us on your previous cover in that calendar year will generally be counted toward your total annual benefit limit.
Hospital excess
With Overseas Visitors Premier Hospital and Medical there is a $500 excess.
This is the amount you pay towards your hospital treatment before we pay any benefits. It's payable once per member, per calendar year if admitted to hospital.
The excess does not apply for any children on a family membership.
Medical benefits
Overseas Visitors Premier Hospital and Medical includes benefits towards medical services provided by a doctor, that are listed in the government’s Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). The MBS is a list of medical services and corresponding fees.
Overseas Visitors Premier Hospital and Medical pays 100% of the MBS fee for:
- general practitioner (GP) consultations
- in-hospital medical services provided as part of an Included service (for example surgeon and anaesthetist fees)
Overseas Visitors Premier Hospital and Medical pays 85% of the MBS fee for:
- medical services provided out-of-hospital (for example specialists, pathology and x-rays), except for Pregnancy and birth and Assisted reproductive services.
- allied health services billed with an MBS item number (for example eye checks and services related to chronic disease and mental health management plans).
If your doctor chooses to charge above the MBS fee you will likely have to pay an out-of-pocket expense to cover the difference.
For example:
The MBS fee for item 23 (a GP consultation) is $43.90. You visit a doctor that charges $50. Overseas Visitors Premier Hospital and Medical pays 100% of the MBS fee for GP consultations. This means you would get back $43.90. Your out-of-pocket cost would be $6.10.
The MBS fee for item 65070 (full blood count test) is $17.35. You visit a pathology clinic that charges $20. Overseas Visitors Premier Hospital and Medical pays 85% of the MBS fee for included out-of-hospital medical services. This means you would get back $14.75. Your out-of-pocket cost would be $5.25.
Further benefits
24/7 Medibank Nurse and Mental Health Support
Medibank health insurance members can chat to a registered nurse or mental health professional and get guidance on what they can do next. Chat online or call 1800 644 325 anytime of the day or night, 7 days a week at no extra cost. Some referred services may involve out of pocket costs and waiting periods may apply.
Repatriation
If you or any person on this cover sustains a substantial life-altering disability or a serious medical condition, as determined by us, and needs to return to their home country, we may arrange and pay the reasonable cost of travel with the appropriate medical supervision (up to $50,000).
In the unfortunate event of death, we’ll pay the reasonable cost for the repatriation of mortal remains of you or anyone else on your membership to their home country (up to $5,000).
The provision of any repatriation benefit is at our discretion. Conditions apply, including waiting periods. Contact us or refer to the Overseas Visitors Member Guide for more information.
Live better, get rewarded
You could earn up to $400 worth of rewards every year.++
You can earn points by tracking healthy actions. And when you're an eligible Medibank Overseas Visitors Health Cover member with hospital or extras, these points can go towards rewards from select partners such as adidas and THEICONIC, as well as select Apple products, extras limit increases or a $200 premium payment.≈
If your situation changes
If at any time you gain access to full Medicare entitlements or your visa status changes (e.g. you are granted permanent residency), Overseas Visitors Premier Hospital and Medical may no longer be suitable. In these instances, you should notify us of the change in your circumstances. Medibank can still remain an important part of your private health insurance plans as we offer a large range of other covers.
Supporting documents
Things worth knowing
Find out more about things like waiting periods and pre-existing conditions or check our list of definitions if you don't know the meaning of a word or phrase
Things you need to know
++ Medibank Live Better Challenges & Goals Earning Policy: The participant of a Medibank Live Better Challenge or Goal may not receive Live Better points or may have their already credited Live Better points reversed in accordance with the Medibank Live Better terms and conditions. To earn Live Better points, the participant needs to properly complete 100% of the eligible Challenge according to the instructions. The number of Live Better points available for Medibank Live Better Challenges and Goals is subject to change without prior notice. The maximum number of Live Better points that each Medibank Live Better member can earn from successfully completing health and wellbeing Challenges, Goals or any Onboarding action in a calendar year is 40,000 Live Better points. To the extent of any inconsistency between this Policy and the Medibank Live Better terms and conditions, the terms and conditions will take precedence.
≈ Must be 16 years or over to register for Medibank Live Better rewards in the My Medibank app. Some program partners and earning activities require a person to be at least 18 years of age to be eligible to earn and/or redeem a reward. Must be a Medibank member with hospital cover, extras cover, or hospital and extras cover, and be up-to-date with premium payments. Excludes Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), Ambulance only cover, ahm covers and other selected covers. Live Better Management Pty Ltd, ACN 003 457 289 has entered into commercial arrangements with Medibank Live Better program partners and may receive commissions. Please choose carefully as rewards will not be amended, cancelled, exchanged or refunded due to change of mind. Points earning activities and rewards are subject to change without prior notice and may be subject to availability. Additional terms and conditions may apply to points earning activities and rewards. See full Medibank Live Better rewards terms.