CUA health insurance review

Yes, CUA is a not-for-profit fund. It will soon be part of one of Australia's largest not-for-profit health funds, HBF.

CUA offers some Hospital and Extras discount options to people under 30.

• New Extras covers. From 1 April 2019, additional Extras options became available, providing younger members with lower price points when choosing to buy Extras cover for the first time.
• Hospital health cover discounts for younger members. CUA is adopting hospital health cover discounts of up to 2% for every year a member is under 30 years of age, and up to 10% for 18-25 year olds.

CUA offers a range of benefits for its members.

• Cover for kids until the age of 23. Your children are covered on family or single-parent policies until the age of 23 or 25 if they're studying full time.
• Extra dental for kids. CUA extras provide additional benefits to help cover routine dental services for children. There is no-gap up to a total value of $250 per visit for 2 visits a year.
• Choose your own provider. CUA does not have any preferred providers, so you are free to choose any registered health care provider you want.
• Up to 20% off at OPSM. CUA Health members can take advantage of 20% off lenses and lens extras, 15% off non-prescription sunglasses, 10% off contact lenses purchased in-store and 5% off contact lenses purchased online.
• Up to 25% off at Specsavers. CUA Health members can enjoy 25% off a single pair of glasses from the Specsavers $149 or above range plus 20% off lens options and free digital retinal photography.
• Discount for CUA members. CUA offers a 4% discount on health insurance if you pay your premiums via direct debit from a CUA transaction account.
• Discounts for CUA home loan customers. If you also have a CUA Rate Breaker Home Loan, you're entitled to enjoy 1 month of free CUA Health Insurance premiums each year.
• Increasing benefit limits. If you choose Total Extras, CUA Health's top extras cover option, the maximum benefit limit for physiotherapy, chiropractic and wellness benefits increases each year for the first 3 years of cover.
• Range of excess options. CUA Health offers hospital cover policies with a range of excess options available. By choosing a policy with an excess, you can enjoy lower premiums.
• Competitions. CUA Health members can also access exclusive competitions.

CUA also provides a number of wellness benefits. These include:

• Weight control. This includes CUA Health approved weight management programs.
• Exercise classes and gym membership benefit. This is intended for CUA members whose doctor has prescribed an exercise program.
• Health checks and screenings. You can claim benefits for doctors health checks and Healthy Heart checks.
• Health association fees and subscriptions. You can claim benefits for a number of health management programs including Coeliac Society, Diabetes Australia, Heart Foundation, Arthritis Foundation, Australian Breastfeeding Association and more.
• Quit smoking. CUA also supports a number of quit smoking programs, including hypnotherapy and nicotine replacement therapy.
• Learn to swim. You can get swimming lessons at an AUSTSWIM or a Swim Australia-recognised centre.
• Travel vaccinations. You can get cover for travel vaccinations, whenever they are not claimable under Medicare.
• Mammograms. If it is not covered by Medicare, CUA can pay benefits towards mammograms.
• Travel expenses. You can claim travel expenses within Australia for hospital admissions when you're away from your residence and the return trip is more than the kilometres specified in the Member Guide.

There are several ways you can lodge an extras claim with CUA Health:

• In person. If the health care provider supports the HICAPS system, you can swipe your CUA Health membership card on the spot to claim instantly.
• Via the CUA Health app. You can submit your claim via the CUA Health Mobile Claiming app by uploading a photo of your receipt. Claims of under $300 will be assessed immediately and the funds transferred to your bank account.
• Online. You can log in to the CUA Health Online Services portal to upload a photo of your receipt and submit your claim. Claims of under $300 will be assessed immediately, and the funds transferred to your bank account.
• At a CUA branch. You can lodge your claim in person at your nearest CUA branch.
• By fax or mail. You can also complete a claim form and then return it, along with your receipt, to CUA Health by fax or post.