Medibank Switch over Special and What Have You Got?

SnoozeAndLose on 20/03/2018 - 08:03
Last edited 20/03/2018 - 08:42

31/3 of March is approaching.

How is every tracking for your private health insurance?

As family we are with Bupa for 3 years under corporate plan and found their customer service is bad(cant say it is the worst), every year their system not able to apply corp rate for us make us fall half month short and after multiple phone calls to get it resolve.

We decide to shop around and come to Medibank they give us 6 weeks free plus 60,000 FF points.
That is even cheaper than we we are paying last year as a family with basic hospital and Extra 60 for under $2000.

Please what offer you achieve or what is your cover cost.

Poll Options

  • 6
    I don’t buy private health insurance
  • 2
    < $1000 for single
  • 0
    < $1500 for single
  • 1
    < $ 2000 for couple
  • 0
    < $2000 for family
Health & Beauty

Comments

  • ihbh on 20/03/2018 - 08:19

    600,000 or 60,000?

  • CheapSticks on 20/03/2018 - 08:25

    Did you apply through a particular channel to get that?

  • SnoozeAndLose on 20/03/2018 - 08:47

    I want to add more poll but I couldnt

    I don’t buy private health insurance
    .< $1,000 for single
    .> $1,000 & < $1,500 for single
    .> $1,500 & < $2,000 for single
    .> $2,000 & < $2,500 for single
    .< $2,000 for couple
    .> $2,000 & < $2,500 for couple
    .> $2,500 & < $3,000 for couple
    .> $3,000 & < $3,500 for couple
    .> $3,500 & < $4,000 for couple
    .< $2,000 for family
    .> $2,000 & < $2,500 for family
    .> $2,500 & < $3,000 for family
    .> $3,000 & < $3,500 for family
    .> $3,500 & < $4,000 for family

  • Stingo on 20/03/2018 - 08:48

    https://www.privatehealth.gov.au is the only PHI comparison site to use, Stay away from the others they only list sponsored products - except if they are offering a deal on a fund you have chosen. See whether your existing fund's retention team will put you on a better deal or give you some free days to help you decide. They may be willing to put you on a corporate plan. For example, "I'm an RSL member, does that qualify?" Prepay for a year before the end of the month (or more if your fund allows it) to defer the price rise. Personally, I prefer mutuals. If nothing else you can get a windfall if they privatise. There are just too many variables for your survey to produce useful results.

  • Peter Enis on 20/03/2018 - 08:56

    Medibanks prices are rising as well so ensure the quote you've received is the "new" price. Mine is going up by about 6.5%

    • SnoozeAndLose on 20/03/2018 - 09:00

      I have accepted and paid before 1/4. $2200 with 60,000 FF I am happy.

  • Donaldhump on 20/03/2018 - 10:53

    health insurance companies only give these offers to new customers and not existing, so all that does is encourage switching year after year.

    i am with medibank, and will just go to another one for a year and then switch again, i guess they count on the 90% that cant be arsed switching

    no difference to car insurance i guess.

    • Stingo on 20/03/2018 - 15:56

      I agree that people should look around but I wouldn't necessarily switch based on one-time bonus offers. Unlike, car insurers, for example health insurers commonly grandfather existing plans and if you switch you may not be able to switch back. Not only was my old BUPA plan one of their grandfathered (or closed to new member plans), it remained eligible for medicare levy purposes after the allowable excess permitted dropped to $500. My current plan is also grandfathered and the similarly named new plan is much worse. One of my health insurers acted very much like a car insurer in that they changed to for=profit status and started dropping inclusions from a gold plan. In hindsight I should have checked they were a mutual rather than assuming they based on their non-profit status,

      It's worth calling your health fund and see what they'll offer you to stay. I've been offered free days and corporate plans. Be prepared for them trying to convince you how much better their plan is so do your homework.

  • dazweeja on 20/03/2018 - 11:15

    Where can I find information on the FF points? Are they Qantas FF points?

    • SnoozeAndLose on 20/03/2018 - 12:35

      Flybuy points.

      • dazweeja on 20/03/2018 - 12:42

        Thanks. Flybuys points are not FF (Frequent Flyer) points though.

        • John Kimble on 20/03/2018 - 16:09
          +1

          What? You've not heard of Flyfuy points?

  • firestormil on 20/03/2018 - 12:03

    The whole thing doesn't make sense.

    the maximum corp discount is 10% which is technically not even a discount.

    All the corporate products are cheaper than the same retail products by 10% but rest assured the level of cover on Corp product is less than on Retail product (just compare major dental limits and see yourself).

    Also because HI industry very heavily regulated - all the products must be available to anyone regardless of their employment/eligibility etc.
    So anyone could call Bupa and ask to buy the corporate product without being even employed lol

    Therefore I don't quite understand what the original problem is.

    • Stingo on 20/03/2018 - 16:15

      All the corporate products are cheaper than the same retail products by 10% but rest assured the level of cover on Corp product is less than on Retail product (just compare major dental limits and see yourself).

      That's a sweeping assumption. The last time I went through the exercise with BUPA the corporate product was better and cheaper than the plan I wanted to switch from.

      Proper Ozbargainer's don't take Extras unless they know they can get more out of plans then they put in.

      Also because HI industry very heavily regulated - all the products must be available to anyone regardless of their employment/eligibility etc

      Interesting theory, do you have proof of that? There are restricted funds for example. The corporate products also don't come up in search results on privatehealth.gov.au you specifically need to look them up AFAIK,

      So anyone could call Bupa and ask to buy the corporate product without being even employed lol

      Given how desperate they are for sales (are they on commission?), if you work together they will probably sell you one. RSL membership was deemed to suffice when I asked. The fact that the membership had lapsed didn't trouble them when I finally recalled that.

  • johninmelb on 20/03/2018 - 12:35

    If you think customer service is bad at Bupa, boy are you in for some fun with Medibank.

    Good luck with that.

    And don't get sick while you are with Medibank. The policy you bought is junk and you will not be covered for what you think you are covered for. I dumped Medibank as I could no longer take the risk with them reneging on everything.

    • SnoozeAndLose on 20/03/2018 - 12:58

      Next year is another one, and I am not going to use most of the benefit.

      It is just not to pay medicare loading.

  • LeChuck on 20/03/2018 - 14:27

    I signed up this morning, moved across from BUPA family cover. Was offered first month free plus 100,000 flybuys

    • SnoozeAndLose on 20/03/2018 - 14:37

      It is great.Even better than 6 weeks free

    • Banana on 20/03/2018 - 21:06

      I will be turning 25 soon so will need to get my own HI. Would I be considered as a new customer to Medibank if my family's with them?

      How did you get more FF than OP? Purely negotiating on the phone?

      • sam-1966 on 21/03/2018 - 08:53

        So long as you can prove you have been covered in the past, you should be able to get continuous coverage so you don't have waiting periods.

        • Banana on 21/03/2018 - 08:55

          I want them to see me as a new customer so I get all the freebies

        • sam-1966 on 21/03/2018 - 08:59

          @Banana: I can understand that - but be aware of waiting periods in your new coverage - particularly if you have any pre-existing conditions.

      • LeChuck on 22/03/2018 - 20:40

        There is a sliding scale of FB points based on the annual value of the insurance. It is the 'base value' not necessarily the value you are charged each month, no idea how they differ. All I did was ask how they are affiliated with FlyBuys and he offered 100,000 points and a month free, or 6 weeks free. Not hard to make that choice. 100,000 points is equivalent to $500

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join