Changes to Starterpak

Changes to Starterpak

Your Cover

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* Based on an Australian Government Rebate of %, % LHC loading, $ excess for a in . Please note the amount quoted may vary after 1 April due to base price changes and rounding adjustment.

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Your hospital cover

As part of the private health insurance reforms, all health funds have to align their hospital products to new Standard Clinical Categories and Gold/Silver/Bronze/Basic product tiers.

Each Standard Clinical Category has a defined list of services that are covered. While most of our Starterpak cover directly matched the new categories, in some cases we’ve had to add or remove services to fit the new structure.

  • Where financially viable, we’ve increased cover for some services.
  • In the case where premiums would be significantly impacted, we’ve decreased cover.
  • We’re required to include the new product tier in the name. As this product exceeds the minimum requirement for the ‘Basic’ tier, it’ll now be called Starterpak (Basic Plus).

StarterPak Basic +

Legend

Covered
Not Covered
Restricted

Scope of cover

Additional Information
Current
1 April 2019
Increased cover: you are currently covered for Wisdom teeth in a private hospital. From 1 April, you will be covered in a private hospital for all services that fall under Dental Surgery.
Current
1 April 2019
Current
1 April 2019
Increased cover: You currently have private hospital cover for knee and shoulder reconstructions. From 1 April 2019 we'll cover all other joint reconstructions (e.g. ankle, wrist, hip, in a private hospital).
Current
1 April 2019
Increased cover: You currently have public hospital cover for grommets. From 1 April 2019, grommets will be covered in a private hospital.
Current
1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
Detrimental change: Hospital admissions for shoulder and knee arthroscopes are changing from Covered to Restricted. If you choose to go to a private hospital you will have significant out-of-pocket expenses.
Current
1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
Current
1 April 2019
Increased cover: Major eye and eye lens surgery is currently not covered under StarterPak. From 1 April 2019, these services will be covered in a public hospital.
Current
1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
Detrimental change: Vascular system is currently Restricted, and from 1 April 2019 it will be Excluded. There’s no change in your cover for Heart-related services – this was already Excluded.
Current
1 April 2019
Detrimental change: Insulin pumps will no longer be covered on StarterPak. If this is something that is important to you, we have a range of alternate options that cover insulin pumps.
Current
1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
Theatre fees, intensive care fees
Current
1 April 2019
Labour ward fees
Current
1 April 2019
Choice of doctor
Current
1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
Shared room
Current
1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
Labour ward fees (StarterPak)
Current
1 April 2019
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1 April 2019
No changes
Current
1 April 2019
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Services for which a Medicare benefit is not payable e.g. cosmetic surgery & laser eye surgery
Current
1 April 2019

Note: Restricted cover – for restricted services provided in a public hospital, we pay for accommodation in a shared room (as long as the hospital doesn’t charge more than the default rate set out by the Federal Government), and medical costs.

Learn more about the clinical categories

 

What does the Basic Plus tier mean?

‘Plus’ means your cover includes more than the minimum requirement for the Basic tier. Our Basic Hospital, Mid Hospital and Starterpak cover all fit into the Basic Plus tier, but they’re not the same. It’s wise to double check what is and included on your cover from time to time, to make sure it’s still right for you.

Your Extras cover

Natural therapies changes

All health funds are now unable to cover some natural therapy services. From 1 April 2019, you can still use your natural therapies limit to claim for:

Covered

  • Remedial massage
  • Acupuncture
  • Chinese herbal medicine consultations
  • Myotherapy

Removed:

  • Alexander technique
  • Aromatherapy
  • Bowen therapy
  • Buteyko
  • Feldenkrais
  • Homeopathy
  • Kinesiology
  • Naturopathy
  • Reflexology
  • Shiatsu
  • Western herbal medicine

If you had one of these treatments before 1 April 2019, and haven’t claimed yet, you have two years from your treatment date to do so.

Yoga and Pilates removal

We’re also unable to cover the following under the Healthy Lifestyle limit:

  • Yoga
  • Pilates (including Pilates classes run by a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist)