Qantas Health Insurance

Qantas has recently entered the health insurance market and is currently offering a range of health insurance policies that gives you value for money even if you do not get sick. By signing up with Qantas Health Insurance, you may be eligible for the following on select covers:

• Up to 50,000 bonus Qantas Points when you sign up for a Gold Hospital and Top Extras Cover for couples and families.
• Up to 20,000 more Qantas Points for every year that you stay active with the Insurance App.
• An option to choose a free Apple Watch with selected products to make using the Insurance App even easier.
• 1 bonus Qantas Point per dollar spent on premiums.

About the author Richard Laycock is the Insurance Editor at finder, and has been wrangling insurance Product Disclosure Statements for the last 4 years. When he’s not helping Aussies make sense of the fine print, he can be found testing the quality of Aperol Spritzes in his new found home of New York. Richard studied Journalism at Macquarie University and The Missouri School of Journalism, and has a Tier 1 certification in General Advice for Life Insurance. He has also been published in CSO Australia and Dynamic Business.

What are the benefits of becoming a Qantas Health Insurance member?

Qantas Health Insurance is issued by NIB and made available by Qantas. The following are some of the unique benefits that make this health insurer stand out:

• Receive discounted prices if you are an existing Qantas Frequent Flyer or become a complimentary member if you sign up.
• Get free Qantas Points throughout the life of your policy and extra rewards for joining.
• Choose from single, couple, family or single-parent plans to get a policy more tailored to your needs and budget.

What are the health insurance options?

Qantas Health Insurance offers hospital cover, which allows you to access private hospitals, and extras cover that pays benefits towards medical treatment outside of the hospital, such as dentist check-ups, optical services and physiotherapy. Simply select the type of health insurance you are interested in below to view what is covered by each policy tier.

• Hospital cover
• Extras cover

Do I have to serve any waiting periods?

Yes, waiting periods apply to both Qantas Health Insurance hospital and extras policies. You can find the amount of time you have to wait before being able to claim services below. If you're switching from another and have comparable cover your waiting limits will be recognised.

• Hospital cover waiting periods

• Extras cover waiting periods

Are there any exclusions?

Exclusions are conditions under which the insurer will not pay a benefit and even the most comprehensive policies typically have some. Qantas Health Insurance's exclusions include the following:

• Procedures that take place within waiting periods. You must serve the waiting period before you can make a claim.
• Hospital cover for Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medications. Non-PBS items are covered by extras.
• Hospital expenses other than medical treatments, such as beauty services, hospital pay phones and car parking.
• Non-approved providers. You can choose your own provider, but they must be suitably qualified and recognised.
• No hospital cover for non-essential treatments unless covered by the terms of the policy.

If you are found to have violated the terms of your health insurance policy, such as hiding pre-existing medical conditions, then the insurer reserves the right to refuse a claim.

How do I earn the bonus rewards?

The benefits offered by Qantas Health Insurance make it an effective choice for people who travel frequently and love their active lifestyles. You can find the criteria for receiving these rewards below.

How do I make a claim?

If you are not sure whether your health insurance policy covers an upcoming medical procedure or treatment, it may be a good idea to check with the practitioner or your provider ahead of time to make sure it is claimable. Once you have confirmed that your treatment is eligible, you have several options available for lodging a claim:

• You can lodge hospital claims through the member portal on the Qantas Health Insurance website.
• You can use your membership card to claim medical extras if the facility where you received treatment has a HICAPS terminal.
• If you are unsure of how to go about claiming, you can contact the Qantas Health Insurance team directly at 13 49 60.

Final information about this health insurer

• Do I have to be a Qantas Frequent Flyer to sign up?

  Yes, but Qantas gives new members a complimentary Frequent Flyer membership, which usually costs $89.50.

• Can I update my cover?

  If your family grows or shrinks, or your needs change, you can adjust your level of cover.

• Does Qantas Health Insurance cover me overseas?

  While this health insurance is aimed at travellers, it is still health insurance, not travel insurance. This means it cannot cover you outside of Australia. However, you are able to temporarily suspend your cover while travelling to save money on your premium.

• Can I opt to pay an excess to reduce my premium cost?

  Qantas Health Insurance gives you a choice of excess options that enables you to choose a higher excess of $750 to $500 for lower premiums or a lower excess ($250) for higher premiums.

• Are there any special excess terms to be aware of?

  Dependent children up to the age of 21 are not required to pay any hospital excess fees if they are covered under a family policy.

• What is the cooling-off period?

  This is the amount of time you have to cancel your policy and get a full refund, minus some costs and conditions. Qantas Health Insurance applies a 30 day cooling-off period to its products.

• Who exactly is covered by my policy?

  You can cover yourself and your entire family as needed with the range of policies available. Anyone who is listed on the policy is insured, regardless of whether it is the policyholder, a spouse or a dependent, although the benefits available may vary for each.