This is the amount you pay towards your hospital treatment before we pay any benefits. It's paid once per person, per calendar year.
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Hospital cover
Helps towards the accommodation costs and doctors, specialists, surgeons and anaesthetists fees for the Included services below.
What is a waiting period?
A set period of time you need to wait before you can receive benefits for services or items included in your cover. You can’t receive benefits for any items or services you obtained while you’re serving a waiting period. This means you will have to pay the full cost of the service.
What is a pre-existing condition?
An ailment, illness or condition that, in the opinion of a Medical Practitioner appointed by Medibank, the signs or symptoms existed at any time during the six months before you either took out your new cover, or transferred to a higher level of cover (12 month waiting period applies).
| Inclusions | Waiting Period
What is a waiting period? A set period of time you need to wait before you can receive benefits for services or items included in your cover. You can’t receive benefits for any items or services you obtained while you’re serving a waiting period. This means you will have to pay the full cost of the service. What is a pre-existing condition? An ailment, illness or condition that, in the opinion of a Medical Practitioner appointed by Medibank, the signs or symptoms existed at any time during the six months before you either took out your new cover, or transferred to a higher level of cover (12 month waiting period applies). |
|---|---|
| Nil | |
| Nil | |
| 2 months | |
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
|
| Nil
(12 months for pre-existing conditions) |
| Services that are Excluded |
|---|
Please note: Medibank does not pay any benefits towards the cost of cosmetic surgery/procedures e.g. surgery that isn’t clinically necessary and which an MBS item is not billable.
Hospital cover explained
For the services listed as Inclusions in the table above, we pay benefits towards:
- Doctors' fees for Included in-hospital medical services (as set out in Medical benefits below).
- Surgically implanted prostheses (such as an artificial body part like a limb) and other items on the Federal Government's Prostheses List^^.
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)** listed medication given to you as part of your admitted treatment for most medical conditions, including medication prescribed for after you leave hospital.
- Overnight accommodation in a private or shared room
- Same-day admissions
- Intensive care
Other benefits as set out in 'Hospital benefits' below.
- Overnight accommodation in a private or shared room
- Same-day admissions
- Intensive care
- Operating theatre fees
- Outpatient and emergency department charges
Hospital benefits
Members’ Choice hospitals
Medibank has agreements with most private hospitals and day surgeries in Australia. We call this our Members’ Choice network. When you visit a Members’ Choice hospital you will generally get better value for money compared to a non-Members’ Choice private hospital, provided the service is included under our agreement with the hospital and not Excluded under your cover.
To find your nearest Members’ Choice hospital, visit medibank.com.au/memberschoice. Members’ Choice hospitals are subject to change from time to time and are not available in all areas.
Hospital excess
With Overseas Visitors Starter Hospital and Medical you can choose from a $250 or $750 excess.
This is the amount you pay towards your hospital treatment before we pay any benefits. It's payable once per member, per calendar year if admitted to hospital. If you choose a higher excess you will pay a lower premium, but will need to pay more to your own accommodation costs.
For example:
You choose an excess of $750. You'd need to pay $750 towards your accomodation costs before we'll pay any benefits.
Medical benefits
Overseas Visitors Starter Hospital and Medical includes benefits towards medical services provided by a doctor, that are listed in the government’s Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). The MBS is a list of medical services and corresponding fees.
Overseas Visitors Starter Hospital and Medical pays 100% of the MBS fee for:
- general practitioner (GP) consultations
- other medical services provided out-of-hospital (for example specialists, pathology and x-rays), except where that service is Excluded under your Hospital cover
- in-hospital medical services provided as part of an Included service (for example surgeon and anaesthetist fees)
- allied health services billed with an MBS item number (for example eye checks and services related to chronic disease management plans), except for mental health services
If your doctor chooses to charge above the MBS fee you will likely have to pay an out-of-pocket expense to cover the difference.
For example:
The MBS fee for item 23 (a GP consultation) is $41.40. You visit a doctor that charges $50. Overseas Visitors Standard Hospital and Medical pays 100% of the MBS fee for GP consultations. This means you would get back $41.40. Your out-of-pocket cost would be $8.60.
Further benefits
- 24/7 Medibank Nurse Support
Medibank health insurance members are supported round the clock by a registered nurse at no extra cost#. Chat online or call 1800 644 325 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If your situation changes
If at any time you gain access to full Medicare entitlements or your visa status changes (e.g. you are granted permanent residency), Overseas Visitors Starter Hospital and Medical
may no longer be suitable. In these instances, you should notify us of the change in your circumstances. Medibank can still remain an important part of your private health insurance plans as we offer a large range of other covers.
Supporting documents
Things worth knowing
Find out more about things like waiting periods and pre-existing conditions or check our list of definitions if you don't know the meaning of a word or phrase
~The fee may not include all medical services provided and out-of-pocket expenses may apply such as for x-rays, blood tests and any charges raised by the doctor above the benefit we pay.
^^If you need to be hospitalised for a procedure requiring a surgically implanted prosthesis (for example: a pacemaker or cardiac stent), we’ll pay the minimum benefit for the thousands of items set out in the Australian Government’s Prostheses List.
**The PBS provides subsidised prescription drugs to residents of Australia, as well as certain foreign visitors covered by a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement.
#Some referred services may involve out of pocket costs and waiting periods may apply.
*Offer available until 31 December 2024. Must take out eligible Medibank Overseas Visitors Starter Hospital and Medical (any excess level) 31 December 2024. Must not have held any Medibank Health cover within the last 60 days. For new members on new memberships residing in Australia on a visitor’s visa. Must be over the age of 18. Offer available via phone, retail, web, messaging. Must quote promo code ‘VISIT2’ when joining. Member must sign up to and maintain direct debit. Excludes Overseas Visitors Everyday Hospital and Medical, Overseas Workers Health covers, all Corporate covers, all residential hospital and extras covers, Overseas Students Health Cover, Ambulance Cover, ahm covers, and other selected covers. Not available if the Policy Holder has already taken up this offer, or they have taken up any other discount offer from Medibank within 12 months from the policy start date. Not available to Medibank employees. Member take up of the offer is deemed acceptance of these Terms and Conditions. Medibank reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions without notice from time to time. It is the customers' responsibility to ensure they hold an appropriate health cover product to meet their visa requirements.
2 weeks free terms:
Member must maintain direct debit and keep policy premium payments up to date and hold eligible cover for 14 consecutive days from the policy start date to get next 2 weeks free. If the member changes to an ineligible cover during this period, or they terminate or suspend their cover, 2 weeks free will not be issued.