Latrobe Health Services

Waiting periods are a standard part of all private health insurance policies. They help keep things fair by preventing situations where someone might join a fund, make a big claim and then leave.

At Latrobe Health waiting periods for hospital cover are:

• 12 months for pre-existing conditions.
• 12 months for pregnancy and birth.
• Two months for psychiatric care, rehabilitation, and palliative care.
• Two months for treatments that are not pre-existing.
• One day for emergency ambulance use.

For extras cover the following waiting periods apply with Latrobe Health:

• 12 months for orthodontic, major dental, and health appliances (C-PAP machine, blood glucose monitors, and hearing aids).
• Six months for optical.
• Two months for general dental and allied health services (like physio or podiatry).

Just switched funds? Latrobe Health will still recognise any waiting periods you’ve already completed with your previous fund. But if you plan on upgrading your cover, you’ll need to start from scratch for any services you weren’t covered for under your old policy.

Yes. Latrobe Health offers discounts for members who pay their premiums in advance. Paying annually could get you a 2% discount, while paying for six months upfront will give you a 1% discount. Every cent counts!

If you’re looking for more potential savings, think about locking in your premiums before the annual premium rise (which usually happens on April 1 each year). By paying your annual premium in full before the April 1 increase, you’ll lock in your current rate for another 13 months. This means if rates do go up, you won’t feel the change for another year.

If Latrobe Health seems more like your cup of tea than your current health insurance provider, making the switch is simple. Just call iSelect and speak to a health insurance comparison expert who can help you find health cover that meets your needs. Once we find the plan for you, we can help you start the join-up process. Handling everything from contacting your current insurer to transferring all your details.

Once we’ve completed all the paperwork, you can enjoy your benefits without re-serving waiting periods again, unless you’re upgrading your coverage.

As a private patient, you’ll need to pay an excess before being admitted to the hospital. An excess is the amount that members agree to pay towards the cost of treatment before your insurer contributes.

At Latrobe Health, excess options include $250, $500, and $750. The lower your excess, the higher your premiums will be, which can be more affordable for those with pre-existing health concerns. On the other hand, a higher excess can lower your premium, which can be a good option if you believe yourself to be generally healthy and less likely to be admitted into hospital anytime soon.

When it comes to extras and hospital bills, claiming is easy.

For extras:

• Snap a picture of your receipt on the Latrobe Health app to process your claim instantly.
• Swipe your membership card or scan your mobile app QR code at a HICAPS or HealthPoint terminal for on-the-spot claims.
• Claim online by uploading your receipt and filling in any necessary details before submitting the claim.
• Bring your receipts to one of our Gippsland hubs.

For hospital:

• Use MyGov to claim online. If approved, you’ll get a statement of benefit within seven to ten days. Then upload the claim online through the Latrobe Health app, and they’ll then sort out the rest.
• Claim through a Medicare Office. After claiming Medicare will pay the provider and let Latrobe Health know it’s time to do their part. If you’ve already paid the bill, Latrobe Health will pay the benefit into your account.