
Get exclusive healthy living offers and guides
Straight to your inbox
Updated
We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!
Without health insurance you may not be able to afford many ongoing medical bills that are not covered by medicare. However, sometimes the ongoing cost of maintaining your policy can seem like an added financial burden you just can't justify. You may have had a significant change in your financial situation or you may just be looking to make some savings on your bills but don't throw away your health insurance without first looking at your options.
You may be able to have your premiums suspended while you decide what to do with your policy. This guide takes you through some of the options you have when considering suspending your cover.
The minimum and maximum times for which you can suspend cover differ between funds. However, the following limits commonly apply:
Check the fine print with your health fund for full details of any limits that apply.
Fund | Is it possible to suspend health insurance with this fund? | Can I suspend my cover because of financial hardship? | Can I suspend my cover if I become unemployed? | Minimum amount of time to be overseas | Maximum time to suspend cover |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AAMI Health Insurance |
|
| Not mentioned | 2 months | 2 years |
ahm Health Insurance |
|
|
| 30 days | 2 years |
CUA Health Limited |
|
| Not mentioned | 2 months | 3 years |
HCF |
|
| Not mentioned | 30 days | 2 years |
health.com.au |
|
|
| 2 months | 5 years |
Medibank Private Limited |
|
| Not mentioned | 2 months | 4 years |
NIB Health Funds Ltd. |
|
| Not mentioned | 2 months | 2 years |
Qantas Health Insurance |
|
| Not mentioned | 2 months | 2 years |
Suncorp Health Insurance |
|
| Not mentioned | 2 months | 2 years |
ACA Health Benefits Fund |
|
| Not mentioned | 3 months | 2 years |
Australian Unity Health Limited |
|
| Not mentioned | 2 months | 2 years |
Bupa Australia Pty Ltd |
|
| Not mentioned | 2 months | 2 years |
CBHS Corporate Health Pty Ltd |
|
| Not mentioned | 6 weeks | 3 years |
CBHS Health Fund Limited |
|
| Not mentioned | 6 weeks | 3 years |
Defence Health Limited |
|
| Not mentioned | 28 Days | 2 years |
Doctors' Health Fund |
| Not mentioned | Not mentioned | 1 month | Not mentioned |
Emergency Services Health |
|
| Not mentioned | 14 Days | 2 years |
GMHBA Limited |
| Not mentioned | Not mentioned | 1 month | 3 years |
Grand United Corporate Health |
|
| Not mentioned | 2 months | 2 years |
HBF Health Limited |
| Not mentioned | Not mentioned | 2 months | 6 months |
Health Care Insurance Limited |
|
| Not mentioned | 28 days | 2 years |
Health Partners |
|
| Not mentioned | 3 weeks | 2 years |
HIF |
| Not mentioned | Not mentioned | 2 months | 2 years |
Hunter Health Insurance |
| Not mentioned | Not mentioned | 2 months | 2 years |
Latrobe Health Services |
| Not mentioned | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | Not mentioned |
Mildura Health Fund |
| Not mentioned | Not mentioned | 2 weeks | 2 years |
National Health Benefits Australia Pty Ltd (onemedifund) |
|
| Not mentioned | Not mentioned | 2 years |
Navy Health Ltd |
|
| Not mentioned | 1 month | 2 years |
Nurses & Midwives Health |
|
| Not mentioned | 2 months | 3 years |
Peoplecare Health Insurance |
|
|
| 4 weeks | 2 years |
Phoenix Health Fund Limited |
| Not mentioned | Not mentioned | 21 days | 2 years |
Police Health |
|
| Not mentioned | 14 days | 2 years |
Queensland Country Health Fund Ltd |
|
| Not mentioned | 1 month | 2 years |
Railway and Transport Health Fund Limited |
| Not mentioned | Not mentioned | 28 days | 2 years |
Reserve Bank Health Society Ltd |
|
|
| 3 months | 40 months |
St.Lukes Health |
| Not mentioned | Not mentioned | 2 weeks | 2 years |
Teachers Health Fund |
|
| Not mentioned | 2 months | 36 months |
Transport Health Pty Ltd |
|
|
| 30 days | 12 months |
TUH |
|
|
| 2 months | 3 years |
Westfund Limited |
|
|
| 2 months | 24 months |
People suspend their health insurance for many different reasons. Financial hardship is a major reason people do this. If you've lost your job or are battling debt problems and struggling to meet your premium payments, your health fund may agree to let you suspend your membership for a temporary period.
Another common reason for suspending a policy is overseas travel. Australian private health funds are unable to provide any cover for medical expenses you incur overseas – you’ll need overseas travel insurance for that sort of protection – so if you’re going to be out of the country for a couple of months or more, suspending cover makes good financial sense.
When your health fund agrees to allow you to suspend your membership for a temporary period, you will not have to re-serve any waiting periods when you resume cover at a later date. You will also be able to maintain the level of cover that suits your needs and keep the current benefit limits that apply to your policy.
But if you opt to cancel your current cover and then take out a new policy sometime in the future, you will have to serve the full waiting periods set by the fund before you can claim any benefits. This could have a serious impact on your ability to access the health care you need, especially if you develop any health problems which will then be classed as pre-existing conditions by your new fund.
In addition, temporarily suspending your health insurance policy does not have any effect on your Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading. However, if you cancel cover this can have serious implications for the cost of cover when you take out a new policy.
You can go without hospital cover health insurance for periods adding up to a total 1,094 days of absence. However, once you’ve used up your total allotment of 1,094 days without cover, you’ll have to pay an additional 2% premium loading on top of any loading you were already paying.
Eligibility rules for temporarily suspending your health insurance policy vary between funds. However, to qualify for this option you will typically need to:
If going overseas, you will also need to apply for a suspension prior to your departure date as you cannot retrospectively apply to suspend cover.
Individual health funds usually impose a range of other conditions on your eligibility to suspend cover temporarily.
It’s usually quick and easy to temporarily suspend your health fund membership. If you’re suspending due to financial hardship, you will need to get in touch with your health fund by phone, email or post, or potentially fill out an online application form. Once the suspension ends, you’ll need to start making premium payments again within 30 days.
If you’re suspending cover while you travel overseas, make sure your travel dates are locked in and then contact your health fund by phone, email or post, or by filling out an online application form if available. You will usually be sent a confirmation letter or email when your application for suspension has been approved.
Finally, remember that your membership suspension must be approved before you depart on your overseas trip, as you can’t apply for a backdated suspension.
You will not receive any cover for health care expenses you incur while your policy is suspended. This means that you will not be able to make any hospital or extras claims, but also that you will not be required to pay any premiums during this time.
However, despite the fact that no cover is provided, you are still considered to be a member of the fund during this time. As a result, you will be able to easily resume cover when the suspension period ends.
You’ll need to restart cover within 30 days of the end of the suspension date, otherwise your policy could be cancelled. Your fund will most likely remind you when cover is due to be resumed or automatically reinstate cover at your requested date.
If you’ve been overseas with an unconfirmed return date, inform the health fund that you are back in Australia within 30 days of your return (you will usually need to provide a passport, flight ticket or boarding pass as proof). If you are no longer experiencing financial hardship and can afford to resume cover, you can let your health fund know at any time.
Once you’ve restarted your policy, your level of cover, benefits and waiting periods will all be the same as they were before the suspension.
The rules for suspending your membership vary from one health fund to the next. So if your fund refuses to let you suspend your policy, contact other funds to find out whether they would be willing to grant a suspension.
If suspending your membership is not an option, remember that you may be able to let cover lapse for a limited period – remember, you’re allowed a combined total of 1,094 days without any cover without it having any effect on your LHC loading.
Want to insure a Porsche 911? Here are things we think you should know.
Find out about how to insure the luxury Mercedes-AMG G 63 4x4 SUV.
Find out how much veneers cost in Australia and how you can avoid being hit with a big bill.
Find out how much dentures cost in Australia and how you can get cover with mid-level health insurance.
$100,000 life insurance policies can be very affordable. Compare costs and cover here.
Compare $500,000 life insurance policies, costs and cover here.
Find out how much the average Mercedes-Benz E-Class costs to insure, as well as how to find a prestige car insurer.
Are you ready to take the plunge and open your own arborist business? Find out how to do it here.
How to get life insurance if you’ve had a stroke.
The ins and outs of life insurance if you have epilepsy.
Get cover to suit your budget and lifestyle.
Great offers, promos, and deals for today.
Hospital, extras, or neither? Find out in 1-minute.
Compare visa-compliant OVHC today.
I have an HBF policy, I’m currently overseas and won’t be back for at least 6 months. I didn’t cancel it before I left so I’m still paying for it fortnightly, can I suspend it whilst I’m overseas? Thanks :)
Hi Cat,
Thank you for reaching out.
Yes, it shows that HCF allows policy suspension if you are overseas for a minimum of 30 days and maximum of 2 years. You can contact them by phone, email or post, or by filling out an online application form if available. You will usually be sent a confirmation letter or email when your application for suspension has been approved.
Hope this helps! 😊
Kind Regards,
Mai
What if I decide to not come back for good in Australia but will just be coming to visit or for holidays with a maximum stay of 3 months?
Hi Mar,
Thank you for getting in touch with finder.
You can normally only suspend your health insurance for 2-3 years max.
If you’re leaving long term – it could work out better to consider something like expat health insurance depending on your planned return visits.
I hope this helps.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni