How The Health Funds Compare

Newcastle Herald

Saturday July 1, 2000

Young single:

Medibank Private: $15.25 a month with a $1000 excess, pays less for heart operations, eye surgery, joint replacements and pregnancy-related procedures. Extras covering dentists, optical and physiotherapy is $12.15 a month.

HCF: $30.30 a month with a $200 excess (reduces to $100 after five years membership), pays less for above procedures and cosmetic surgery, pays $10,000 if permanently disabled in an accident and subsidises sporting equipment (maximum $50 every six months).

NIB: $42.10 a month with $200 excess, pays less for above procedures, includes extras for dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropractic, osteopathy, natural therapy, sport and fitness equipment. NIB will pay contributions for one year if a person becomes unemployed through no fault of their own.

MBF: $45.45 a month with $1000 excess, includes lifestyle bonus of up to $200 for things such as regular blood pressure checks, immunisation boosters and pap smears. Does not exclude any surgery and includes extras cover for optical, dental, physiotherapy, natural therapies and pharmaceutical.

Couples without children:

Medibank Private: $98.25 a month with $1000 excess, does not exclude any surgery and extras cover is $40.25 a month including dental, optical and alternative therapies.

HCF: $73.30 a month with $500 excess, limited benefits for IVF, cosmetic surgery and psychiatric care and a three-year waiting period for others, including hip and knee replacements.

NIB: $90.30 a month with $800 excess, which goes down $100 a year if there is no claim after two years membership, limited benefits for hip and knee replacements and plastic, cosmetic, eye and reconstructive surgery.

MBF: $84 a month with $1000 excess, all surgery and extras cover including dental, optical, pharmaceutical and alternative therapies and offers a health lifestyle bonus for people who have regular blood pressure checks, pap smears and immunisation boosters.

Families:

Medibank Private: (as above)

HCF: (as above)

NIB: (as above)

MBF: $110.70 a month with $1000 excess, co-payment of $50 a night per day in hospital up to $250 but does not apply to school-age children, restricted benefits for certain treatments and includes extras cover for dental, optical, pharmaceutical, physiotherapy, alternative therapies, has school/sports accident cover and provides healthy lifestyle bonus.