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Medibank Travel Insurance

Our verdict: unlimited trip cancellation and overseas medical expenses, generous policy limits and a discount for private health members make medibank travel insurance a solid option for travellers..

In this guide

Compare travel insurance policies from Medibank

Get your medibank travel insurance discount, summary of medibank's international comprehensive policy, how does medibank travel insurance cover covid-19, what policies does medibank offer, here's a breakdown of medibank travel insurance features, standard features, optional add-ons, how to make a medibank travel insurance claim, here's the bottom line about medibank travel insurance, frequently asked questions.

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• Medibank travel insurance offers a strong rate of up to $5,000,000 for personal liability cover.
• This insurer is one of just a few brands offering cover for the pandemic. This includes trip cancellation due to a COVID-19 diagnosis and overseas medical costs.
• There is limited cover for pregnancy. You are only covered for serious complications up to your 26th week, and you'll have to complete a health assessment to ensure you're fully covered.

We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.

Learn how we maintain accuracy on our site.

15% off travel insurance for Medibank Private members

Get this discount if you're a Medibank Private member and save.

Table updated March 2024

Best Travel Insurance - Value finalist

Medibank Travel Insurance ranked in third-place for value out of the 28 international policies we analysed. It scored highly because it was the second cheapest policy on average and covers most of the benefits people look for in a policy, such as COVID cover and luggage delay.

Medibank joins the ranks of a growing list of insurers that offer some cover for COVID-19. The key benefits covered are:

• Overseas medical costs if you are diagnosed while on your trip
• Pre-trip and on-trip cancellation costs if you or your travelling companion are diagnosed
• Cover for additional expenses incurred, including quarantine and isolation costs

Some exclusions do apply, however, including costs related to a government-directed border closure or travelling to a destination subject to a "Do not travel" warning.

If you're at all worried about unexpected pandemic expenses, we've compared all the providers that offer cover for COVID-19 .

Medibank has 3 different plans available: Domestic, International Medical Only and International Comprehensive. If you're planning more than 1 trip for the year, a Medibank Annual Multi-Trip policy is also an option. Here are some of the main insured events a policy can cover you for:

International Medical Only

International Comprehensive

Annual Multi-Trip

The insurer of this product is Zurich Australian Insurance Limited. It comes with a cooling-off period and choice of standard excess.

The cooling-off period is 21 days which means you can change your policy or cancel within this period and Medibank will refund your premium in full. The excess is the amount you need to pay when you make a claim, and you can lower the cost of your policy by selecting a higher excess.

These are some of the features that Medibank will cover you for if something does go wrong on your trip. Some of these inclusions are only available for certain levels of cover (e.g. the comprehensive policy versus medical-only).

• Accidental death
• Additional expenses including accommodation or travel expenses
• Cancellation and amendment fees
• Delayed luggage allowance
• Loss of income
• Luggage and personal effects
• Missed connections
• Overseas medical and hospital expenses
• Permanent disability
• Rental car insurance excess

For more flexibility, Medibank offers extra cover for your specific needs. You can add these options when you're applying based on what you have planned for your trip.

• Cruise cover. If you've got a multi-night cruise planned, you'll be covered for a variety of additional costs such as cancellations, on-board medical expenses and missed shore excursions.
• Extra luggage limits. If you're travelling with expensive things such as a camera, laptop or jewellery, make sure that the included value is enough by checking the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). If not, you can always add more.
• Winter sports. This cover is for those who are skiing, snowboarding or snowmobiling on their trip. Protect yourself, so the expenses don't snowball if you get into an accident.
• Motorcycle/moped riding. This cover is for when you're a rider or plan to be a pillion passenger on a motorcycle/moped while you're travelling. This will cover your medical expenses if you get into an accident, but only if you or the driver hold a valid licence, you're wearing a helmet and the engine capacity is 250cc or less.

Like any insurer, there are a few events that aren't covered under a travel insurance policy. With Medibank, some of these include:

• Any act of war, rebellion or invasion
• A pre-existing medical condition not approved by Medibank
• Participating in hunting, running with the bulls or freestyle BMX riding
• Pregnancy complications after the 26th week
• Self-inflicted injury, suicide or attempted suicide
• Substance abuse or ingestion of any non-prescription drug
• Travel booked or undertaken against the advice of a medical adviser
• Insolvency of a travel agent , tour operator or accommodation provider

Make sure you review Medibank's PDS for a detailed breakdown of what is and isn't covered, found under its list of general exclusions .

You can submit your claim by downloading a claim form online and posting it to the Medibank Travel Insurance Team at c/o Travel Insurance Partners Claims Dept, PO Box 168, North Sydney NSW 2060 Australia.

Alternatively, you can submit a claim online by following these steps:

• Head to https://claims.travelinsurancepartners.com.au/Medibank
• Enter your full name and policy number to log in
• Complete your claim details by answering all sections
• Upload any documents to support your claim
• Submit, and you should hear back within 10 business days

Medibank has an easy-to-understand policy offering that makes it clear what you are and are not covered for. Its inclusions are generous and include some hard-to-find extras like COVID cover while cruising, many pre-existing conditions and a stack of standard adventure activities. Add on a 15% discount for private health members and you have a very competitive option.

Where Medibank falls short is with the limited cover for pregnant travellers and those with certain pre-existing conditions. If you suffer from cardiovascular disease , chronic lung conditions or reduced immunity, for example, you'll need to complete an online health assessment to determine if any special conditions, limits or excesses apply to your cover.

If you're still not sure about Medibank, you can compare other travel insurance companies here .

Is Medibank Travel Insurance legit?

Yes, Medibank Travel Insurance is insured by Zurich Australian Insurance Limited, part of the Zurich Insurance Group with insurance products and services in more than 210 countries and territories. It also offers a 21-day cooling-off period if you decide you're not happy with the policy.

Should I get a policy with Medibank for a trip to Bali?

Travel to Indonesia comes with its own unique risks and Medibank travel insurance ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to cover. White water rafting, bungee jumping and scuba diving are all covered as standard (provided you meet the minimum requirements), and natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions have been covered in the past .

What documents do I need when I make a claim?

Medibank Travel Insurance will advise what type of documents you'll need to provide at the time of your claim. Supporting documents can include:

• Police reports
• Medical reports
• Original receipts or proof of purchase and ownership

Cristal Dyer

Cristal Dyer is a travel writer at Finder. She has been writing about travel for over five years and has visited over 40 countries around the world. Cristal currently travels full-time, writing about her favourite cities and food finds, and she is always on the lookout for amazing flight deals to share.

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20 Responses

We have paid $4,000 deposit towards a tour in northern Australia in the middle of the year, and in a couple of months will have to pay the remainder of the tour costs, amounting to nearly $15,000. Will this be covered by Medibank Travel Insurance domestic cancellation clause if something unexpected prevents us travelling?

It depends on what the “unexpected” event is. It might be worth contacting the insurance underwriter, Zurich Australian Insurance Limited, to discuss your specific concerns to check if you are insured in these situations.

Does anyone provide cruise insurance for people over 80 who are well and fit.

Thanks for getting in touch. There are a few providers that may cover you. Head to this page to find them https://www.finder.com.au/travel-insurance-for-over-80

Hope that helps.

Thanks, Gary

I am 80 years old. I am seeking travel insurance to travel to France for 41 days, commencing August 7th. I only require medical cover.

You may want to check our travel insurance guide for people who are 80 years old and above. You’ll find a list of insurers who can provide the medical cover you’re seeking.

I hope this helps.

Regards, James

I’m looking for a 6-week one trip only in 2022 to the UK. I am 82 years old. Please advise on cost or for the whole year and for some domestic travel. Thank you!

Thanks for reaching out. I believe you’re trying to get a quote with Medibank Travel Insurance, is that correct?

If so, you can source quotes on your insurance policy by getting in touch with Medibank directly. You can visit their website for more details.

If you’d like to explore other options, please feel free to fill out the quote form found on top of this page.

If cost is an important factor to you, you could take a look at some deals available on Finder on our page about Medibank travel insurance promo codes . Some of these may include cover for international trips.

Prior to choosing your cover, be sure to read each policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) with care so that you’re fully aware of your policy details, including any restrictions and exclusions.

You can also read our domestic travel cover guide to learn more.

I had a stent put in the heart. Am I eligible for travel insurance?

Thank you for reaching out to Finder.

Medibank does not list heart conditions as part of its insurance coverage. You may want to check our list of travel insurance for heart conditions to compare insurers who have coverage on heart conditions, including those who have stents.

Please make sure to read through the insurance policies prior to application to guarantee that your condition is covered.

Hope this helps! 😊

Kind Regards, Mai

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Please Note - If you are cruising around Australia you need to select Pacific. With Regions, variances can apply for Bali, Indonesia, Japan and Middle East. You are not required to enter stop-over countries if your stop-over is less than 48 hours.

If you don’t know where you’re traveling to within the next 12 months, choose Worldwide to ensure you’re covered no matter where you go. If you’re travelling to multiple countries choose the region that you are visiting that is furthest away (excluding stopovers less than 48 hours). In most cases you will be covered for the closer regions as well. For example, if you choose Europe, you will also be covered in the Middle East, Asia and Pacific.

Worldwide means anywhere in the world

Americas means USA, Canada, South America, Latin America, Hawaii and the Caribbean

Europe means all European countries, including UK

Middle East refers to the area from Syria to Yemen; Egypt to Iran

Asia generally means Asia and the Indian subcontinent. For some insurers this excludes Japan*

Pacific means the South West Pacific, Australia and Indonesia/Bali*. Select Pacific for domestic cruises in New Zealand waters

New Zealand means domestic travel within New Zealand only

*Note: Variances apply for Bali, Indonesia, Japan and Middle East. Check that your destination is covered once directed to your chosen insurer’s site.

Medibank travel insurance Reviews

Medibank want you to recharge your batteries and live better by taking a break by having a holiday. And when you do, they’ll will have your back. Policies are available to those under 84 years. Dependants travel for free with parent or grandparent. They offer 24/7 emergency assistance no matter where you are in the world. Underwritten by Great Lakes Australia.

Customer Experience

Claims experience, value for money.

Just a bad policy - do not buy

Their travel insurance policy: 1. Has no provision for force majeure. If you need to change your ...  Read more

Their travel insurance policy: 1. Has no provision for force majeure. If you need to change your plans due to circumstances foreseeable or unforeseeable you cannot claim. If a third party changing their plans gives you cause for a claim, that is also no basis. This is covered as "you or any other person's unwillingness to proceed with the journey or deciding to change plans". 2. Additional expenses are only claimable if the claim falls under one of the defined coverage scenarios. For instance, if meals were prepaid, you cannot claim for them. Also, if shortening your holiday, causes you to dispose of food already purchased, you cannot claim. 3. All expenses claimed must be explicitly covered in the policy. 4. Additional costs due to rescheduling of transport are only covered under a very narrow range of scenarios: Riot etc.; Cyber incident; Loss of passport or travel documents; collision; delay of transport

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Waiting over 2 months and no way to contact them

I purchased travel insurance for $500, and my claims experience has been an absolute nightmare. I...  Read more

I purchased travel insurance for $500, and my claims experience has been an absolute nightmare. I has an injury in Europe and called their 24hr hotline, they requested for so much information about the situation but offered very little support, apart from telling me to make my way home and making a claim once I’m home. Once home the claims progress has been a joke, the online portal doesn’t work, phone calls are not helpful and no one responds to emails. It’s been a nightmare almost as bad as the injury itself. Would not recommend

Didnt cover cancelled flights?

Our Family of four Travelled from Bulgaria to Rome. We had to stay overnight and make a connecting f...  Read more

Our Family of four Travelled from Bulgaria to Rome. We had to stay overnight and make a connecting flight in Sofia. When we arrived at the airport the following day, we discovered that our connecting flight to Rome had been cancelled. We then spent hours in the airport, with two small children panicking on websites trying to rebook a flight. Eventually the following day for double the price. It was incredibly stressful, our credit cards wouldn't work we ended up having to call our sister in Australia to help us. We went back to the hotel and then caught the connecting flight onwards to Rome the next day. Missing valuable days of our holiday with friends who were waiting in Rome for us. When we returned to Australia we began the complicated process of trying to get a refund from the company that we had used, they were called Travelgino. During that process, we realized that they absolutely diabolical reputation and there were thousands of people across the world complaining that they hadn't been notified of cancelled flights. There were whole special websites set up to complain about them and to help you with the complaint process, which really showed how widespread this problem was. After a number of months of chasing them, the company actually went bust! We then went back to Medibank expecting them that they would cover us for our cancelled flights. However, our claim was rejected on the basis that the company had gone bust. We went back to Medibank and explained that that had happened after the event, and that was not the reason for the cancelled flights. They said it didn't matter and the only thing that we would be covered for would be if there was a strike. We have resubmitted the complaint back to Medibank again in the hope that they will reconsider, as it seemed completely ridiculous that travel insurance doesn't cover you for a cancelled flight. I have very little hope for a resolution, we have been Medibank customers for our medical insurance for many years and pay them thousands and thousands of dollars a year. If this isn't resolved I will be cancelling my medical insurance also, I wouldn't ever use them for travel insurance either. It's just really disappointing all around, my husband gets recently lost his job and that money would be really helpful at the moment. Highly unrecommended

No Reply In A Month And Then Demanded Info Already Suppied

I Purchased a policy for in excess of $900 for insurance including the covid cover. We had to alter o...  Read more

I Purchased a policy for in excess of $900 for insurance including the covid cover. We had to alter our plans due to covid. I put in an online claim on my return. I had no reply in over a month. After calling and complaining I then received an email demanding information I have already supplied. I am now trying to supply this information again, but the online claim portal is not functioning. As a Medibank private customer of over 20 years I am appalled. Do not purchase.

No response in over a month

Tried calling 5 times, between 1hr and 2:40 wait times and gave up. Tried emailing, auto res...  Read more

Tried calling 5 times, between 1hr and 2:40 wait times and gave up. Tried emailing, auto response states 5 business days to respond, 5 emails and 5 weeks later, still no response. Tried to make a claim online, did not recognize the policy number provided to me. No way to contact them or make a claim.

Sold as travel insurance but only want to pay medical

We purchased travel insurance, however while traveling our transport broke down causing us to have to...  Read more

We purchased travel insurance, however while traveling our transport broke down causing us to have to return home after a week and a half of of our five and a half week planned holiday, which was paid in full. None of this was our fault and we were unable to recoup anything of our prepaid accommodations and had to purchase airfare extensions. We paid a premium for the insurance due to some existing medical condition which were not a issue in this matter.We were contacted by the insurer after we submitted the claim and informed that the transport issue was not covered.This travel insurance is misrepresented and basically only covers medical issues

Good BUT make sure you lower your excess

I have purchased twice but the first time I didn't realise that the excess was per item on your c...  Read more

I have purchased twice but the first time I didn't realise that the excess was per item on your claim (not per claim per se). I strongly encourage you to lower your excess to $0 to make the travel insurance worth your money

1 comment on this review

Exceeded Expectations

Successful claim on smashed phone screen, many online complained other insurers rejected this type of...  Read more

Successful claim on smashed phone screen, many online complained other insurers rejected this type of claim. Completed within 2 days!

Too Many Hoops and No Compassion. Great when You pay. No so good if they have to pay!

Customer service was fine, until I had to make a claim, which is the only reason I gave them a 3. Ba...  Read more

Customer service was fine, until I had to make a claim, which is the only reason I gave them a 3. Based on recent events, it should have been a 1. You need to be aware that although this review is on Medibank, when it comes to their travel insurance you do not actually deal with Medibank. It is in fact, Great Lakes Australia and the claims process is managed by Travel Insurance Partners not Medibank. This same arrangement applies to many other travel insurance suppliers so simply changing your insurer may not change the people you will have to deal with in a claim. I've learned my lesson and I will always look at who the insurer is and who handles claims before I buy travel insurance again. I booked a trip but just 3 weeks before I was due to travel, I was diagnosed with cancer and had to cancel. This diagnosis came as a result of the Government's Bowel cancer testing program and I had no symptoms or family history of cancer prior to this. Travel Insurance Partners made the claim process very difficult at every step even demanding nearly four years of medical records despite having a certificate from my doctor, of more than ten years, that he had never treated me for this disease. Unable to find any excuse they finally had to pay me after more than five months. It was useless complaining to Medibank as they simply referred any complaint to Travel Insurance Partners. After my experience, I would not recommend placing your your travel insurance with these people.

A really helpful and good travel insurance that allowed my family to feel comfortable traveling overs...  Read more

A really helpful and good travel insurance that allowed my family to feel comfortable traveling overseas knowing that we would be looked after in the event of an accident or emergency

3 comments on this review

Medibank Private FAQ

How many people can i include in my policy.

You can purchase a policy online to include up to 8 travellers.

Am I covered if I go on a cruise?

Yes, you don’t even need to pick a cruise specific policy. Here’s a top tip: Even if you’re travelling in Aussie water you still need to pick pacific.

Can I pay to reduce or cancel my excess?

No but you can choose what type of excess you would like to pay. The higher the excess, the lower your premium.

What additional extras are there?

You can increase your luggage cover up to $4,500 for any single item and for for multiple items no higher than $8,000.

Am I covered if my tour company collapses?

Medibank doesn’t provide protection from insolvency.

I’m not an Australian resident- can I buy cover?

No you have to be an Australian resident with a booked return journey back to Australia.

What size moped or motorbike am I covered to ride overseas?

You must pay an additional premium to be covered for riding, or being a passenger on a moped or scooter. Even with the additional premiumyou are not insured to ride anything with an engine capacity larger than 200cc and you must hold a license valid in the country you are riding. Don’t forget to wear a helmet too!

How long is their single trip cover for?

Can i extend my policy from overseas.

Having too much fun? You cannot extend your current policy, but it’s no problem to just purchase a new one. If you experience a medical condition in between buying the second policy, this condition may now be considered a pre-existing medical condition. So make sure you let them know.

Do they cover for my rental vehicle excess?

Yes, for up to $4,000. You are only insured for a rented sedan, campervan, hatchback, 8 seater people mover or station-wagon (including 4WDs) rented from a licensed motor vehicle rental company.

What is their cooling off period?

Who underwrites them.

Great Lakes Australia.  

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Our comparison is a free service that allows users to compare quotes in a few simple steps based on limited personal criteria. Comparisons supplied are not a recommendation or opinion about the suitability of a policy for a user. Comparisons are default ranked according to price and users have the ability to sort by popular cover levels. Whilst we compare a vast range of policies, we do not compare all providers in the market. This site compares the following brands: 1Cover, AllClear, Budget Direct, Downunder, Fast Cover Travel Insurance, Insure4Less, InsureandGo, iTrek, Simply Travel Insurance, Ski-Insurance, Travel Insurance Saver, Travel Insuranz, Wise Traveller, Zoom Travel Insurance . The directors and shareholders are common with companies i-Trek Pty Ltd, Zoom Travel Insurance and 1Cover Pty Ltd including it’s subsidiary brand Ski-insurance. CoverDirect takes all reasonable care when preparing this information but does not warrant its accuracy. Pricing information is supplied by the providers who participate on this site and should be verified with the insurer before you purchase. This site links users to the website of the provider to verify quotes and access the relevant PDS to understand what is, and is not, covered by a policy prior to purchase.

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For further information view our FSG and Terms of Use . Contact us by calling 1300 659 411.

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• Health Insurance

The journalists on the editorial team at Forbes Advisor Australia base their research and opinions on objective, independent information-gathering.

When covering investment and personal finance stories, we aim to inform our readers rather than recommend specific financial product or asset classes. While we may highlight certain positives of a financial product or asset class, there is no guarantee that readers will benefit from the product or investment approach and may, in fact, make a loss if they acquire the product or adopt the approach.

To the extent any recommendations or statements of opinion or fact made in a story may constitute financial advice, they constitute general information and not personal financial advice in any form. As such, any recommendations or statements do not take into account the financial circumstances, investment objectives, tax implications, or any specific requirements of readers.

Readers of our stories should not act on any recommendation without first taking appropriate steps to verify the information in the stories consulting their independent financial adviser in order to ascertain whether the recommendation (if any) is appropriate, having regard to their investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs. Providing access to our stories should not be construed as investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any security or product, or to engage in or refrain from engaging in any transaction by Forbes Advisor Australia. In comparing various financial products and services, we are unable to compare every provider in the market so our rankings do not constitute a comprehensive review of a particular sector. While we do go to great lengths to ensure our ranking criteria matches the concerns of consumers, we cannot guarantee that every relevant feature of a financial product will be reviewed. We make every effort to provide accurate and up-to-date information. However, Forbes Advisor Australia cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of this website. Forbes Advisor Australia accepts no responsibility to update any person regarding any inaccuracy, omission or change in information in our stories or any other information made available to a person, nor any obligation to furnish the person with any further information.

Medibank Private Health Insurance Review

Updated: Dec 6, 2022, 10:33am

While Medibank offers comprehensive health insurance policies for singles, couples and families via its range of hospital only, extras only or combined plans, there’s no denying the recent data breach has wreaked havoc on the public’s trust in the health insurer.

According to reports, a criminal stole the login credentials of a Medibank employee with high-level systems access, and sold them to a separate hacker on a Russian language online forum–leading to the data breach that affected more than 9 million current and former Medibank customers.

While businesses of all sizes can fall victim to cyber attacks, it is certainly made even more daunting when a government-backed business is in hot water due to limited cybersecurity compliance and unreasonable data practices.

As such, Medibank has ultimately lost its credibility as a reputable private health insurer in Australia and has to be reviewed accordingly. It will take a long time, no doubt, for affected consumers to regain their trust in the fund.

• Numerous policies available to suit personal needs
• High percentage of returned benefits to customers
• 86% member retention on hospital-only policies
• Cyber attack thwarting public trust
• Some services are only claimable at ‘Members’ Choice’ locations, which aren’t found everywhere
• Poor consumer reviews

Table of Contents

About medibank health insurance, what is covered, will medibank cover me for the hospital, medibank complaints, customer service.

Medibank was founded back in 1976 as a non-for-profit, government-owned insurer. It became for-profit in 2009 and was listed on the ASX as a publicly-traded company in 2014, as it remains today. Medibank says it has more than 3.9 million customers and occupies a 24.3% market share of the total health insurance pool in Australia, making it one of the nation’s largest health insurers.

However, due to the 2022 Medibank cyber attack–in which more than nine million customers’ private data and health records were accessed and released on the dark web–those figures are anticipated to dip in the coming months.

Unsurprisingly, This cyber attack has led to an influx of negative reviews for Medibank on Australia’s largest consumer opinion site, Product Review, with Medibank scoring an average of 1.5 stars out of 5 from 895 reviews.

Further details of the cyber attack can be found at the end of this review. First, let’s explore what Medibank covers as a health insurer.

Medibank offers a variety of health insurance plans to suit the needs of its individual consumers. Customers can choose from singles cover, couples cover, family cover or cover for single parents.

From there, consumers can choose to take out hospital only cover, extras only cover, or a plan that covers both hospital and extras–with varying amounts of excess and differing levels of inclusions, such as ‘Bronze Everyday’ or ‘Gold Complete’.

Whichever option a consumer chooses, it’s essential to select ‘cover for child birth’ when searching for a quote, as only a few Medibank insurance plans include the necessary hospital inclusions for giving birth.

Most Medibank hospital cover from basic to comprehensive include ambulance services and cover for accidents, while the majority of options for extras cover include general dental, physio and optical.

For more specific coverage, higher premium plans are required: such as hospital cover for chemotherapy or joint reconstructions, and extras cover for speech therapy or orthodontics.

It is always essential to read the product disclosure statement before taking out a health insurance policy to ensure you are covered for you and your family’s specific needs.

Across its differing plans, Medibank has a returned benefits percentage of 83.6%. This is the percentage of total contributions received by the insurer that are returned to the contributors in benefits.

The health insurer also has 86% member retention (on its hospital cover only plans), with its website and subsequent data showing good coverage for a wide array of needs. However, the 2022 data breach has affected public trust in the company and its overall reputation.

All health funds have waiting periods, which is a period of time you need to wait after taking out your cover before you can claim benefits.

At Medibank, for most services, the wait time is two months. However, for optical and ultra bonus for out-of-pocket expenses, the wait time is six months.

Medibank says it is standard practice in the private health insurance industry to apply a 12-month wait time before benefits are payable for pre-existing conditions, which Medicare includes.

It also has a 12-month waiting period for obstetrics-related services, major dental services and breathing appliances; however, it does not apply for hospital treatment for psychiatric treatment, rehabilitation treatment or palliative care.

There is a 24-month wait for blood glucose monitors, and 36 months’ wait for hearing aids and laser eye surgery.

No Gap Policy

A ‘no gap policy’ refers to the amount that your private health insurer will pay on your behalf for a consultation, treatment or surgery, leaving you with no out-of-pocket costs.

At Medibank, 85.5% of all services covered incur no-gap payable by the patient (as an average percentage across all policy types). This is after accounting for insurer benefits, schemes and agreements.

Medibank has two options that include cover for the hospital, being its hospital-only policy or its hospital and extras cover policy. If you choose either of these options, you will be covered for the hospital to varying degrees, depending on the policy you choose.

Data shows that, out of all of the hospital-related charges claimed by members to Medibank nationwide, a total of 90.6% were covered by the health insurer.

Along with the aforementioned member retention rate of 86% for hospital-only policies, it is clear that Medibank covers its members for the hospital in a sufficient manner.

What About Dental, Physio or Optical?

Akin to hospital cover, Medibank will only cover you for certain extras if you take out one of their extras policies–being extras only, or the hospital and extras cover policy.

All of its policies that include extras cover offer cover for general dental, physio and optical. However, it does not include major dental, which includes more complex procedures such as root canal treatment or dental implants.

Additionally, in order to claim general dental, physiotherapy, or optical treatments, Medibank customers have to attend Medibank-specified Members’ Choice providers–which are not available in all areas.

Medibank customers can search for Members’ Choice providers near them by using the ‘Find a provider’ tool online.

Are there any further discounts?

Medibank often runs further discounts and sign-up incentives for new members. At the time of writing, Medibank is offering the first six weeks free, with both two and six month waiting periods waived for eligible new policies.

Of all complaints investigated by the Ombudsman across all insurers, 19.7% have been complaints in regards to Medibank.

The Commonwealth Ombudsman explains online that it investigates complaints about actions and decisions of agencies to “see if they are wrong, unjust, unlawful, discriminatory or just plain unfair”.

“The Ombudsman also seeks remedies for those affected by administrative deficiency, and acts to improve public administration generally,” its website reads.

When it comes to health insurance, complaints must be about a health insurance arrangement. Where an insurer’s share of complaints investigated by the Ombudsman is higher than its market share, it indicates that members of that insurer are more likely to complain than those of other similar-sized insurers.

This year, Medicare complaints–whether reported to the Ombudsman or otherwise–have drastically increased due to the Medicare data breach.

Medibank data breach timeline

Just a mere few weeks after Optus , a major Australian telecommunications company, fell victim to a cyber hack, Medibank became aware of its own. The initial cybersecurity incident occurred on October 12, 2022, when “unusual activity” was detected on Medibank’s internal systems.

The company swiftly released a statement that said there was “no evidence that customer data has been accessed” during the breach; by October 18, 2022, it was made clear that hackers had accessed 200GB of personal customer data.

On October 20, Medibank released an update confirming that the Australian Federal Police is investigating the breach as a cyber crime, with the data leaked including personal identification and documentation data as well as health claims, diagnoses and procedure information.

In exchange for the data, the hackers requested $15 million ransom to be paid by Medicare. On November 5, Medibank informed the cyber criminals that it will not be paying any ransom.

Beginning November 9, the hackers released the private data of Medicare customers on the dark web.

“Given the nature of the stolen data that the criminal continues to release on a dark web forum we are in the process of contacting customers, and we urge our customers to reach out for support,” Medicare stated on November 14.

How do I know if I was affected by the Medibank data breach?

In the days and weeks following the data breach, Medibank began contacting all of its customers via email or post to inform them of the specific data believed to have been stolen.

Upon receiving the notice, customers will find a reference number that they can enter through a portal on the Medicare website to find out what to do if they have been affected.

If you have not yet been contacted by Medibank, you should still take precautions to protect your data, including changing your passwords and remaining alert for phishing scams via text, phone or email.

Medibank offers icustomer service on Saturdays from 9am-4pm and during the week from 8am-8pm. It also has a livechat function available via its website.

In the days and weeks following Medibank’s cyber attack, many customers expressed disappointment in the health insurer for not contacting them personally after their data was released on the web.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is medibank a good health insurance company.

‘Good’ health insurance is largely defined by your own personal health needs. While Medibank does offer comprehensive plans with optional extras for individuals, its recent cyber attack has caused the company to be viewed in a negative light by many customers.

How can I contact Medibank health insurance?

You can contact Medibank health insurance anytime through its livechat function online. Alternatively, for sales and support, the contact number is 1300 576 282.

Where do I find my Medibank policy number?

Your Medibank policy number can be found on the front of your Medibank card. It can also be located online via your member’s portal, or on official documentation received by post or mail from Medicare.

Sophie Venz is an experienced editor and features reporter, and has previously worked in the small business and start-up reporting space. Previously the Associate Editor of SmartCompany site, Sophie has worked closely with finance experts and columnists around Australia and internationally. Sophie grew up on the Gold Coast and now lives in Melbourne.

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The good and the bad of Medibank, Bupa, HBF, HCF and NIB

The five big health funds compared on complaints, discounts and cost..

Fact-checked

Checked for accuracy by our qualified fact-checkers and verifiers. Find out more about fact-checking at CHOICE .

The Australian health insurance marketplace is highly concentrated, and despite there being more than 40 insurers, many people are only familiar with the names of a few.

And it's no wonder – about eight in 10 health insurance policies belong to the five biggest health funds.  Medibank and Bupa dominate with more than half of the health insurance market share between them:

• Medibank (including AHM ) – 27.5%
• Bupa – 24.7% 
• HCF – 12.4%
• HBF – 7.3% (the large majority of HBF members are based in Western Australia).

But are big health funds actually better than small funds? It depends. The biggest health funds have some  bad value policies , but we recommend some of their other policies.

On the other hand, some small funds have a market share of less than 0.5%, but they can still be very competitive and give you great cover at cheap premiums .

On this page:

Bupa, HBF, HCF, Medibank and NIB: Good and bad points

Best funds for low complaints, best funds for low out-of-pocket costs, best funds for discounts, which big health funds are nonprofit.

Narrow down your health insurance options by comparing the pros and cons of the big five health funds.

Good points

• Complaints rating: Medium.
• Out-of-pocket rating: Above average in Queensland, South Australia and Victoria; average everywhere else.
• No excess for children on most hospital and combined policies.
• Free cover for full-time students younger than 32 on family policies.
• Extended family cover for families with adult children younger than 32.
• Discounts for people joining who are under 30.
• No direct debit or prepayment discounts.
• 2024 premium increase above the industry average at 3.91%.
• Out-of-pocket rating: Above average in Western Australia; average everywhere else.
• No excess for children on hospital and combined policies.
• Adult children younger than 25 are covered on family policies for free if they're full-time students or earning up to $24,500 per year.
• Direct debit and prepayment discounts available.
• Ability to prepay and lock in premiums for 18 months.
• No discounts for people joining who are under 30.
• No extended family policies.
• 2024 premium increase above the industry average at 3.95%.
• Complaints rating: Low.
• Out-of-pocket rating: Average in the Australia Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory, Victoria and Tasmania.
• Free cover for full-time students younger than 31 on family policies.
• Extended family policies for families with other adult children younger than 31.
• 2024 premium increase below the industry average at 2.89%.
• Out-of-pocket rating: Below average in South Australia and Western Australia.
• Out-of-pocket rating: Average in New South Wales, Victoria, the Northern Territory, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.
• Out-of-pocket rating: Below average in South Australia and Queensland; well below average in Western Australia.
• 2024 premium increase above the industry average at 3.31%.
• Out-of-pocket rating: Average in New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia.
• Direct debit discounts.
• Complaints rating: High
• Out-of-pocket rating: Below average in the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory, Queensland and Victoria.
• No prepayment discounts.
• 2024 premium increase above industry average at 4.1%.

The best fund for complaints is currently HCF with a Low complaints rating. Bupa, Medibank and HBF are all Medium and NIB has a High rating (for the 12 months to September 2023).

The complaints rating is based on complaints lodged with the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman. Want to see how other health funds fare beyond the big five? Check out our round-up of the most complained about health funds .

When we score policies we give each fund a complaints rating based on the number of complaints and serious disputes the Ombudsman deals with. 

We take into account the size of the fund, so big funds don't get automatically penalised for having more complaints. The ratings are Low, Medium and High. A low rating is better than a high rating – it means the fund has fewer complaints and fewer serious disputes for its size.

The ratings are updated each quarter.

Bupa and HBF are the best funds when it comes to low out-of-pocket costs as they offer at least average gap protection in all states and above average protection in one or more states. The other funds have below average or worse gap protection in some states.

We rate health funds for how likely they are to leave you 'out of pocket' for treatments, and w e call this their 'gap rating' – the higher a fund's gap rating, the better it is.

Gap (out-of-pocket costs) ratings are calculated on a state and territory basis.

• Above average in Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.
• Average everywhere else.
• Above average in Western Australia.
• Average in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory, Victoria and Tasmania.
• Below average in South Australia and Western Australia.
• Average in New South Wales, Victoria, the Northern Territory, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.
• Below average in South Australia and Queensland.
• Well below average in Western Australia.
• Average in New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia.
• Below average in the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory, Queensland and Victoria.

These ratings are based on the percentage of procedures in hospitals where members of the fund paid out-of-pocket costs (the gap payment).

Health funds have agreements with particular doctors and hospitals to cover:

• all of the gap, which are called 'no-gap agreements', or 
• part of the gap, which are called 'known-gap agreements' (resulting in lower out-of-pocket costs, usually less than $500).

The CHOICE gap rating takes into account the percentage of services where members either paid no gap or a known gap, compared to the state average.

Direct debit and prepayment discounts

All health funds let you prepay your annual premium before 1 April each year to avoid the premium increase (until the following year).

HBF and NIB also offer a 4% discount if you pay by direct deposit, while HBF offers an additional 3.84% discount for prepaying your annual premium on some policies (giving you a possible total of 7.84% off). 

Corporate discounts

All the big funds have discount agreements with companies or organisations such as super funds, associations and clubs or banks. 

Be sure to ask your health fund what discounts they offer, as you may qualify for one without knowing it.

Discounts for students

Families pay the same premiums as couples, which means kids are insured for free.

And as of 2021, the government has increased the age cap for adult children on their parents' policy from 24 to 31. At the same time, the age limit was removed for dependants living with disability (NDIS participants).

While children and full-time students up to age 31 can often stay on the regular family policy for free, there would usually be an additional cost to keep older dependants and non-students covered – depending on the insurer, this can add up to 30% to your premium. 

The changes are not mandatory for private health funds and health insurers can also set different age limits, so while one fund may allow young adults on family policies up to age 28, another may allow them up to their 32nd birthday. 

It probably makes sense to keep adult children on your policy while there's no extra cost

There are usually conditions on this, for example, your children cannot be married or in a de facto relationship, they may have to be financially dependent on you and there are restrictions on any income they receive.

It probably makes sense to keep adult children on your policy while there's no extra cost, but once you have to pay more, it's time to consider if their needs are actually the same as yours. 

You may want a Silver, Silver Plus or Gold policy, but for your adult children a Bronze policy, an extras-only policy or no health insurance at all might be more suitable at this stage of their life.

Some funds offer an extended family policy which includes cover for adult children up to the age of 31.

How do the big funds cover adult children?

Medibank covers adult children on your family health insurance policy:

• for free until they turn 21
• for free if they're a full-time student until they turn 31
• for an extra cost if they don't study full-time until they turn 31.

Bupa covers adult children on your family health insurance policy:

• for free if they're a full-time student until they turn 32
• for an extra cost if they don't study full-time until they turn 32.

HCF covers adult children on your family health insurance policy:

• for free until they turn 22

NIB covers adult children on your family health insurance policy:

HBF covers adult children on your family health insurance policy:

• for free if they're a full-time student until they turn 25
• for free if they earn up to $24,500 per year until they turn 25.

No excess for children 

Another advantage for families is that on some hospital policies children aren't charged an excess should they have to go to hospital. 

Medibank, Bupa, HBF, HCF and NIB offer this on most of their hospital and combined policies.

Discounts for people aged 18 to 30

Medibank, Bupa and NIB are offering discounts to new customers who sign up before they turn 30. 

You can get 2% off your premium for every year you're below 30, up to a maximum of 10% for people aged 18–25. If you stay on that policy, you'll keep getting the full discount until you turn 41. 

All three funds let you keep the discount if you switch cover or if you currently hold a discount with another fund and switch to them.

HBF and HCF are the only large health funds that are nonprofit.

Medibank and NIB are listed on the stock exchange and pay dividends to their shareholders.  Bupa is for-profit but it's part of the international Bupa Group that is nonprofit.

Nonprofit versus for-profit health funds

HBF is nonprofit

HCF is nonprofit

Bupa is for profit

Medibank is for profit

NIB is for profit.

Of the smaller funds, most are nonprofit. 

However, these smaller funds are for profit:

• Australian Unity
• CBHS Corporate  
• Doctors' Health
• Onemedifund
• Queensland Country Health
• Transport Health .

Stock images:  Getty, unless otherwise stated.

Join the conversation

To share your thoughts or ask a question, visit the CHOICE Community forum.

Make a travel insurance claim

How to make a claim.

Follow these easy steps to submit your claim:

Submit your claim online

• Complete the relevant sections of the online claims system.
• The system will prompt you to upload scanned receipts and other supporting documentation while you make your claim.

Complete and post in a claim form

• Download and complete the relevant sections of the claim form below.
• Collect any documentation we require - you'll find each section of the claim form provides details on required documentation, such as police reports, valuations, medical reports, original receipts or proof of ownership. We require originals, so please make copies of these documents before posting the originals in.
• Post your completed claim form along with any supporting documentation within 60 days to:

Medibank Travel Insurance Team

c/o Travel Insurance Partners Claims Dept PO Box 168, North Sydney NSW 2060 Australia

Important points when making your claim

• You must lodge full details of your as soon as possible and claim in writing within 60 days of your return.
• You must give us any information we ask for to support your claim, such as police reports, valuations, medical reports, original receipts or proof of ownership.
• You must report the loss or theft of luggage, personal effects, travel documents or money within 7 days to the police or responsible transport provider and a written report must be obtained at the time.
• You, or someone on your behalf, should phone Our emergency assistance team as soon as possible if you require hospitalisation, if your medical expenses will exceed $2,000 or if you want to return early
• Claims are payable in Australian dollars to you.
• We will settle claims in Australian dollars. The rate of currency exchange that will apply is the rate at the time you incurred the expense.
• If you can claim from anyone else, we will only make up the difference. You must claim from them first.

Still need help?

If you have any queries, please read our FAQs. Alternatively, you may also contact our Claims Department directly by:

Email :  Medibank Claims Department Call :  1300 362 544 Fax : +61 2 8362 9367

Limits, sub-limits, exclusions and conditions apply. This is general advice only. Medibank Private Limited, ABN 47 080 890 259, an Authorised Representative, AR 286089, of Travel Insurance Partners Pty Limited, ABN 73 144 049 230 AFSL 360138 arranges the insurance on behalf of the insurer. The insurer is Zurich Australian Insurance Limited ABN 13 000 296 640, AFSL 232507. Please consider your own needs and the  Combined FSG/PDS  to decide if this product is right for you. For information on the Target Market and  Target Market Determinations , visit  medibank.com.au/travel-insurance/help/

Request a call back

Leave your details and a Medibank expert will be in touch to take you through your options. In providing your telephone number, you consent to Medibank contacting you about health insurance.

We'll have someone call you soon to help with any questions you have.

COVID-19 Health Assist - Expression of interest

Complete this form to express your interest in one of our programs. If you're eligible, a member of our team will call you within 2-3 business days.

What program are you interested in?

Sorry, only members with current Hospital cover are eligible to participate in these programs

Eligible Medibank members with Extras cover are able to access a range of telehealth services included on their cover - you can find out more here . Alternatively, if you would like to talk to one of our team about your cover, we're here on 132 331 .

Your membership details

Please provide your details so we can know how to contact you.

Your contact details

By clicking Submit, I understand that Medibank or its subsidiaries may contact me to discuss my eligibility for the Covid-19 Heath Assist program(s), and will disclose my personal information within the Medibank Group of companies and to third party service providers. Please see Medibank’s privacy policy for further information about how Medibank will handle my personal information, and how to contact Medibank: https://www.medibank.com.au/privacy/

Thank you for expressing your interest in one of our COVID-19 Health Assist programs.

If you are eligible, one of our health professionals will call you in 2-3 business days to discuss your situation and help to enrol you in the relevant program.

There is no cost to participate, however some referred services may incur an out of pocket cost.