Overseas Visitors' Cover
What's covered
MBF Overseas Visitors' Cover will help pay for hospital and doctors' charges incurred in Australia where Medicare would pay a benefit to an Australian resident, providing standard conditions are met, including Waiting Periods. You can choose from single cover if you're flying solo, or couples/family cover if you're in Australia with your partner or family.
We will pay up to the following maximum amounts from the date your cover begins:
- An overall Limit of $30,000 per person per calendar year ($60,000 maximum for Family Policy) applies to this cover. This includes both doctors' and hospital charges
- In addition to the overall Limit of this cover, you may be entitled to claim benefits under and accident benefit up to $100,000 per person, in a calendar year ($200,000 per Family Policy per calendar year)
Doctors' charges in hospital
Each doctor or medical practitioner involved in your Hospital Treatment can choose to participate in the MBF Medical Gap Scheme. If they choose to take part in the scheme for your Treatment, your MBF Overseas Visitors' Cover will cover 100% of the charges up to your overall limit. If they choose not to participate in the MBF Medical Gap Scheme, some charges may apply. As all doctors and medical practitioners in Australia are independent of any private health insurer, we cannot guarantee a 'no gap' doctor in every area.
Doctors' charges not incurred in hospital
When you are not in hospital and where Medicare would pay a benefit (for example, consulting with a medical practitioner in their rooms), MBF pays up to the Medicare Benefits Schedule Fee (an amount determined by the government). You will have to pay any charges above the Medicare Benefits Schedule Fee for those doctors who charge more than this amount.
Hospital expenses
In an MBF Network Hospital, MBF Overseas Visitors' Cover will pay for the following:
- Accommodation in a shared ward
- Operating theatre, intensive care and coronary care
- 100% cover for most government-approved surgically implanted prostheses. A limited number of government-approved surgically implanted prostheses will attract a gap which customers will be required to pay.
- Pharmaceuticals as agreed with the hospital, up to a $500 Limit per person per calendar year (includes out-of-hospital Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme drug charges).
In non-agreement private hospitals, different rules apply, so you should always check whether the hospital has an agreement with us. We can also give you an estimate of your likely costs and benefits but you will pay the difference between the amount the hospital charges and the Benefits paid by MBF, which could be substantial.
In a public (government) hospital, MBF will pay the cost of charges raised by the hospital.
See also Hospital Treatment for MBF Overseas Visitors' Cover.
Pharmaceutical (drug and medicine) costs as agreed with the hospital
We will pay up to $500 Limit per person per calendar year, for medicines listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
The PBS is run by the Australian Government and helps keep the price of most common medicines low for Australian citizens. Your MBF Overseas Visitors' Cover ensures you pay the same reduced amount for medicines as Australian citizens.
Emergency Ambulance costs
We will pay up to $5,000 Limit per person per calendar year, for Emergency Ambulance Transport services anywhere within Australia.
Crutches and wheelchairs
Where provided by an MBF Recognised Provider, we will pay up to $500 Limit per person per calendar year.
Certain therapies
We will pay for certain therapies such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy when provided by the hospital.
What's not covered
MBF Overseas Visitors' Cover (and all levels of MBF Hospital Cover) will not pay for the following:
- Amounts recoverable from another source (e.g. if the costs you are claiming are already covered by Medicare eligibility, or subject to compensation or damages, liability or other legal action or claims)
- Treatment where Waiting Periods have not yet been served (e.g. there is a 12-month Waiting Period for obstetrics or Pre-existing Conditions)
- Care and accommodation in nursing homes or for Nursing Home Type Patients
- Services not clinically necessary (e.g. cosmetic surgery and respite care)
- Experimental Treatment and some high cost drugs
- Any services provided outside Australia (please note: limited benefits are payable on Norfolk Island)
- Any services not part of a course of Treatment recognised by MBF (e.g. some outpatient programs or Treatment unrelated to a diagnosed medical illness or condition)
- Services not invoiced by the hospital (ie invoiced by a third party), eg a manicure, hairdressing
- Charges above the Commonwealth Medicare Schedule Fee and where your doctor chooses not to opt-in to the MBF Gap Cover Scheme
- Emergency Treatment facility fee in a private hospital
- Personal supplies (e.g. newspapers, toiletries)
- Services not covered by Medicare
MBF Extras Cover (general dental, physiotherapy and more)
MBF Overseas Visitors' Cover does not cover you for services such as general dental, optical and physiotherapy (outsied of hospitals). MBF Extras Cover will help pay for a wide range of these services - you can check out the levels and costs of MBF Extras Cover here.
Alternatively, you can call MBF on +61 2 9323 9500 (if you're calling from overseas) or on 132 623 (within Australia) for more information.