Switching to Australian Unity
If I want to switch from another fund, how do I do this?
There are two ways, either you can notify your current fund yourself or we can do
it for you.
If you are doing it yourself, you must ask your current fund to either send to you,
or directly to Australian Unity, a Transfer Certificate – this is important as it
tells us about your current cover and claims history as well as your Australian
Government Rebate and your Lifetime Health Cover status.
Alternatively, when applying to become an Australian Unity member, just complete
a Transfer Certificate Request form and we will notify your current fund for you
and organise for the Transfer Certificate to be sent directly to us.
Don’t forget, if you have a direct debit arrangement with your current fund, it’s
important to let your bank know that you want to cancel this deduction.
Will I be penalised under Lifetime Health Cover?
No. You won't have any additional contribution if you take out Australian Unity
health cover within 30 days of leaving your old health fund. When you switch to
Australian Unity from another health fund your entitlements under Lifetime Health
Cover will be maintained.
Will I lose the Federal Government Rebate that I currently receive?
No. You will continue to receive the Federal Government 30% Rebate on private health
insurance.
Does Australian Unity cover the medical gap?
Yes we can. When participating in Australian Unity's Gap Cover Scheme, your practitioner
can elect to charge you either no medical gap or a 'known gap'.
Because we have a schedule of fees that is generally higher than the Medicare Benefits
Schedule of Fees, we can help pay the gap that may arise when your doctors' or specialists'
fees are higher than the Medicare Benefits Schedule of Fees. Please talk with your
practitioner before a hospital stay to check if they participate in the Australian
Unity Gap Cover scheme.
Will I have to go through the waiting periods again?
If you join Australian Unity before your current cover expires, or within 30 days
of cancelling your membership with your old fund, you will maintain continuity of
cover. And, if you switch to a cover equivalent to what you held at your previous
fund you won’t be required to serve any completed waiting periods and will be able
to start claiming right away. However, for any benefits you weren't previously covered
for, waiting periods may apply.
Will I lose my current entitlements?
At Australian Unity we have a comprehensive range of hospital and extras covers
to suit your needs. So when you switch you can select the one that is either near
to your current level of cover, or you can select a new one that gives you even
better cover (waiting periods for higher levels of cover may apply).
If I have earned increased annual limits on some of my benefits (e.g. dental cover)
do I lose them now?
We endeavour to give you the closest equivalent level of benefits. If you take out
an equivalent or higher level of cover, we take into account your annual limits
on services such as dental and physiotherapy, provided the health cover product
you choose covers this service.
I have served seven months of waiting periods with my current fund. Will I have
to start all over again when I join Australian Unity?
No. At Australian Unity we recognise the time served with your previous fund. You'll
also be happy to know that, unlike many other funds, if you don't have a pre-existing
condition you are able to use many of the services available through extras cover,
such as Chiropractic, Myotherapy, Naturopathy, quit smoking courses and more immediately
upon joining.