Benefit Changes 2023

Your cover from 1 January

Over 160 dental item benefits have increased. The benefit increases range from $2 to $191 per item. No changes have been made to your applicable Annual Group Limit.

Here are some examples of your increased dental benefits:

• 324 – Surgical removal of a tooth or tooth fragment has increased from $200 to $250
• 615 – Full crown – veneered has increased from $850 to $1,000
• 666 - Prosthesis with metal frame attached to implants has increased from $628 to $785

What this means for you

Our 2022 All Member Survey results listed Dental as one of the benefits are members value the most. That's why we've raised a range of per item benefits; so that you can get more from your membership

Your cover from 1 January 
Over 60 per item benefits for Preventative Dental have increased. No changes have been made to your Annual Group Limits.

Here are some examples of your increased dental items:

• 012 – Periodic oral examination
• 022 – Intraoral radiograph
• 114 – Removal of calculus

What this means for you

Our 2022 All Member Survey results showed how highly our members value their Preventative Dental benefits. Preventative Dental is important; that’s why we’ve increased a range of per item benefits to support your dental health.

Your cover from 1 January
Dental Top Up benefits can be used towards an increased number of dental items including General and Major Dental.

The below items will still be excluded from your Dental Top Up benefits:

• 119 - Bleaching, home application
• 141 - Oral Hygiene Instruction
• 944 - Relaxation Therapy
• 949 - Treatment under general anaesthesia/sedation
• 984 – Appliance for diagnosed snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea
• 990 - Treatment not otherwise included (specify)
• 999 - GST
• Orthodontic items

What this means for you
This change will allow you to use your Dental Top Up benefits on a range of new items not previously claimable on your cover.

There will be no change to your limits or benefit amounts.

Your cover from 1 January 
You’ll still have no-out-of-pocket costs on a range of preventative dental items including comprehensive and periodic oral examinations, up to your applicable Annual Group Limit.

What this means for you 
You have higher benefits on a range of preventative dental services such as comprehensive and periodic oral examinations when you visit a Provider of Choice Network dental provider or a dentist from our Westfund Dental Centre.

There is no change to your existing Annual Group Limit.

Your cover from 1 January
We’ve increase your Annual Group Limits for Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy to:

• Ultimate Pro Extras - Annual Group Limit of $600 for single covers and $1,200 for couple or family covers for Speech Therapy and $600 for single covers and $1,200 for couple or family covers for Occupational Therapy.
• Ultimate Extras, Overseas Top Plus Hospital with Extras - Annual Group Limit of $500 for single covers and $1,000 for couple or family covers for Speech Therapy and $500 for single covers and $1,000 for couple or family covers for Occupational Therapy.
• High Extras, Overseas Top Hospital with Extras, Gold, Gold 500 - Annual Group Limit of $400 for single covers and $800 for couple or family covers for Speech Therapy and $400 for single covers and $800 for couple or family covers for Occupational Therapy.

What this means for you
We know that costs associated with Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy services continue to rise.

This change aims to minimise the out-of-pocket expenses for members who currently reach their Annual Group Limit. There is no change to your existing item benefit.

Your cover from 1 January
Your benefit has increased per individual service for Remedial Massage and Myotherapy, up to applicable Annual Group Limits.

• Ultimate Extras, Overseas Top Plus Hospital with Extras - $40 benefit per service

• High Extras, Overseas Top Hospital with Extras, Gold, Gold 500 - $30 benefit per service

What this means for you  
You now get more back per service for your Remedial Massage and Myotherapy consultations.

There is no change to your existing Annual Group Limit.

Your cover from 1 January 
You’ll now receive a benefit per service towards Chinese Herbalism consultations by recognised practitioners.

What this means for you
We’ve added Chinese Herbalism to your cover to give you access to more services to support your health and wellbeing.

Your cover from 1 January
Counselling Services provided by Medicare Accredited Social Workers are now claimable.

There are no changes to existing counselling item benefits or Annual Group Limits.

What this means for you 
Mental health is a growing concern in Australia. Accredited Mental Health Social Workers have a breadth of experience in treating people who have mental health conditions.

By expanding our existing Clinical Psychology & Counselling Benefit to include counselling services with a Social Worker, we’re providing greater access to our members for personalised treatment for mental health conditions.

Your cover from 1 January
Cardiac Monitors are now claimable under the existing Blood Pressure Monitor benefit.

What this means for you 
To help support our members’ health, we’ve added Cardiac Monitors to the existing benefit to help cover expenses related to the diagnosis of conditions of the heart. 

There will be no change to your limits or benefit amounts.

Your cover from 1 January 
In addition to claiming Hearing Aids and Frequency Modulated (FM) Systems, you can now claim Hearing Aid Accessories under your existing Hearing Aid benefit.

What this means for you 
We’ve expanded our existing Hearing Aids Benefit to include Hearing Aid Accessories to help cover out-of-pocket expenses.

There will be no change to your limits or benefit amounts.

Your cover from 1 January
We’ve given you $60 per person, up to your Annual Group Limit, for Preventative Health Tests.

What this means for you 
Prevention and early detection is vital for medical health conditions. That’s why we’ve increased limits for all important health checks such as Bone Density, Bowel Testing Kit, Calcium Score, Mammogram, Mole Scan and Thin Prep Pap Test.

Your cover from 1 January
Hypnotherapy benefits won’t just be limited to quit smoking. You can access any hypnotherapy services that are treating a medical condition.

What this means for you 
You’ll be able to access a number hypnotherapy services to help with anxiety, stress, quit smoking, pain management and alcohol or drug addiction.

There will be no change to your limits or benefit amounts.