Obesity and health insurance

HIF

• Optional materials such as shakers or foodstuffs are not covered by the Healthy Lifestyle benefit.

ahm

To be eligible for weight loss program cover under the Diet and Nutrition benefit, you must provide medical proof of a Body Mass Index rating of 26 or higher. Accepted documents of proof are:

• A doctors certificate.
• A completed ahm Health Improvement Benefit Approval Form.
• A certificate from an ahm approved weight loss provider.

Australian Unity

Your program receipt and a completed claim form needs to be provided to Australian Unity before you receive your joining benefit. To claim your weight goal and weight loss maintenance benefit a signed certificate of goal achievement from your provider must be submitted with your completed claim form.

• Weight Watchers online programs and at home kits are not covered by the Preventative Health Service's weight loss benefit.

Bupa

The weight loss program you select will have to meet certain criteria and conditions before the benefit will be paid. You will have to contact Bupa by phone to find out if your program is eligible. Additionally, when claiming you must also provide receipts or account records from your approved weight loss program.

• Weight loss related foodstuffs, videos, books and medications are not covered by this benefit.

CUA

A CUA Health Management Programs benefit approval form must be filled out by both you and your medical practitioner and submitted before you can claim, and your chosen weight loss provider has to hold an Australian Business Number and specialise in the program recommended by your medical practitioner. Your condition has to of been identified before you start the weight loss program.

• Weight loss related goods are not covered.
• Recreational services such as gyms, personal trainers, pilates (unless conducted by a physiotherapist), yoga, weight loss classes and hypnotherapy are not covered.

Doctors Health Fund

Eligibility for weight loss program benefit requires written referral from your medical practitioner stating it is medically necessary to treat a specific health condition.

GMHBA

Weight loss program benefits are only payable when they have been deemed by a health practitioner to be necessary to improve or prevent a specific condition. Written referral is required. When lodging a claim for the weight loss benefit you must also provide either a report from the weight loss provider, photocopy of your membership record of fees paid or membership record of weight loss achieved from your commencement in the program.

• Meals and exercise components are not covered by GMHBA's weight loss benefit.

Health Partners

In order to claim you must provide a completion certificate or confirmation proving you are enrolled in a recognised weight loss program.

Peoplecare

The weight loss program must be registered with the Australian Weight Management Council, and when claiming you must provide a receipt containing your name, details of your weight loss program, date of payment and payment amount.

• Goods and services that are primarily used for sports, recreation or entertainment purposes (such as sports shoes or gym membership), are not covered by Peoplecare health management benefit.

Phoenix Health Fund

Your approved weight loss program must be part of a health management plan that has been recommended by your medical practitioner, who must sign a completed Healthy Lifestyle treatment plan form in order for the benefit to be paid.

• Weight loss related foodstuffs are not covered by this benefit.

Queensland Country Health Fund

The healthy living benefit can only be paid if your participation in the approved weight loss program has been recommended as medically necessary by your health practitioner to improve or prevent a specific illness or condition. A Health Management Benefit Approval Form must be completed by you and your doctor and submitted when you claim.

Teachers Health Fund

In order to claim the benefit your weight loss program must be approved by the fund and recommended by your medical practitioner as part of a health management plan designed to treat a specific health condition. The written medical recommendation must be resubmitted every 12 months.

TUH

The weight loss benefit offered by TUH is to assist people suffering from a chronic disease, and therefore requires your weight loss program to have been recommended by a health care professional as a necessary part of your health management plan.

• Portion control eating plan (including KicStart and VLCD meal replacements).
• Physiotherapist-developed strength, balance and mobility exercises.
• Personalised online symptom, progress and satisfaction tracking.
• Personal motivation, support and advice via phone, SMS, email, message board and post.

To be eligible for this program you must be a Medibank member and have:

• Been diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip by x-ray, MRI or from an incidental finding from a previous arthroscopy.
• A body mass index of 28 or more.

Additionally you must also have at least one of the following:

• Knee or hip symptoms that have, or is likely to require a referral to an orthopaedic surgeon.
• An existing knee or hip replacement that has developed symptoms that could benefit from weight loss or improved muscle strength and fitness.
• A scheduled knee or hip joint replacement procedure where weight loss or improved muscle strength and fitness prior to surgery is desirable

Other things to be aware of:

• You must obtain approval from your medical practitioner to participate in this program.
• You must be willing to provide progress data, joint pain scores, blood pressure and cholesterol.
• You must not have participated in this program or any other Healthy Weight for Life program offered by Medibank.

• Meal replacement weight loss programs.
• Online tracking to chart your progress.
• Personal phone and email support.

To be eligible for this program you must of held an HCF hospital cover policy for at least 12 months and be suffering from:

• Type 2 diabetes.
• A heart condition.
• X-ray diagnosed osteoarthritis of the knee or hip.

Additionally you must:

• Have a body mass index of 28 or more.
• Not be under medical supervision and have approval from a medical practitioner to participate.
• Not be allergic or intolerant to KicStart meal replacements.
• Not be pregnant or breastfeeding, or intending to fall pregnant during the 18 week course.
• Willing to provide personal and medical data.
• Have regular internet access and a personal email address.