Putting you first
As a not-for-profit health fund, we put people ahead of profit. Your health, and the health of your family, is at the heart of everything we do, and we’re doing everything we can to help keep you well during these uncertain times. After almost 70 years spent looking after the health of our members, we’re not about to quit.
Getting essential services
We’ve set up rehab services at home and found trusted providers who can deliver essential home services for very ill patients, like chemotherapy and kidney dialysis. If you fall into this category, call our Health and Wellness team on 02 9685 7567. You don’t have to find providers; we’ll do that for you, and we’ll coordinate everything on your behalf.
Vital surgery and treatments
We’ll continue to fund vital surgery and treatments such as pregnancy, cancer, cardiac and in-patient mental health treatment, and we’ll continue to cover emergency dental care. You can still choose your own specialist for continuity of care.
Extras
We’re paying benefits for approved providers offering video or phone consults including ante natal support, psychology, physio, speech therapy, occupational therapy and nutritional guidance from dietitians. These are all services that can be delivered remotely. See a list of providers who can help you here or contact your own provider and ask if they’re running telehealth services. You can claim for these telehealth services via the app, online or by email, under your existing cover.
Helping you
We’ve put premium rises on hold, we can waive premiums if you’re struggling due to COVID-19 and you can even suspend your cover. Talk to us, and we’ll help you find the best solution. We don’t make a profit – we’re not allowed to – so when this is over, we’ll reinvest any surplus into the fund. Your fund.
Taxing times
We’re all being tested. Emotionally, physically, financially. If we can help, we will. Bear in mind that tax incentives for private health insurance still apply, so it’s worth considering the tax implications before you make any major decisions about changing your cover.
Mind the gap
Australia’s doctors are all highly qualified, and with CBHS Hospital cover you can pick and choose who to use. When non-elective surgery picks up again, get smart about gap payments. Choose someone who participates in our scheme to eliminate or minimise the cost. If they don’t – or won’t – then move on to someone who will. You shouldn’t have to pay more than you need to.
Don’t quit now
Is now the time to quit? We don’t think so. We’re working harder than ever to be ready for when this lockdown ends. Australia’s in a good position, so it might come sooner than we think. And of course, that’s when the backlog of elective surgeries will make public hospital waiting lists longer than ever.
Call us
We’re here to help, as we have been for almost 70 years. We’re in this together, so call us on 1300 654 123 if you have any questions. Your health and wellbeing are at the heart of everything we do.
You can still access vital treatment in a private hospital if you need to, with your choice of doctor, and you can still claim on Extras delivered remotely. We’ve found providers who can deliver essential services and Extras online, over-the-phone and/or at home. You can also contact your existing providers to see if they have alternatives to face-to-face care.
People are still having babies, they’re still getting sick, they’re still having accidents. We’re also still covering treatment and operations for emergencies, cancer, heart conditions, infections, mental health issues that require hospitalisation, chemotherapy and dialysis. Non-urgent elective procedures only make up one aspect of how we support our members.
For our members managing acute and chronic conditions, we have arrangements with a range of providers that offer Hospital in the Home services, ensuring you can receive your treatment safely at home. These services cover a variety of areas, including:
- Chemotherapy
- Dialysis
- Rehabilitation
- Wound management
Also consider that if you drop your private hospital cover, you’ll need to re-serve waiting periods, may be subject to a Lifetime Health Cover loading and, if you're earning over $90,000 as a single or over $180,000 as a couple, family or single-parent family, you could also be affected by the Medicare Levy Surcharge if you don't hold private hospital cover for the full financial year.
When things get back to normal – as they will – private health insurance will still offer you and your family the protection, peace of mind and reassurance that made you take it out in the first place.
We’re your exclusive, not-for-profit health fund and we’re working hard in every way to support you, as we have done for almost 70 years now. Your health and wellbeing are at the heart of everything we do.
True, some face-to-face services have been reduced or cancelled, we know. But we’re doing everything we can to mitigate the impact. Yes, you’ll have to delay non-urgent trips to the dentist, but if you need emergency dental work, for a broken tooth or an abscess for example, you can still claim.
We pay benefits for remote, at home or telehealth services for ante natal support, psychology, rehab, physio, speech therapy, occupational therapy and nutritional guidance from dietitians. They can all be delivered remotely, and you can claim for these remote services under your Extras cover.
Try these services and let us know what you think. And remember, this lockdown won’t last forever.
We’ve put premium rises on hold, we can waive premiums if you’re struggling due to COVID-19 and you can even suspend your cover. Talk to us, and we’ll help you find the best solution. We don’t make a profit - we’re not allowed to – so when this is over, we’ll reinvest any surplus into the fund. This is your fund after all.
That’s your choice, of course. But we’d recommend you don’t rush into making any hasty decisions. If you’re struggling financially, talk to us. We’re not-for-profit, so we always put people ahead of profit. Cancel now and you’ll have to re-serve waiting periods when you re-join.
You may also be subject to a Lifetime Health Cover loading and if you're earning over $90,000 as a single or over $180,000 as a couple, family or single-parent family, you could also be affected by the Medicare Levy Surcharge if you don't hold private hospital cover for the full financial year.
True, some elective surgeries have been paused, but they haven’t been cancelled. They will happen eventually. And urgent and some semi-urgent operations are still taking place for things like chronic diseases, cardiac conditions, appendicitis, cancer treatments and injuries.
With your CBHS Hospital cover you can be treated in a private hospital, with your choice of doctor. Cancelling your cover would mean you’d have to re-serve waiting periods when you re-join, and the backlog of elective surgeries when this crisis passes will make public waiting lists longer than ever.
Demand for elective surgery is likely to rebound and having private health insurance means you can avoid even longer public hospital waiting lists.
It is projected that public hospital waiting lists will exceed 18 months.
All information contained in this article is intended for general information purposes only. The information provided should not be relied upon as medical advice and does not supersede or replace a consultation with a suitably qualified healthcare professional.