At CBHS we help you manage your health challenges. We believe in offering you the services, support and tools you need to live your best life.
Our Better Living Programs are available to support eligible members towards a healthier lifestyle. Each Better Living Program is subject to its own eligibility criteria.
Contact us for more information and to confirm your eligibility for a program.
Switch to CBHS
The misconception about switching is that it just seems really hard. Does a better deal really outweigh the amount of admin and waiting? We let you know the ins and outs of switching health insurers, including whether you need to re-serve waiting periods. You might be pleasantly surprised!
Proudly not-for-profit since 1951.
We turned 70 at the beginning of 2021. Seventy years of providing the highest value health insurance will teach you a thing or two about health and loyalty. We are proud to say that after more than 70 years, we still exist to bring you value every day. Simply put; our loyalty is to you and your health is our priority.
When should I consider switching?
If your health cover is not meeting your needs, it’s understandable that you’d want to look around and see what’s out there.
If I switch, do I have to re-serve waiting periods?
We get asked this a lot, and the answer is most likely, no. Not having to re-serve waiting periods you’ve already served is your legal right, if you switch to a similar level of cover. If you upgrade, this upgraded portion may be subject to a waiting period.
When do I need to re-serve waiting periods?
Waiting periods apply to those who are
- new to private health insurance
- those who are already members of the CBHS family and choose to upgrade to a higher level of cover
- those joining the CBHS family after more than one calendar month of leaving a non-CBHS Fund; or
- those joining the CBHS family from a non-CBHS fund and upgrading to a higher level of cover.
But, parts of waiting periods served within one health fund can be completed with CBHS when you transfer to CBHS.
For current members upgrading their cover, waiting periods will only apply for the additional benefits on the higher level of cover. If you need to claim during the waiting period, you will receive the same benefits as your previous level of cover, if you have served all waiting periods on that. Your new, higher benefits/limits will begin after the new waiting period ends.
Read more about waiting periods and why we have to have them.
Is switching a difficult process?
You don’t even need to tell your current fund you’d like to move. CBHS will usually do this on your behalf and the current fund will issue your Transfer Certificate.
This allows CBHS to find out the previous level of cover you held and whether the Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading applies. The Transfer Certificate will include information on type of cover, level of cover, join dates, cancellation dates, your LHC, Certified Age of Entry, recent claims, age-based discounts (if applicable), days without cover and persons covered. At CBHS, we honour the age-based discounts from other funds if you switch, as per your Transfer Certificate.
CBHS will then assess the information in your Transfer Certificate to determine whether you’ll avoid having to re-serve waiting periods.
How long are the waiting periods?
Hospital
Waiting periods apply to all levels of Hospital cover and Package cover (in calendar months).
| Description | Period |
| Pre-existing conditions* (except for hospital psychiatric services, rehabilitation and palliative care) | 12 months |
| Pregnancy and birth | 12 months |
| Hospital psychiatric services**, rehabilitation and palliative care | 2 months |
| Accidents*** and emergency ambulance transport | 1 day |
| All other treatments | 2 months |
All waiting periods displayed are in calendar months.
Extras
Waiting periods apply to all levels of Extras cover and Package cover (in calendar months).
| Description | Period |
| Crowns, bridges and orthodontia | 12 months |
| Artificial aids, healthcare appliances, oxygen and oxygen apparatus | 12 months |
| Prescribed optical appliances | 6 months |
| Periodontics, endodontic, inlays, onlays, facings, veneers, occlusal therapy, implants and dentures | 6 months |
| All other services | 2 months |
Want to talk about switching to us?
Switch to CBHS and we will honour all waiting periods you have already served with your current fund. So, why not join the health fund that puts you first – and pay less for your health cover! Call 1300 654 123 or compare cover and get a quote online.
* If you have a pre-existing condition, a waiting period of 12 months will apply before we will pay hospital or medical benefits towards any treatment for that condition.
** After the two-month waiting period, you can choose to upgrade your cover (once in a lifetime) and access the higher benefits for hospital psychiatric treatment associated with that cover, without serving an additional waiting period. For more details contact us on 1300 654 123 or email help@cbhs.com.au.
*** Accident means an unexpected or unforeseen event caused by an external force or object resulting in an injury to the body which requires treatment by a medical practitioner, hospital or dentist (as the context requires) but excludes pregnancy.
For more information on waiting periods, please refer to the Health Benefit Fund Rules.