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CBHS Health logo
  • Health insurance
    • Types of cover
      • Hospital & Extras
      • Hospital cover
      • Extras cover
      • Packaged cover 
      • Ambulance cover
      • Dependant cover
    • Lifestage cover
      • Singles & couples
      • Families & sole parents
      • Mature families
      • Retirees
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      • Why join CBHS
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      • Why do I need private health insurance?
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      • Rehabilitate & recover
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      • Artificial aids & healthcare aids 
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  • Home
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  • The deal with switching

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.

The deal with switching

29.07.2019
The deal with switching

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 waits. You might be pleasantly surprised!

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.

When do I need to re-serve waiting periods?

Waiting periods apply to those who are

  • new to private health insurance, or
  • those who are already members of the CBHS family - or another fund - and choose to upgrade to a higher level of cover.

But, parts of waiting periods served within one health fund can be completed in another when you transfer funds.

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).

Pre-existing conditions**12 months
Pregnancy and birth12 months
Hospital psychiatric services, rehabilitation and palliative care (even for a pre-existing condition)2 months
Accidents* and ambulance1 day

 

Extras

Waiting periods apply to all levels of Extras cover and Package cover (in calendar months).

Crowns, bridges and orthodontia12 months
Artificial aids, healthcare appliances, oxygen and oxygen apparatus12 months
Prescribed optical appliances6 months
Periodontics, endodontic, facings, veneers, occlusal therapy, implants and dentures6 months
All other services2 months

 

Want to talk about switching with 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.

 

* 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.

** Pre-existing conditions includes wisdom teeth extractions as an admitted patient in hospital

For more information on waiting periods, please refer to the Health Benefit Fund Rules.

Health and wellbeing

programs & support

You Belong to More with CBHS Hospital cover:

  • Greater choice over your health options including who treats you
  • Get care at home with Hospital Substitute Treatment program
  • Free health and wellbeing programs to support your health challenges

Live your healthiest, happiest life with CBHS Extras cover:

  • Benefits for proactive health checks e.g. bone density tests, eye screenings
  • Keep up your care with telehealth and digital options
  • Save on dental and optical with CBHS Choice Network providers

See all our programs and support

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The CBHS Group acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we gather, live and work. We pay our respect to First Nations peoples and their Elders, past and present.

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