COVID-19 for members
We're dedicated to supporting you during the ongoing pandemic.
We are pleased to confirm that we have extended access until 31 December 2022 to expanded cover for COVID-19 related hospital treatment across all levels of cover at no additional cost where these treatments are excluded.
We are pleased to announce that access to selected services via telehealth will be available permanently in line with your level of Extras cover so that members can continue to keep on top of their health from the comfort and safety of their home.
For more information on telehealth and how to organise a telehealth appointment with your health care professional, read our telehealth factsheet, opens in a new tab. You can also view a telehealth Q&A video with Dr Mellissa Naidoo to learn more.
Q&A with Dr Naidoo, opens in a new tab
What is a telehealth appointment? How does it work?
Frequently Asked Questions
To help you with questions you may have about your health cover and COVID-19, we’ve put together these frequently asked questions.
Australian Resident Members
To help our members maintain their health cover and more broadly, stay safe and healthy during the pandemic, as part of the nib Group, GU Health and nib worked quickly to develop a $90 million member and community support package to assist members during these difficult times.
This included postponing our contribution changes for members and providing financial assistance for members impacted by COVID-19 in the form of temporary contribution waivers. In addition, GU Health and nib donated to community and clinical health initiatives to support the health and wellbeing of communities throughout Australia and New Zealand.
We are pleased to confirm that we have extended access until 31 December 2022 to expanded cover for COVID-19 related hospital treatment across all levels of cover at no additional cost where these treatments are excluded.
We are also pleased to announce that access to selected services via telehealth will be available permanently in line with your level of Extras cover so that members can continue to keep on top of their health from the comfort and safety of their home.
To support our members, we've temporarily expanded coverage for chest, lung, kidney or other treatment related to COVID-19 across those levels of Hospital cover that would otherwise exclude this treatment at no additional cost until 31 December 2022. This means we've expanded your coverage under Silver or lower levels of hospital cover (where treatments are currently excluded), until the crisis passes. You'll just need to have served an initial two-month waiting period before receiving treatment.
Along with other health insurers across Australia, any treatment for COVID-19 as an outpatient that is covered by Medicare will not be covered by GU Health. Login to Online Member Services to review your level of cover or contact your Member Relations Team on 1800 249 966, opens in a new tab.
Health insurers in Australia are unable to cover outpatient services covered by Medicare, such as visits to your GP. This means GU Health does not cover doctors’ appointments for Australian residents, including telehealth appointments.
Health insurers are unable to pay for pathology tests in an outpatient setting as these are covered by Medicare. It’s best to check with Medicare to determine which pathology tests are covered and if you may experience an out-of-pocket cost.
If you have Hospital cover that provides cover for your treatment, have served your waiting periods (including waiting periods for any pre-existing conditions, opens in a new tab) and are admitted to hospital as an inpatient, your pathology tests undertaken during the admission will be covered.
Yes; for some services in line with your level of Extras cover. The services currently available are physiotherapy, dietetics, psychology, speech therapy, occupational therapy, exercise physiology and podiatry. We’ll be considering additional services where appropriate guidelines are available to make sure you can access health services while still adhering to social distancing guidelines. As long as you’re already covered for the service, you’ll be able to claim on a telehealth consultation in the same way you would a face-to-face visit. You can check which services you’re covered for by logging in online or via the app.
A service will only be provided by telehealth where it is safe and clinically appropriate so it will not be made available by all providers. Please check with your provider if this is something they’re able to do.
For more information and tips on how to organise a telehealth appointment with your health care professional, go to the Telehealth Fact Sheet, opens in a new tab. You can also view a telehealth Q&A video with Dr Mellissa Naidoo, opens in a new tab along with an animated video that covers more information about telehealth appointments.
The Australian Department of Health announced the COVID-19 vaccine will be provided at no cost to all Medicare-eligible Australians, permanent residents and temporary visa holders who are aged 16 years and older. You will not need to use your private health insurance to cover the cost of the vaccine.
For more information relating to the COVID-19 vaccine, including the Australian Government’s roll-out strategy and eligibility criteria, visit health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines, opens in a new tab
Read nib’s articles Your COVID-19 vaccine questions answered, opens in a new tab and The 7 biggest COVID-19 vaccine myths, opens in a new tab on The Check Up for more expert advice on the COVID-19 vaccine.
A pre-existing conditions, opens in a new tab is an ailment, illness, or condition where, in the view of nib Group’s appointed Medical Practitioner, signs or symptoms relating to that condition existed during the six months prior to joining private Hospital cover, or upgrading to a higher level of private Hospital cover. Any future claims for complications arising from COVID-19 will be assessed in line with our pre-existing illness policy. nib Group’s appointed Medical Practitioner will need to make a final determination at the time of enquiry.
You are entitled to receive benefits for services covered on your Hospital product, as long as you have served your waiting periods and subject to any other applicable terms and conditions on your product. You should always check what you're covered for before you go to hospital, opens in a new tab and contact us so we can help you keep any extra expenses to a minimum.
Given the impact of COVID-19, the typical timeframe to receive treatment within a private hospital may be impacted. This is something that you may need to discuss with your GP or specialist closer to the planned date of your admission.
If you have any upcoming appointments with the dentist, physio or any other health provider we recommend contacting your provider for any COVID-19 related questions. For more information about managing your risk of infection, visit the WHO website, opens in a new tab.
For more information on the Australian management of the outbreak, travel restrictions and advice, contact the National Coronavirus Health Line on 1800 020 080, opens in a new tab or click here, opens in a new tab.
Overseas Visitor members
To help our members maintain their health cover and more broadly, stay safe and healthy during the pandemic, as part of the nib Group, GU Health and nib worked quickly to develop a $90 million member and community support package to assist members during these difficult times.
This included postponing our contribution changes for members and providing financial assistance for members impacted by COVID-19 in the form of temporary contribution waivers. In addition, GU Health and nib donated to community and clinical health initiatives to support the health and wellbeing of communities throughout Australia and New Zealand.
We are pleased to confirm that we have extended access until 31 December 2022 to expanded cover for COVID-19 related hospital treatment across all levels of cover at no additional cost where these treatments are excluded.
We are also pleased to announce that access to selected services via telehealth will be available permanently in line with your level of Extras cover so that members can continue to keep on top of their health from the comfort and safety of their home.
Yes, for some medical and Extras services subject to your chosen plan. In line with changes introduced by the Australian Government, Medicare-recognised telehealth services are funded by GU Health across a broad range of services, including GP and psychology consultations, as well as Extras services such as physiotherapy, dietetics, psychology, speech therapy, occupational therapy, exercise physiology and podiatry. We’ll be considering additional services where appropriate guidelines are available, this will ensure that you can access health services while still adhering to social distancing guidelines. As long as you’re already covered for the service, you’ll be able to claim on a telehealth consultation in the same way you would a face-to-face visit. You can check which services you’re covered for by logging in online or via the app.
A service will only be provided by telehealth where it is safe and clinically appropriate so it will not be made available by all providers. Please check with your provider if this is something they’re able to do.
For more information and tips on how to organise a telehealth appointment with your health care professional, go to the Telehealth Fact Sheet, opens in a new tab. You can also view a telehealth Q&A video with Dr Mellissa Naidoo, opens in a new tab along with an animated video, opens in a new tab that covers more information about telehealth appointments.
To support our members, we've temporarily expanded coverage for chest, lung, kidney or other treatment related to COVID-19 across all levels of Hospital cover where these treatments are currently excluded at no additional cost. For members with Public Hospital cover only this means benefits will be increased to cover COVID-19 admissions in a private hospital, until the crisis passes. Members who do not have Medicare entitlements may be covered for GP and other outpatient medical services as per their selected level of cover. Please login to Online Member Services, opens in a new tab to review your level of cover or contact your Member Relations Team on 1800 249 966, opens in a new tab.
Official government advice is that anyone with symptoms should initially contact and consult their local General Practitioner (GP) doctor. For details on the Australian Government’s National Health Plan concerning COVID-19, please see the Australian Government’s website, opens in a new tab.
If a GP deems testing for COVID-19 is necessary, they will direct you to the appropriate hospitals or testing centres.
The Australian Department of Health announced the COVID-19 vaccine will be provided at no cost to all Medicare-eligible Australians, permanent residents and temporary visa holders who are aged 16 years and older. You will not need to use your private health insurance to cover the cost of the vaccine.
For more information relating to the COVID-19 vaccine, including the Australian Government’s roll-out strategy and eligibility criteria, visit health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines, opens in a new tab
Read nib’s articles Your COVID-19 vaccine questions answered, opens in a new tab and The 7 biggest COVID-19 vaccine myths, opens in a new tab on The Check Up for more expert advice on the COVID-19 vaccine.
Members who don’t have Medicare entitlements may be covered for GP and other outpatient medical services as per their selected level of cover. Please login to Online Member Services, opens in a new tab or contact your Member Relations Team to check your level of cover on 1800 249 966, opens in a new tab.
Members who don’t have Medicare entitlements may be covered for GP and other outpatient medical services as per their selected level of cover. To check your level of cover, please login to Online Member Services, opens in a new tab or contact your Member Relations Team on 1800 249 966, opens in a new tab.
If you are still coming to Australia to work but need to change your policy start date, please supply a copy of your new Visa Grant Notice or alternatively a copy of your record of movement from the Australian Department of Home Affairs to confirm that you haven’t arrived in the country. Please email this to [email protected], opens in a new tab.
If you’re no longer coming to Australia or you have decided not to return to work, please send a visa cancellation notice by email to [email protected], opens in a new tab. We will cancel your policy on the date you notified us.
A pre-existing conditions, opens in a new tab is an ailment, illness, or condition where, in the view of nib Group’s appointed Medical Practitioner, signs or symptoms relating to that condition existed during the six months prior to joining private Hospital cover, or upgrading to a higher level of private Hospital cover. Any future claims for complications arising from COVID-19 will be assessed in line with our pre-existing illness policy. nib Group’s appointed Medical Practitioner will need to make a final determination at the time of enquiry.
Members who have a pre-existing conditions, opens in a new tab (unrelated to COVID-19) will be covered for COVID-19 if, in the view of nib’s appointed Medical Practitioner, signs or symptoms relating of COVID-19 did not exist during the six months prior to arriving in Australia, joining private Hospital cover, or upgrading to a higher level of private Hospital cover.
You can call the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080 or access help from any of the following useful resources:
