Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

About Private Health Insurance

 

Finding the right health cover can be tricky. And it can be even more confusing trying to compare your cover with another health cover.

We can help in a few different ways. Firstly, every health fund has a short summary of every product in a standard format to help you compare them side by side. They are called Private Health Information Statements (PHIS) and you can easily get them from the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman’s website at privatehealth.gov.au.

We've got a helpful help me choose online tool that can help find the right fit for you.

If you’d like some personalised help, we’re just a phone call away. Our experts are happy to help you choose the right level of cover for you, and can help you compare your old cover so you know exactly what you’re covered for. Just call us on 1800 808 704.

If you're not sure what cover is the right fit for you, why not try our helpful help me choose tool?

If you know what you're after, you can go and get your personalised quote straight away.

Or why not contact our amazing customer service by calling 1800 808 704?

Just give us the details when you sign up (in the online sign up or over the phone) and we’ll take care of it all for you.

Compare covers easily by using our Help Me Choose feature.

Prefer the direct help of a friendly Peoplecarer? Call us on 1800 808 704 and we'll be happy to help you. We know health insurance inside and out and because we provide the personal touch our team of experts would love to discuss your choices and help out by comparing your health cover.

 

Manage your cover

 

Well, you can!

How do I add someone to my cover?

Simply call us on 1800 808 690. We’re open 8:30 am–5:00pm AEST Monday to Friday.

Can’t call us during business hours? We’re available online using contact us.

Will I need to pay more?

Your cover Adding a child Adding a partner

Single

Yes

Yes

Couple

No

N/A

Single Parent

No

Yes

Family

No

N/A

Will waiting periods apply?

When you call us we can give you accurate information about any waiting periods that may apply. The good news is that if your child or partner transfers from another health fund we’ll make sure we recognise any waiting periods they’ve already served if you switch within 30 days!

Read more about waiting periods and pre-existing conditions.

Do newborn babies need to serve waiting periods?

Newborns don’t need to serve waiting periods if you’ve already served your waiting periods and you add them to your cover before they’re 12 months old.

Not convinced?

Your kids and partners get a 30-day cooling-off period. So, if they change their minds about the cover, just let us know within 30 days of joining and you'll get a full refund of any premiums paid (as long as they haven't made any claims in that time, of course).

Just enter some of your basic details here and you’re on your way.

You’ll always be able to find the green login button at the top right of your screen. To save you scrolling up, here’s the page you need.

Our mobile app makes it easy to take control of your health cover. Check your cover details, view your extras limits, claim, make a payment and a whole lot more. Get the app here

You can change or upgrade your cover any time you like, just call us on 1800 808 690. 

If you’re unsure what the right level of cover is for you, you can use our Help Me Choose tool on the website to compare our cover options, or you can call our health cover experts to discuss your cover options.  

If you’re upgrading your cover, you will have waiting periods for services you weren’t covered for before. 

Through the Peoplecare mobile app

Our mobile app makes it easy to take control of your health cover. Check your cover details, view your extras limits, claim, make a payment and a whole lot more. Get the app here.

Set up regular direct debits

The easiest way to pay your premiums is through a regular direct debit from your account. This makes sure your membership is kept up to date and you don’t have to remember to make your payments because they come out of your account automatically on the day you choose.

It's easy to set up your direct debit in the Peoplecare app or in Online Member Services.

Set up direct debit here.

Other payment options

Pay by credit card online or over the phone, BPay or cheque.

Make a one-off payment

You can also make credit card payments through the Peoplecare mobile app or our Online Member Services to pay your cover’s outstanding balance or to a date in the future. We have a helpful calculator so you can check what date a payment will take you up to and how much you need to prepay to reach a certain date.

Log in here to make a payment

Call us on 1800 808 690 with the student number and place of study and we'll fix it for you.

You’re covered on your parents’ cover until you’re 21, or 30 (inclusive) if you’re studying full time (as long as you’re not married or in a de facto relationship).

If you’re between 21 and 30 (inclusive), and not studying full time, you can stay on your parents’ cover for an additional gross premium* (amount will depend on the type of cover you have) as long as you reside with the main policy holder and don't have a partner. The policy holder will only pay the extra amount regardless of the number of adult dependants (between 21 and 30 inclusive) on their membership.

*Gross premium refers to the base premium amount before any Australian Government Rebate, Lifetime Health Cover loading, discounts or employee subsidies (if relevant) have been factored in.

Children between 18 and 21 can stay on your Peoplecare family cover regardless of whether they’re working or not.

If your children are between 21 and 30 (inclusive) and are studying full-time, they can remain on your family cover for no extra cost if you register them each year for both semesters (or only the first semester if that’s the only one that applies) by the end of February each year it's applicable.

How to register

Details you’ll need:

  • Name of educational institution
  • Course
  • Student ID number
  1. Open our mobile app or Online Member Services
  2. Go to Membership > People covered
  3. Select dependant
  4. Click ‘Review cover options’

Did you know?

If your adult child between 21 and 30 (inclusive) isn’t studying full-time, they can still stay on your family cover for an additional gross premium* (amount will depend on the type of cover you have). It’s called Family Plus cover, and all you need to do is give us a call or email and we’ll get it sorted for you.

*Gross premium refers to the base premium amount before any Australian Government Rebate, Lifetime Health Cover loading, discounts or employee subsidies (if relevant) have been factored in.

 

Forms & statements

 

You can find all of our forms here.

Tax statements should automatically populate with your tax agent or on the ATO's tax system. But you can also get it from your secure inbox in the

app.

 

 

Saving money

 

You’ll probably be surprised to learn that, on average, couples actually claim more than families with kids. Who knew? This is mostly because a high proportion of couples, are older people whose healthcare costs are generally higher than younger people. Also, kids generally have lower healthcare costs and don’t need to claim as much.

Our hands are tied with this one. All health funds are covered by Government legislation that says we have to charge everyone the same amount (for the same level of cover) – regardless of their age, health status or claims history. It’s called Community Rating, and we think it’s pretty fair to keep health cover more affordable for most people. We can provide a discount of up to 10% off the cost of our Basic Plus and Bronze Plus Hospital Cover for under 30s. Get all the age-based discount information here.

We get this one a lot, but unfortunately Government says no. Private Health Insurance legislation says that health funds aren’t allowed to offer no-claim bonuses.

This is another thing that’s controlled by Government legislation. We’re only allowed to pay benefits for products and services that treat a specific medical condition. If you have a medical condition and there’s something you think you might be able to claim for, contact us and we’ll see what we can do.