Health Insurance & Coronavirus FAQ

Generally not. The coronavirus pandemic is considered a public health emergency and as such it is being managed through Australia’s public health system, including GPs and emergency departments with the support of private hospitals. If you are entitled to Medicare, some or all of the cost of coronavirus related treatment will be covered through Medicare.

Lasted Updated: 23/04/2020

If your health insurance policy includes appropriate ambulance cover and your ambulance transportation and admission to hospital meet the requirements of the policy, then your ambulance trip should be covered by your health fund.

Lasted Updated: 23/04/2020

Possibly, although it will depend on what type of elective surgery it is. On 25 March 2020, all non-emergency elective surgery (most category 2 and all category 3) was temporarily suspended in both public and private hospitals due to the coronavirus pandemic, however category 1 elective surgery (including pregnancy and birth, as well as urgent heart and cancer procedures) was still continuing in private hospitals.[1]

However on 21 April 2020, the Federal Government announced that from 27 April 2020, all category 2 and some important category 3 procedures can recommence in both public and private hospitals [2]. Those elective procedures which recommenced from 27 April 2020 include IVF, screening program, breast reconstruction, joint replacements, cataracts and eye procedures, endoscopies, colonoscopies and all procedures for children under 18 years of age.

If your elective surgery can now go ahead, it will need to be rescheduled so you should contact your surgeon for more information.  Hospitals and surgeons will reschedule surgeries according to clinical need.[3]  Keep in mind that given that most elective surgeries were suspended for almost a month, there is a likely to be a backlog of surgeries which could result in ongoing delays.[4]

[1] Source: https://www.pm.gov.au/media/elective-surgery

[2] Source: https://www.pm.gov.au/media/update-coronavirus-measures-210420

[3] Source: https://www.privatehealthcareaustralia.org.au/good-news-for-patients-as-elective-surgery-to-resume/

[4] Source: https://www.privatehealthcareaustralia.org.au/health-funds-postpone-1-april-premium-increase/


Lasted Updated: 23/04/2020

You should check this with your health fund as this is dependent on your health fund and policy. With some health funds, as long as you have held your hospital policy for more than 2 months, then it’s unlikely there are additional waiting periods applied to cover you for coronavirus under your policy.[1]

[1] Source: https://www.nib.com.au/health-information/member-services/coronavirus-and-your-cover#health-cover

Lasted Updated: 23/04/2020

You will be covered regardless of what level of hospital cover you have (as long as you have already served the relevant waiting period). Private health funds have made changes to their hospital policies to ensure all members – regardless of their level of hospital cover – are covered for coronavirus treatment by adding lung & chest to all policies at no extra cost.[1]

[1] Source: https://www.privatehealthcareaustralia.org.au/health-funds-postpone-1-april-premium-increase/

Lasted Updated: 23/04/2020

Because the coronavirus pandemic is considered a public health emergency and as such it is being managed through Australia’s public health system, including GPs and emergency departments with the support of private hospitals, it’s unlikely private hospital waiting periods are a consideration for coronavirus related treatment.

Lasted Updated: 23/04/2020

If you are advised by health authorities that you require coronavirus testing, then it is most likely that the cost of your test will be bulk-billed to Medicare.[1]

[1] Source: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/03/covid-19-national-health-plan-primary-health-mbs-pathology-microbiology-test-for-covid-19-and-influenza.pdf

Lasted Updated: 23/04/2020

It's unlikely because the coronavirus pandemic is considered a public health emergency and as such it is being managed through Australia’s public health system, including GPs and emergency departments with the support of private hospitals.

Lasted Updated: 23/04/2020