Health Insurance: BUPA's Ridiculous Changes - Where Are You Moving to?

Sir Flabo on 12/03/2018 - 19:12
Last edited 12/03/2018 - 20:25

EDIT: Appears to be HBF too

If you are with Bupa for your health insurance, then you may have missed the quiet letter they would have sent you in your Bupa Inbox.

Essentially, their health insurance is getting more expensive and they're cutting out A LOT of hospital cover:

From the 1st of July, 2018

"Feedback from customers has shown the value of 'minimum benefits' (restricted cover)
included in their health cover were not clear. To help keep premiums as low as possible,
we’re no longer paying benefits on the following services from 1 July 2018:
• cardiac and cardiac related services
• hip and knee replacement
• other joint replacements
• shoulder and ankle arthroscopy
• other joint arthroscopy & meniscectomy
• cataract and eye lens procedures
• renal dialysis for chronic renal failure
• pregnancy and birth related services
• IVF and assisted reproductive services
• obesity related procedures and surgeries
• abdominoplasty and lipectomy
• cancer
• reconstructive surgery
• all other inpatient treatments not included on your cover"

I've heard that other health insurance companies are trying to capitalise on this and are offering perks to jump over before the end of March (e.g. transferred loyalty and no blackout period).

Have you heard about this? Are you moving to another health insurer or are you with a company you would recommend?

Choice article on it: https://www.choice.com.au/money/insurance/health/articles/bu…

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Comments

  • mysterytal on 12/03/2018 - 19:19
    +3

    There's no point having a restricted health insurance policy unless it's for tax reasons or to minimize LHC loading for 10 years before upgrading to the top level cover.

    I would pick either top cover or no cover.

    • vinni9284 on 12/03/2018 - 21:38

      Even for legal tax avoidance, there is no point of having "Basic Hospital Cover" as it is junk and they pay jack when you claim.

      • Deridas on 13/03/2018 - 09:52
        +2

        But if the junk policy premiums and cheaper than the Medicare surcharge levy, then it's better to get the junk policy.

        • vinni9284 on 13/03/2018 - 10:59

          I didn't make myself clear earlier.

          My point was to get a mid-tier rather than the basic cover.
          If you want to avoid tax, then get a plan that will give you something back in return just in case you claim.

          Basic cover gives you rubbish so you can say it is the same as the MLS; that is your money is going down the drain either way.

          Cheers

        • Deridas on 13/03/2018 - 12:44
          +2

          @vinni9284:

          That's correct, both the MLS and junk policy is money down the drain, however, if you earn heaps of $$ then it's better to pay for the junk policy than to pay the MLS (even if you don't get any actual medical benefit) as the MLS scales whilst the junk policy is (almost) a flat fee.

        • vinni9284 on 13/03/2018 - 13:20
          -3

          @Deridas:

          Well you hardly get any benefits from Junk Policy (Basic Cover) so you might add a couple of a hundred more and get Mid-level - Standard Hospital.

          Cheers

  • AdosHouse on 12/03/2018 - 19:21

    "the value of 'minimum benefits' (restricted cover)"

    Sounds like for the 'junk' plans. The ones people buy to not pay the medicare levy surcharge and not for the actual cover.

    Could be wrong though, just what it sounds like to me.

    EDIT: ninja'd by mysterytal

    • Sir Flabo on 12/03/2018 - 19:22
      +1

      I have the second to top plan and mine is affected, I believe only the very top plan is not being changed.

    • kulprit on 12/03/2018 - 20:48
      +1

      Minimum benefits (restricted cover) is the term they use for an individual item covered in your hospital cover.

      If you have a lower level cover, you will have more items that are listed as Minimum benefits. The changes mean that now rather than having minimum benefits, you have no benefits in those areas.

      • Sir Flabo on 12/03/2018 - 21:07

        Thanks for clarifying!

        • kulprit on 12/03/2018 - 21:10

          No worries. Made me do a bit more research myself. Minimum benefits was only ever about being covered to have these procedures done in a public hospital, but maybe from a private waiting list, or a private room.

          If you actually thought you needed cover for the particular thing to have done in a private hospital (ie like pregnancy in the main post), having minimum benefits really wasn't going to help you.

          I still think in the long run I will move away from Bupa, but will give them a year or two more.

  • Sir Flabo on 12/03/2018 - 20:00

    I'm looking at MyOwn atm due to the inclusion of AIA vitality - anyone have experience with these guys?

    • nubix on 12/03/2018 - 23:04
      +1

      Only made optical and dental claims, but so far so good. Price was very similar to BUPA which didn't have optical at all. Loving Vitality, will be saving $150/month at the new Virgin Active at Barangaroo

      • Sir Flabo on 13/03/2018 - 17:17

        Did you start at silver? Any insight to what it's like to progress levels for Vitality? - Cheers!

  • kulprit on 12/03/2018 - 20:44
    +2

    Yeah it depends what plan you are on.
    My email stated they were removing assisted reproductive services, knee replacements and cataract stuff. But mine is the plan just below top level, and these are the things that the top level differentiated.

  • vinni9284 on 12/03/2018 - 21:46
    +4

    It seems like in my view, Bupa wants to sway existing and potential customers to pay more to get top level cover rather than pay nominal mid-tier or lower level.

    Sooner or later, PHI will be completely unaffordable where there will be an exodus unless the government gets involved to ensure affordability & insurability.

    Cheers

  • chartparker on 12/03/2018 - 21:49

    I'm also looking around - Bupa has been steadily getting more expensive over the years, and the benefits they pay has been going down. Looking at Medibank as the nest potential wagon to jump on.

  • airzone on 12/03/2018 - 21:55
    +1

    So.. what do they cover?

  • MaxTravels on 13/03/2018 - 08:04
    +1

    Following this post as I’m lookimg to change.

    Been with AHM for many years, only claimed extras but everything just worked, their online portal was good. Decide to increase my cover and AHM was significantly more expensive than Bupa, and Bupa offered 2nd month free so I made the switch. Have been regretting it ever since. Customer service is appalling, over charged me on the first month (by around 150) and took 45 mins to get them to sort it out (when I could finally get through on their phone). No email support or support via thei useless customer portal. I’m stuck with them for about another 4 weeks and then I’m moving. Keen to hear others experiences to find out who is good.

    • vinni9284 on 13/03/2018 - 11:01
      +1

      Medibank = AHM and i'm sure the experience will be different now.. much worse!

  • c64 on 13/03/2018 - 08:26
    +2

    lol, what do they actually cover?

  • Sammyboy on 13/03/2018 - 08:36

    Did Medibank chop out the same things as Bupa?
    Just did a quote on HCF website, and came out cheaper than Bupa with more things covered

  • holoz0r on 13/03/2018 - 08:44
    +1

    Question is are they advertising that insurance as is today; to a new customer, having sent existing customers information about the erosion of cover.

    Call me cynical, but I could see companies doing this.

    • vinni9284 on 13/03/2018 - 11:10
      +1

      Yep. A common practice these days.

      Trying to lure new customers by offering them incentives whilst the existing get thrashed as the pay the offset.

      Many organisations are using this practice. It doesn't pay to be a loyal customer!

      Here is a perfect recent scenario for you:

      My mum has been with Medibank Private for a few years.

      • Her new premium she just received last week = $1614 for the second highest cover.
      • Did an online quote for Complete Hospital (Top Cover) = $1580 (and yes! … apples for apples quote, no tier and HLC for her age)

      So it is cheaper to get the top cover as a new customer.

      We will query this and if they don't come to the party, we will give them the boot!

      Simple!

      • holoz0r on 13/03/2018 - 11:45

        Any difference in the "renewed" cover i.e. from 1 April something won't be covered that is covered today?

        My concern is something is being advertised today at a price point which will change soon.

        I've done a few online quotes and only one company has so far said "this is the cover and price now", and "this is the cover and price after this other date".

        Feels like super misleading marketing.

        • vinni9284 on 13/03/2018 - 11:48
          +1
          • A quote before April 1st 2018 is = 2017 prices.
          • A quote after April 1st 2018 = 2018 prices which is to add another 3.5% price increase from 2017 on Average.

          However many Insurers will quote/charge you higher than the 3.5%.

          That's why many insurers push you to pay yearly before April to lock you in 2017 prices. … and also to benefit them of getting prepaid the cash for one year in advance :-)

          Edit: Any changes to your policy, they well inform you in writing. Then it's up to you to stay or opt out of your policy and go to another. But then it might be the same. In my view they're all in the same game. Many are re-badged companies with minor changes to thier equivalent policies.

          Cheers

  • [Deactivated] on 13/03/2018 - 09:15

    I have been with CUA for a few years: full cover with hospital benefits.
    I work had and play hard and have made a few claims. All been handled really well and very few gaps.

  • BigBirdy on 13/03/2018 - 09:20

    Looking at Govt Comparison Site for the best value ‘all in’ policy for a single, no kids (they’re grown up), Hospital & Extras, with excess/copayment, Health Care Insurance Ltd (HCILtd) looks the best. I sent them an email a few weeks back with some questions, but they never responded … not a good start.

    Anyone have any experience with HCILtd?

    • GOCAT9 on 13/03/2018 - 10:13
      +1

      HCI are great, I have been with them for quite a few years. YMMV, but the biggest advantages they have over most others FOR ME are:
      1. Allows $1000 excess
      2. Flexible for policy suspensions (for overseas travel)
      3. Day surgery does not trigger excess.
      4. Call centre answered by human who deals with you then and there.
      5. Their top policy covers EVERYTHING that Medicare covers.

      Some others offer some of these but not all at the same time.

  • mingofmongo on 13/03/2018 - 09:49

    Thank goodness I jumped ship from Bupa a year ago. Joined St Lukes - have had a great experience so far, paying less with more covered.

  • Foxtail on 13/03/2018 - 09:54

    We moved from Bupa to Qantas Assure health insurance and the QFF points keep stacking on.

    https://tinyurl.com/ydds8ju8

  • Marty-69 on 13/03/2018 - 10:47

    Bupa member here and looking to switch. Does anyone know a health insurance where you can pick your extras? I've checked 5 different providers and they all include extras that are completely irrelevant to me. I only need a few extras and want to pay accordingly.

    • mysterytal on 13/03/2018 - 10:59

      It wouldn't save much. Most people only ever claim optical and dental on extras cover so just look for one that pays enough to cover the charges that you expect either from your optician or from your dentist. There's some policies that won't even cover half the bill so try and avoid them.

  • ELH05 on 13/03/2018 - 11:37

    HCF Member, very happy with their cover

  • DamonT on 13/03/2018 - 16:08
    +1

    I didn't get anything about them removing cancer cover, but perhaps I'm on a mid-level policy.
    I got these as being removed:
    - hip and knee replacement
    - cataract and eye lens procedures
    - pregnancy and birth related services
    - IVF and assisted reproductive services
    - obesity related procedures and surgeries
    - abdominoplasty and lipectomy

  • cuppaciano on 17/03/2018 - 22:04
    +1

    Very important change (IMO) to the Bupa Ultimate Cover this year - see the email from Bupa:

    Maintaining the affordability of your cover:

    From 1 July 2018, we're introducing a 3-year restricted cover period for laser eye correction surgery for a pre-existing condition. The restricted cover period is a period of time during which we will pay benefits based on an amount set by the Government (known as minimum benefits).

    There's no change to your cover, however, any new member who joins your policy after 1 July 2018, will have:

    • a 3-year restricted cover period for laser eye correction surgery, including the normal waiting period;
    • since the restricted cover period starts at the same time as the waiting period, they'll serve their 12-month waiting period and then we'll pay minimum benefits for the next 2 years.

    TL;DR: the waiting period to have 100% laser eye surgery coverage is changing to 3 years, instead of 1 year.
    aka spending ~$4000 (for single, 1 year) -> ~$12,000 (3 years) to get full coverage to a lasik surgery (~$5000/2 eyes)

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