Health Cover Protection for members

Complimentary Cover when you're not working

For many Western Australians, unemployment is a matter of real concern. If you unexpectedly find yourself unemployed or unable to work due to illness, we believe that health cover is the last thing you should sacrifice. So, we provide complimentary cover or membership suspension for members in those times of need.

Who is eligible?

Health Cover Protection is available to HBF Health members who have been with us for more than one year and who have been issued with a Centrelink Health Care Card for NewStart or Sickness Allowance. As long as you are a financial HBF Health member at the time you apply for Health Cover Protection, we can assist you with your Health options commencing from the date of your last payment.

If you are under 25 years of age, become unemployed and your parents' have an HBF Health family membership, you may be able to be covered as a dependant on their policy during your period of unemployment. Just call 133 423 to check if you're eligible.

Please note that St John Ambulance or Overseas Visitors members are not eligible for Health Cover Protection.

Entitlements

Your Health Cover Protection entitlements are determined by the length of your HBF Health membership:

Length of Membership	Entitlement/s
Less than 1 year	Nil
1 – 3 years	3 months policy suspension
3 – 10 years	3 months complimentary cover and/or 6 months policy suspension
10 – 20 years	6 months complimentary cover and/or 9 months policy suspension
20 + years	9 months complimentary cover and/or 15 months policy suspension

Suspension of cover

If you have more than one period of unemployment within your eligible complimentary cover period, you may consider suspending your health membership. Suspending your membership enables you to retain any length of membership benefits you have earned prior to becoming unemployed.

The complimentary suspension of cover period will be granted once every five years per policyholder. This means that the policy is entitled to complimentary suspension of cover (based on the applicable entitlement) once every five years from the start of the last Health Cover Protection complimentary suspension of cover period.

If you suspend your health membership, you will need to consider if the Federal Government's 1% Medicare Levy Surcharge will apply to you while you are unemployed. The Medicare Levy Surcharge applies if you would usually earn more than $50,000 (as a single) or $100,000 (as a couple/family) per annum.

Please note that during the period of suspension, no premiums or fund benefits are payable.

Complimentary Cover

Complimentary cover means that health members will not need to pay their health premiums, plus, we will pay for eligible claims during this complimentary cover period. The complimentary cover period commences from the day after the date your cover is paid to, or the date the Centrelink benefit commences.

The complimentary cover period will be granted once every 10 years per policyholder. This means that the policy is entitled to complimentary cover (based on the applicable entitlement) once every 10 years from the start of the last Health Cover Protection complimentary cover period.

Your complimentary cover entitlements are determined by the length of your HBF Health membership and will be provided at the same level of health cover that you were previously paying for. That is providing you have had HBF Health Cover for at least three years.

Please note that no Government Health Incentive can be claimed while you are in receipt of HBF’s Health Cover Protection. A transfer of product will not be available during the period of complimentary cover.

What type of cover will I receive?

HBF Health Cover Protection provides you with complimentary cover for the same level of health cover you were previously paying for – providing you have had HBF Health cover for at least three years. For example, if you have Healthy Saver health cover, your Health Cover protection will cover you for Healthy Saver, or if you have ExtraEsssentials only, Health Cover Protection will cover you for ExtraEssentials, and so on.

Once I’m working again, what do I do?

Once you know the date that you will be re-commencing work, please advise us. From the first day you’re back at work, you’ll have 30 days to resume your membership payments.

How do I apply for Health Cover Protection?

To be eligible to apply for Health Cover Protection, you’ll need to be a holder of a current Centrelink issued Health Care Card for NewStart or Sickness Allowance.

To apply, all you need to do is take your NewStart or Sickness Allowance card to your nearest HBF Service Centre. Alternatively, you can send a photocopy of your card to GPO Box C101, Perth WA 6809.

Where can I get more information?

If we can help you with any further information or you’d like to ask any questions, please contact our Member Service Advisors on 133 423, 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday or Saturday 9am to 2pm. Alternatively visit any HBF Service Centre, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.