Hi
Just wondering if anyone else with Medibank has tried to suspend their cover. I called to enquire to see if they offer refund for extras last month and if I can suspend my cover. Their answers below
on extras. since some services were still available it was a firm no refund for everyone.
on suspending cover. I can suspend my payment for 3 months but the entire amount will be due at the end of 3 months.
I’m confused how is this helpful? I ended up cancelling my cover instead.
for people who is affected financially by the pandemic, this doesn't help at all.
at the end of 3 months period, you still have to pay full 3 months cover.
even if you can go back to work after 3 months, doesn't mean that you can get triple salary.
It still gives you extra time to pay it.
If you don't want or need it, you can always cancel.
Jobseekers are getting an additional $550/fortnight over what they normally get.
Bupa was the same, no holds available. So I cancelled extras.
Navy Health allowed me to suspend cover for up to 6 months, and since I had prepaid a year, they refunded me the amount remaining (it would be up for renewal in the suspension period).
My reading of OP's post is that they tried to get a refund after the fact.
I'm assuming you suspended the future cover, to defer that for 6 months.
Different scenarios?
I think OP has two situations.
Tried to get a refund for extras, because a lot of them were shut. And no would be the correct answer.
Tried to suspend cover. Medibank will only let OP suspend payment for 3 months.
My comment was only for the second part.
Yes that is what I understand by “suspending your cover” not just deferring payment for 3 months.
It seems that your issue is resolved anyway, as you have now cancelled.
I wouldn't expect a refund for extras cover, if the services could have been used. A bit like asking for a refund on your car insurance because you didn't have an accident.
On suspending cover, it sounds like they offered you to defer your payments? Was cover still available? If it was, that would help those that had a reduced income for a period of time.
Now that you have cancelled, I assume you can re-join in three months time, so that would achieve what you wanted (not allowing for any wait periods for claims after rejoining).
I wouldn’t say the issue is resolved because I took the action of cancelling the insurance as they didn’t really gave me a reasonable option to suspend the cover.
At some point I will have to go sign up for private cover again and start as a new customer. Possibly negating any loyalty benefits I built up over the years, although I do get the benefit of new customer bonuses.
also I’m curious what extra services was available in April on your insurance? The only one available for mine was ordering contact lens online.
I have had nothing but issues with Medibank, especially after privatisation.
Good luck in getting your request honoured, as you'll have to jump over hurdles, be on the phone for countless hours getting passed back and forth to useless call center staff that have no clue.
Good luck once again
Bupa members would have received an email saying that in light of covid and the inability of Bupa to provide the cover as agreed, there would be no annual rise in premiums this year - so a saving of 3% approx.
Bupa also provides Three months access to 28 by Sam Wood for Bupa customers.
An at home fitness and nutrition program.
medibank also did the same thing with no annual rise.
but remember that they get a lot of benefit from the pandemic because there's very few use the insurance (either hospital or extras) for the last 3 months.
Yes but the claims will come back throughout the 2nd half of the year, assuming we dont go back to lockdown
I'm inclined to believe because just about everyone wants this to happen - doctors, hospitals (that's how they make money) and even the government (so business activity picks up again).
So while funds may have benefited from a cash flow perspective during this period, by the end of the year they will still be paying out the same amount of claims as any other year … my 2c
they will still be paying out the same amount of claims as any other year … my 2c
I think physically from an elective surgery standpoint they just won't be able to get people through the doors fast enough to make up for the lost time. They'll try their hardest, but will still do less surgeries than last year and thus won't be the same.
People are also scared of going to health clinics and hospitals still.
@serpserpserp: yep.
they can't squeeze everything from 12 months into 9 months or less.
even if they can, they get the benefit from the interest during those three months.
For those who are on Job Seeker and have private health insurance, call them to see if they can provide free cover. I recently called my provider and asked if they could help me during these hard times. I was chuffed when they offered me 6 months free cover and I can still claim.
whos your insurer?
For Hospital HBF - been with them for a number of years so got 6 months.
For Extras HCF - been with them just over 2 years so got 2 months.
Interesting. I didn't know you could go with two separate providers and split it like that.
HCF are excellent on extras might I add. I was surprised at how good they are considering I switched from DHF.
That’s interesting. I have been thinking about splitting my extras and hospital cover. Is it a myth that you get better value when you have both hospital and extras with one provider?
@jaylee88: I have found it's better to shop around for my personal needs when it comes to health insurance. For me the answer is clear, if splitting provides better cover for around the same price or less, it's a no brainer. I tend to use the https://www.privatehealth.gov.au/dynamic/Search website when searching and comparing. Not affiliated or recommending, just what I use.
on extras. since some services were still available it was a firm no refund for everyone.
This annoys me the most, because its true some are available, but most are not. It's like paying for car insurance when 90% of the roads are closed.
I’m with Medibank and suspended my cover due to job keeper
The 2nd option allows you to pay in 3 months instead of each month.