Australian Unity

What makes Australian Unity different?

Australian Unity has a long history of supporting the health and wellbeing of Australians. Being a member-owned company – also called a mutual – gives them the flexibility to invest money into the services and solutions that matter most to their members, customers, and the Australian community. 

They also offer a Wellplan Rewards Program³, which allows members to save on everyday purchases like petrol, groceries and movie tickets.  

Further to these services, Australian Unity also offers No Gap Dental, which allows members with eligible cover preventative dental treatment at no out-of-pocket costs (up to a yearly limit)⁴.  

They’re also committed to making genuine contributions to the community. Their Wellbeing Index, created in partnership with Deakin University, has measured Australians’ wellbeing since 2003⁵. 

How long has Australian Unity been operating? 

Australian Unity was established in 1840, as Australia's first member-owned wellbeing company, offering our members and customers health, wealth and care services. 

Origins trace back to a pub in Melbourne, where a group of eight people formed a friendly society to look after the health and wellbeing of its members. For more than 180 years, Australian Unity has been here to help people thrive by advocating for positive change and wellbeing in the Australian community⁶. 

What Health Insurance products does Australian Unity offer? 

Australian Unity offer Private Health Insurance policies for singles, couples, families and single parent families. Members can manage their cover online 24/7, choose their own extras, and get up to 100% back on preventative dental if their dentist participates in their No Gap Dental Network⁷. 

What hospital cover policies does Australian Unity offer? 

Australian Unity offer the following hospital cover policies, available through iSelect⁸:

• Simple Hospital (Basic Plus): Hospital cover for accidents and some specified procedures. It’s mostly designed for young singles and couples. 
• Standard Hospital (Bronze Plus): This includes cover for a wider range of common procedures, designed for everyone.
• Value Hospital (Silver Plus): This includes cover for most clinical categories including heart and vascular, joint replacements, and rehabilitation. Excess and co-payments are waived for dependents. Ambulance cover is also included. 
• Intermediate Hospital (Silver Plus): This includes cover for most clinical categories, plus Hospital Care at Home and Rehabilitation at Home. Ambulance cover is also included. Mostly designed for seniors. 
• Classic Hospital (Silver Plus): One of the highest levels of cover for peace of mind, but without pregnancy and birth services.  

Our friendly consultants can also help you find packaged Australian Unity products from our range of available policies*. For a comprehensive list of hospital policies from Australian Unity, visit their website.

What Extras policies does Australian Unity offer?

Australian Unity offer the following extras policies⁹:

• Base Extras: Basic cover including preventative general dental, physio, optical, acupuncture and remedial massage. 
• Mid Extras: Mid-level cover with 100% back up to yearly limits on optical, and 100% back on selected dental services through their No Gap Dental Network (where available). 
• Active Extras: Mid-level cover with a wide range of services, including 100% back up to yearly limits on optical, and 100% back on selected dental through their No Gap Dental Network (where available). 
• Prime Extras: Comprehensive care for a wide range of extras including dental & orthodontics, physio, chiro, health aid and devices and emergency ambulance.

What is Australian Unity’s Overseas Visitor Cover?

Overseas visitors are not eligible for Medicare benefits unless they’re from a country with which Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Arrangement¹⁰. 

Often, holding an appropriate level of Health Insurance is a visa requirement. Australian Unity’s Overseas Visitors Cover covers international visitors for doctor and specialist fees, emergency ambulance and hospital treatment, accommodation, and theatre fees¹¹.   

Under some visas, you may be required to meet condition 8501. Condition 8501 means that you must have and maintain adequate Health Insurance for the whole of your stay in Australia.  

All Australian Unity Working Visa Covers meet condition 8501. None of their current Non-Working Visa Covers meet these requirements.  

To check your specific visa requirements, follow this link at the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. 

How do I make a claim with Australian Unity?

Australian Unity offer members a choice of flexible ways to make a claim:

• On the spot: If your extras provider has a HICAPS machine, you can swipe your Australian Unity membership card at the time of payment to make a claim on the spot.
• Using the Australian Unity mobile app: You can claim up to $300 when you upload photos of your receipts using their mobile app, or via the Australian Unity website. 
• Over the phone: If you’d like help with completing your claim form, you can call 1800 807 144 for assistance. 
• By mail, email or fax: Once you’ve completed a claim form and attached your receipts, you can post, email or fax them through to Australian Unity.

How do I become an Australian Unity Health Insurance member?

You can apply for Australian Unity Private Health Insurance using our simple and secure online application, or call us on 1800 784 772 and one of our health insurance consultants can take you through the application process. 

If you’re not sure whether Australian Unity is the right health fund for you, we can help you to compare policies from our range of providers and plans to find one that suits your needs and budget*. 

Sources:
<sup>1. Australian Unity - About Us, Our History 
2. Australian Unity - A Mutual Company, About Us, Our History
3. Australian Unity - Wellplan Rewards
4. Australian Unity - No Gap Dental Network
5. Australian Unity - The Wellbeing Index
6. Australian Unity - About Us, Our Story
7. Australian Unity – No Gap Dental Network 
8. Australian Unity – Hospital Only Covers
9. Australian Unity - Extras Only Covers
10. Better Health Channel, Victoria State Government Department of Health - Overseas Visitors and Healthcare
11. Australian Unity - Overseas Visitor Cover</sup>