I'm thinking of joining
- Why do I need health cover?
- How do I join MBF?
- How do I transfer from another health fund?
- If I want to transfer from another health fund to MBF, is there anything special I need to do?
- When does my cover begin?
- If I go overseas, can I suspend my MBF membership?
- How do I pay for my membership?
- How do I change my payment details once I've joined?
Why do I need health cover?
Health care can be expensive, there is no doubt about that. Luckily, Australians have access to one of the best-value health insurance systems in the world. People who have private health insurance have the peace of mind that comes with knowing they can be covered for medical treatments when and if they become necessary.
Private health insurance:
- helps you to take control of your own health
- gives you more flexibility and choice over your treatment
- provides you with more choices as to when you can be admitted for elective procedures
- lets you have a say in choosing your own doctor or specialist (subject to where you live)
- provides more affordable access to private hospitals
- helps you to avoid the additional 1% Medicare levy surcharge if you are a higher income earner (provided you have appropriate private hospital cover)
- endeavours to take the strain off the public hospital system
How do I join MBF?
You can apply to join MBF right here and now!
Find the cover that's right for you by going through our simple quoting process.
Alternatively, drop into an MBF Centre or give us a call on 132 623 so we can talk you through your options.
How do I transfer from another health fund?
It's easy. When you apply (check out your options above), we'll give you all you the forms and information you need to transfer your cover across to MBF.
If I want to transfer from another health fund to MBF, is there anything special I need to do?
If you transfer from another Australian registered health fund, you'll have continuity of cover for the same level of benefit entitlement for services that both funds have in common – as long as you have already served the relevant waiting periods and transferred within two months of cancelling your cover with your previous fund. If your new MBF health cover has specific benefits that your old fund didn't, you'll have to serve waiting periods on those benefits. Similarly, if you leave it longer than two months to transfer to MBF after cancelling your cover with your old fund, you'll have to serve all your waiting periods again. Where Limits apply, any benefits already paid by your old fund are treated as if MBF had paid them.
When does my cover begin?
Some things, like Emergency Ambulance Transport when provided by MBF-recognised providers (if you have taken out extras cover), or hospital treatment received as a result of an accident (if you take out hospital cover), will not have any waiting periods.
Other treatments involve what's known as a waiting period. This starts when you join MBF (except with Overseas Visitors Cover, which starts the day after you join). There are different waiting periods for different medical conditions and treatments.
If I go overseas, can I suspend my MBF membership?
Yes. You can suspend your membership under the following conditions:
- You must pay at least one month's membership fees and your membership must be paid up to the date of your departure
- You must apply to suspend before your departure date and, where known, advise us of your expected return date (your whole membership is suspended, which means your spouse or dependants are not able to claim while the membership is suspended)
- The minimum period of suspension is two months
- The maximum period of suspension is 24 months (36 months may be granted at MBF's absolute discretion in the case of overseas employment, when a letter from your employer is required)
- You can only suspend your membership once per calendar year
- Proof of your departure and return dates are required (e.g. itinerary, boarding passes, tickets, letters from Department of Foreign Affairs etc)
- Your membership will automatically recommence from your expected return date to Australia. Otherwise, you must advise us within one month of the date of return. In both cases, you must confirm your recommencement by making a payment of fees
- When you recommence your membership after a period of suspension, you are required to do so at a level of cover and/or excess currently available for new customers to MBF. Some levels of cover and excess are no longer available. So, if you wish to avoid the 1% Medicare levy on high-income earners when you rejoin, you may have to take a lower excess
- Suspension does not count towards satisfaction of waiting periods or for calculating membership duration
- Claims will not be paid for services performed during the period of suspension
- Natural children born outside of Australia during a period of suspension will be covered at the time of recommencement providing all waiting periods were served at the time of suspension. However, all waiting periods will be applied to children adopted during a period of suspension.
Customers should check with their tax agent or the taxation office as the additional 1% Medicare levy is still likely to apply during suspension of membership.
How do I pay for my membership?
You've got a number of options for making payments.
In person:
- At any MBF Centre or Australia Post outlet
- Via BPAY
- Over the phone
- By mail.
Automatic payments:
MBF AutoPay: If you join online, you can pay by credit card and we will then debit your membership premium automatically. MBF AutoPay provides automatic debit from your bank, building society, credit union, or credit card account at your chosen payment interval (fortnightly, monthly, 3-monthly, 6-monthly or yearly). To apply, simply download and fill in an MBF AutoPay authority form .
How do I change my payment details once I've joined?
If you want to change your payment interval or the account from which your payment is debited just call us on 131 137. Please be sure you give us at least 10 days notice.
