2023 flu vaccine benefit

Members aged between 5 and 65 years on Top Extras, Essential Extras or StarterPak, who get a flu shot between 1 January – 31 December 2023, can claim for vaccinations given by a registered pharmacist or GP.

The 2023 flu shot benefit has been set up as a sub-limit of Healthy Lifestyle. Here’s what that means for you:

• Top Extras & Essential Extras – we’ll pay the cost of the vaccine up to $30 per person*
• StarterPak – we’ll pay for the cost of the vaccine up to $30 per person, to a maximum of $60 per policy for Couple, Single Parent and Family policies*

We’ll only pay for the cost of the vaccine, not any consultation or service fees, or other costs.

*These benefits depend on your available overall Healthy Lifestyle limits. If you’ve already used up your 2023 Healthy Lifestyle limit, unfortunately you won’t be able to claim for the flu vaccine.

Sure, you just need to send us a copy of your receipt. We’ll accept receipts dated between 1 January – 31 December 2023 via:

• App: Upload a photo of your receipt to our member app
• Email: Send your receipt and a completed claim form to submitclaim@teachershealth.com.au
• Post: Mail a copy of your receipt and a completed claim form to GPO Box 9812, Sydney NSW 2001

You can send us a copy of your invoice, official pharmacy or cash register receipt. Please make sure the type of service/item and name of the person claiming is displayed on it.

Note: most Extras benefits can only be claimed with an invoice or official pharmacy receipt. The requirements have been relaxed in this case to make it easier for people to access this one-off benefit.

Some people have a higher risk of serious complications from influenza and are able to get a free annual influenza vaccination under the National Immunisation Program. These groups include:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and over
• Children aged 6 months to under 5 years
• Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy
• People aged 65 years or over
• People aged 6 months or over who have medical conditions that mean they have a higher risk of getting serious disease:
• cardiac disease
• chronic respiratory conditions
• chronic neurological conditions
• immunocompromising conditions
• diabetes and other metabolic disorders
• renal disease
• haematological disorders
• children aged 6 months to 10 years on long term aspirin therapy.

If you think you could be eligible for a free flu shot, please contact your healthcare provider.

Unfortunately, we can’t pay for anything that Medicare has already paid for. We won’t pay for consultation or service fees or other costs associated with you receiving the government-funded flu vaccine.

We’ll pay for any of the 2023 seasonal influenza vaccines that are registered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). If you have questions about which vaccine is best for you, please ask your healthcare provider.

If you need medical advice, please speak with your healthcare provider. They can help you decide whether the flu shot is appropriate for you.

We introduced the flu shot benefit in 2022 in response to information from the Department of Health, which predicted last year’s flu season would be worse than usual. We decided to extend the flu shot benefit until the end of 2023.

*Terms and conditions

1. Available to members who hold current (paid up-to-date) Top Extras, Essential Extras or StarterPak cover at the time of receiving their flu shot.

2. Benefits are available when the flu vaccination is administered between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023.

3. The benefit for the flu vaccine is a sub-limit under Healthy Lifestyle, which means a member can only claim if they have not exhausted their overall Healthy Lifestyle limit.

4. Members aged between 5 and 65 years on Top Extras or Essential Extras can claim a benefit of 100% of the cost up to a maximum of $30 per person.

5. Members aged between 5 and 65 years on StarterPak can claim a benefit of 100% of the cost up to a maximum of $30 per person. The maximum per policy is $30 for Singles and $60 for Couple, Single Parent or Family policies.

6. Members eligible for a Federal Government funded or workplace subsidised flu vaccination should do so rather than claiming from Teachers Health.

7. Benefits are payable for flu vaccinations administered by a registered pharmacist or GP.

8. Benefits are only payable for the pharmaceutical cost of the vaccine and are not payable for any consultation fees, service fees or other associated costs.

9. Members should seek their own medical advice from a GP or specialist prior to receiving the flu vaccination.