Medibank and ahm helping regional and rural customers

Medibank and ahm are easing the cost burden on customers in remote areas requiring hospital treatment by introducing a rural and regional travel and accommodation allowance.

The next phase of the Federal Government’s reforms to the private health sector, designed to improve transparency and affordability, come into effect today.

Chief Customer Officer David Koczkar said Medibank and ahm are leading the way by adopting all the Government’s optional recommendations on top of those mandated.

Customers who travel more than 200 kilometres for a hospital admission will soon be able to claim some travel and accommodation expenses.

“We understand the challenges our customers in remote areas can face accessing our health system, which is why we want to make it easier.

“Customers travelling long distances for treatments will be able to claim some of the travel expenses back,” Mr Koczkar said.

Medibank data shows around one in five of our rural members travel a significant distance for their private hospital treatment.

Customers on Gold cover will be able to claim up to $100, Silver up to $75 and Bronze and Basic, up to $50 in accommodation and travel expenses per admission.

“Medibank paid out more than $950 million last financial year for customers living in regional and rural areas with the most common claims supporting customers with orthopaedic surgery, rehabilitation and respiratory conditions.

Additionally, 150,000 Medibank and ahm customers will today have up to the 10 per cent young adult discount applied to their policy.

“Allowing our customers aged 18 to 29 years old to access the young adult discount of up to 10 per cent on hospital cover will result in lower premiums for them. This is good news for our younger customers.

“Customers can also now choose hospital policies with higher excesses in return for lower premiums.

“We are reaching out to our customers about these changes and encouraging them to contact us if they have any questions about the Government’s reforms and to review their level of cover if needed.

“We have added extra resources to our contact centres to support our customers through the reforms,” Mr Koczkar said.