Being the spirit of ozbargain, has anyone tried claiming contact lenses on their private health insurance extras against their children/partner, even though the prescription is not for them? Eg:
That is a spirit of fraudulent activity?:)
It's actually just straight-up, black and white fraud. But imo, the same level of 'criminality as finding a $5 note on the ground and not turning it into the authorities.
Not everyone does, but if you do, read the fine print, bit harsher than finding $5 note on the ground and not turning it into the authorities.
Speaking of finding things, I did found a 50EUR on the ground while I was in Spain, but it was bit crowded and I couldn't speak Spanish.
In terms of the actual law - yes. In terms of enforcement and my personal view… about the same. I.e. - no one has ever been prosecuted for consumer-grade fraud of this nature, just like no one's ever been prosecuted for not turning in cash that they found on the street.
I don't think they will send you to jail over it. More like cancel your policy or black list you from getting insured? Or as you said it nothing bad can happen. Maybe someone in insurance industry can answer that here. Either way, I aren't participate in it. End of the day, Insurance company will increase the premium to cut their cost of dodgy policy holders.
More like cancel your policy or black list you from getting insured?
Oh right. Yeah that's a lot more likely, but I also haven't heard of anyone having had this happen. I assume insurance companies basically factor people using the max of their extras benefits (these are all capped after all) into their cost modeling, and probably don't care too much how they're used.
Apparently they can black list you, you don't want that.
E.g;
https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/money/traveller…
the spirit of ozbargain
This is OzBargain, not OzFraud
I did this once and as a result my son got arrested for insurance fraud. Needless to say, I have saved even more money than expected because now the government pays for his living expenses in juvenile detention. 10/10 would recommend
This is technically fraud. But honestly so many people do it for everything ranging from prescription lenses, glasses, remedial massages, etc that I honestly don't think there's any real risk.
For the record - "you should obey all relevant laws, regulations, and the terms of any policy document between yourself and your private health insurer."
EDIT: Never mind, reread original post.
There are shops that scan your private insurance card and claim the max limit. They then consider that as credit and you are free to use it as you please. You can even scan every year and build up your credit.
I've put remedial massages under wife's name and physio as chiro, bit never something as a child.
I guess if they are old enough to actually wear contacts it might slip through, but claiming for a kid under 5 or something could potentially flag on their end???