Whether you’re purchasing a health insurance fund for the first time or are already an Australian Unity member, it pays to compare and review policies to ensure you’re getting value for money.
Australian Unity Health Insurance Review
Published: June 28, 2017
With a track-record of more than 175 years, this health insurer continues to benefit Australians by offering accessible healthcare and financial products. Their various hospital Packages provide you with the opportunity to choose affordable health care whether you’re single, newly married or have a family.
However, before simply relying on an Australian Unity Health Insurance quote, it pays to shop around and compare quotes from companies offering similar products.
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In this article, we’ll explore what Australian Unity has to offer and whether or not they’re able to provide you with the cover you need.
About Australian Unity
Australian Unity Insurance is a national healthcare, financial services provider and retirement living organisation. Operating as the sixth largest health fund in Australia.
In addition, this Australian health insurer operates four dental clinics. Other health allied services, of which Remedy Healthcare is one, are also included. Remedy Healthcare is a preventative health business that offers health coaching, chronic disease management programmes and in-home rehabilitation services for members and customers recovering from injury or surgery.
Australian Unity Health Insurance review
Australian Unity offers you a variety of options ranging from basic to comprehensive cover. The right option for you depends on your specific needs and circumstances. You have a choice between three types of health cover:
- Combined packages (Hospital + Extras).
- Hospital Cover only.
- Extras Cover Only.
Combined packages (Hospital + Extras)
| Combined Package options | Benefits |
| Basic Saver |
|
| Basic Saver Hospital Cover |
|
| Basic Saver- Extras |
|
| Smart Start |
|
| Smart Essentials |
|
Hospital Cover
| Hospital Cover options | Description |
| Basic Hospital |
|
| Basic + Hospital |
|
| Mid Hospital |
|
| Gold Hospital |
|
Extras cover only
| Extras Only options | Description |
| Basic Extras |
|
| Bronze Extras |
|
| Gold Extras |
|
Exclusions – What is not covered?
When reviewing Australian Unity’s health cover options, there are some aspects that require careful consideration.
- Hospital benefits are not payable for private hospital emergency department fees.
- Experimental and high-cost Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) drugs are excluded.
- If you are ill or injured before taking out a health policy, you are considered to have a pre-existing medical condition. Meaning, you’ll have to serve a waiting period of 12 months before receiving cover for any treatments associated with such an illness or injury.
- Australian Unity will exclude health cover when you go overseas.
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Frequently asked questions and answers
Whether Australian Unity is a good health fund or not, depends on your specific needs. They offer a wide variety of options while taking into account that your lifestyle and financial situation might change in future. To determine if they’re a good health fund for you, you must compare them to other health insurance companies.
Australian Unity Health Insurance waiting periods starts as soon as your policy commences and ends 12 months after that. Waiting periods are applied to pre-existing medical conditions, as well as when you upgrade to a higher level of cover. However, if you transfer within 30 days of leaving your previous health fund, you will not be required to reserve those waiting periods.
- Choose the type of treatment you need to claim for.
- Decide which of the following options best suit you:
- On-the-spot-claim: Simply swipe your Australian Unity card where you are.
- Online application via their mobile claiming app.
- On the phone: Call them on 1800 807 144 Monday to Friday, 8h30 to 17h00.
- Using mail, email or fax: You would need to complete a health cover claim form, attach your receipts to the form and send these to Australian Unity on the address that is on your claim form.
Yes, Australian Unity does offer ambulance cover with their hospital and combined health insurance plans. This can be purchased separately from $39.10 a year. However, stand-alone cover for ambulances is not covered.
Under the No Gap Dental Service, you are offered the following preventative dental services:
- Initial examination.
- Scale and clean.
- X-ray and topical fluoride treatment.
- Custom mouthguards that can be used during contact sports.
A minimum of 15% of any dental treatment fees is guaranteed when you use any of the 1000 smile.com.au dentists.
Yes, all Australian Unity Health members have access to the Wellplan Rewards Program, which gives you access to generous discounts. As a member, you’ll receive discounts on gym memberships, fitness equipment and apparel, eyewear, accommodation and entertainment. To gain access, you need to register or login to their Online Members Service.
Every health insurance company has pros and cons. Before purchasing a health insurance policy, compare the various healthcare options available and find the one best one suited for you and your family’s needs.
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8 Comments
My mother, aged 80 years, is visiting Australia from September 16 to January 26, 2019. Can you tell me what insurance would be good for her?
I’m mainly looking to cover emergencies, hospital, and ICU services. Not interested in mental, podiatry etc. She is in good health except has type 2 diabetes that is well controlled
Thank you.
Hi Raj,
To ensure your mother gets suitable cover at an affordable price, please fill in the quote form above because there are a few things that the specialist will have to take into consideration, for example where in Australia she’ll be staying and if she needs any support regarding her diabetes.
I have a question regarding pain therapy with a device. There is a new government legislation that says private insurers are only obliged to cover pain therapy with a device under the gold hospital plans, starting April 2019. What will be the situation for the non-gold policyholders if they are trial patients proceeding to permanent implantation or if they already have their device implanted years ago but need a revision procedure? Will those patients not be covered unless they upgrade to a gold policy? Thanks.
Hello Sam. This is a great question!
The Australian Government is introducing the new gold, silver, bronze and basic classification system starting 1 April 2019, as you mentioned. As per this new system, chronic pain devices and treatment will:
– Not be a minimum requirement for Basic plans. Insurers can choose to offer this service on a restricted or unrestricted basis.
– Not be a minimum requirement for Bronze or Silver plans, but insurers can offer this as an additional service on an unrestricted basis.
– Be a minimum requirement on an unrestricted basis for Gold policies.
So, if you do not have a Gold plan, it very much depends on the health fund you choose and whether they decide to include chronic pain services and devices on their more basic type policies. Please contact your insurer and request that they provide you with a break-down of what their plans will and will not cover in 2019.
If you would like some support in comparing policies, please give the health consultants a call on 1300 786 328.
Please answer. Why, when I agreed to transfer my health insurance from Australian Unity to HCF ins. on the 23rd Feb, I was informed that HCF would do all the necessary changes necessary. It is now the 29th or April, ( 10 weeks later) and having paid two months payments to both Australian Unity and two months to HCF ( plus twelve months in advance ) I am still waiting for my refund amounting to $315.13 from Australian Unity.
I might well add that my daughter followed my instructions on the same day ( with the same company and is still waiting for her refund WHAT A SCAM.
Hi Jean. I’m sorry to hear about your frustrations. When switching health funds it’s always a good idea to check with your new insurer whether they’ve completed all the relevant changes after you’ve provided them with your Interfund Clearance Certificate. Please give HCF and/or Australian Unity a call so they may assist you and your daughter with your refunds.
I am an AHM customer and I am wondering if AHM has any incentive type programs that cover mental health, health coaching or hospital in the home? I am assisting a friend to find a suitable health fund with the best things she may need. These are things she would like to know more about.
Hi Fiona. Thanks for reaching out and having your friend’s back.
Because the type and level of coverage for health insurance are so diverse, your friend might want to start her search for the right policy by requesting quotes from various health funds and comparing their premiums, services and benefits against one another. That way, she can choose a policy best suited to her unique requirements.
AHM does provide some health improvement benefits to eligible customers, for example, stress management courses. However, it’s best to read the policy’s Standard Information Statement (which you can find on privatehealth.gov.au) before making a decision.