Bupa health insurance review

Most Bupa policies have government mandated waiting periods before you can claim a particular benefit. Here are some of the waiting periods on Bupa hospital cover:

• 12 months. Pre-existing conditions, pregnancy and birth (obstetrics).
• 2 months. All other treatments as well as psychiatric treatments for pre-existing conditions, palliative care and rehabilitation.

Waiting periods also apply for Bupa extras coverage.

• 12 months. Purchase of Health aids and appliances, orthodontics and major dental.
• 2 months. Most other extras services.
• No waiting period. Emergency ambulance service.

There are several ways you can claim on your Bupa health insurance policy:

• On the spot. Simply swipe your membership card and pay any difference. Around 20,000 service providers around Australia accept Bupa membership cards.
• By post. Fill out a claim form, attach your receipt and invoice and then post it to Bupa Reply Paid 990, Adelaide SA 5001. Payments will then be made to you by EFT if you've provided your details on the form or by cheque if you haven't.
• Online. To make a claim for services that you've already paid for, sign into your myBupa account and enter the details on your receipt. Your reimbursement will be automatically paid to your nominated account.
• With the myBupa app. The myBupa app allows you to claim for some treatments quickly, available for both Android and Apple devices.

Fund	Android	iOS
Bupa

The policy can be suspended for a given period of time if a member is travelling overseas for a longer period or facing financial hardships or imprisonment. The benefits will not be provided during this time. The maximum period for suspension varies from 12 months in financial hardship to 2 years for overseas travel.

If the premiums are not paid by the due date, the policy is considered to be in arrears. If the arrears are more than two months Bupa may cancel the policy.

The premiums can change if the level of cover is changed. Also, if you move to a different state, there might be a different premium. The premiums are changed to reflect the changes in the circumstance. Additionally, there's a national increase in premiums for all providers on the 1st of April each year.

Yes, Bupa offers a range of visitors health cover designed to suit those on working, non-working, student and holiday visas.

• Online tools and calculators, such as an online health assessment and Parent and Baby Wellbeing Program.
• Self-management programs for conditions like Osteoarthritis Healthy Weight For Life Program and asthma.
• Member Support programs like the phone-based Bupa Health Coaching Program.
• Health management extras services. Health Management is a feature on some extras cover policies. It provides you with benefits towards the costs of certain approved health-related programs, including the Chemotherapy Choices Program and the Dietitian Health Coaching Service.