Frequently asked questions
Need help understanding private health insurance? We’ve got the answers you need.
Frequently asked questions
Hospital cover gives our members access to private health care in hospitals as part of their policy. Our Hospital cover gives you the freedom to be treated by your chosen doctor when you need it. It means you avoid the waitlist of the public system and the high fees of the private system. Read more about Hospital cover.
St Lukes has a number of locations around Tasmania with our Head Office based in Launceston. Find a location near you.
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme provides fast, reliable and affordable access to medicines for all Australians and is part of the Australian Government’s National Medicines Policy. The aim of this policy is to meet medication and related service needs so that optimal health outcomes and economic targets are met. Under the PBS, the government subsidises the cost of medicine for most medical conditions. The scheme is available to all Australian residents who hold a current Medicare card. For more information, visit www.pbs.gov.au.
St Lukes has a variety of ways you can pay for your cover. Read more about how to pay.
Joining or switching to St Lukes is easy! Read more about switching to St Lukes.
A surgically implanted prosthesis is a piece of equipment that is surgically implanted into the body during a hospital procedure to replace or assist the body function.
Health insurance protects you and your family, providing Hospital and Extras cover for you and your loved ones. Extras cover offers benefits towards the cost of an extensive range of other healthcare services not covered by Hospital cover or by Medicare, ensuring you get the most out of every day. Hospital cover gives you the peace of mind that you’ll avoid long waitlists and high fees if you ever need to go to hospital. Read more about why you need Health Insurance.
Lifetime Health Cover was introduced by the Australian Government and is designed to encourage people to take out hospital cover earlier in life and to maintain their hospital cover. Learn more about Lifetime Health Cover.
Medicare is Australia’s public health system. It covers all Australian citizens and permanent residents. Medicare is partly funded by a levy on taxable income. It covers public hospital treatment and doctors’ services.
A waiting period is the length of time you must wait before you become eligible for benefits in your private Health Insurance policy. Waiting periods apply to new members and to members rejoining after a lapse in cover. Waiting periods may also apply to additional benefits when you change your level of cover. Learn more about waiting periods.
The Medicare Levy Surcharge is an additional surcharge imposed on people earning above defined income thresholds, who are eligible for Medicare but do not hold an appropriate level of private hospital cover. Read more about the Medicare Levy Surcharge.
St Lukes has a variety of ways you can claim with us. Read more about claiming.
It’s important to review your cover often, and we make it easy with our personalised cover review. Make sure that you are on the right level of cover for your lifestyle and talk to our team about your level of cover today.
St Lukes Medical Gap is designed to eliminate or reduce the gap between the Medicare Benefits Schedule fee and the fee a doctor charges for hospital inpatient medical service. This is available if your doctor is participating in the St Lukes Medical Gap arrangement. Read more about St Lukes Medical Gap.
Switching health insurance might sound hard, but at St Lukes, we make it easy. When you sign up for the same level of cover as your old insurer, providing all waiting periods have been served, you can claim with us straight away. We’ll also contact your old insurer on your behalf. Read more about switching.
St Lukes Extras cover supports you in accessing a range of healthcare services not covered by Medicare, including massage, dental, and physiotherapy. Read more about Extras cover.
Current members can change their level of cover at any time on St.LukesHealth Connect. Our assessment process makes sure you are on the policy that’s right for you. Please note some waiting periods may apply.
Health insurance is divided into three types of cover – Hospital, general treatment (or Extras cover) or a combination of both products. St Lukes Health Insurance gives you access to a range of subsidised health care services making sure you get fast and quality treatment. In Australia, health insurance is community rated. This means that all Australians are provided with equal health care regardless of age, sex or their state of health. Because of this, private health funds cannot refuse to insure an individual or refuse to sell a policy based on a person’s health and how likely they are to claim. For example, it means a single 20-year-old in good health will pay the same health insurance premium as a single 35-year-old receiving cancer treatment if they are on the same policy. Read more about Health Insurance.
Health insurance provides you with peace of mind knowing that you have the support when you need it. It also allows you to:
- Have your choice of obstetrician;
- Receive your check-ups in a private consultation room with your chosen obstetrician or midwife (no benefit payable toward this service);
- Your choice of hospital;
- A private room while in hospital, subject to availability;
- Your health insurance will cover your hospital accommodation.
Read more about St Lukes Pregnancy Cover.
An excess is the amount you agree to pay in each calendar year towards your hospital treatment. A calendar year runs from January 1 to December 31. Read more about an excess.
Most Australians with private health insurance receive a rebate from the Australian Government to assist with the cost of their private health insurance. The rebate received depends on your level of income. The income thresholds are reviewed and indexed by the Government each financial year. The following income thresholds apply from July 1, 2023. Read more about the Australian Government Rebate.