Experiencing Financial Hardship? We’re here to help.

You will not be able to claim benefits and member discounts whilst suspended. Once the membership is reactivated your cover will resume without have to serve waiting periods.

To be eligible for financial hardship suspension, you’ll need to have:

• Held a continuous membership with any Health Partners hospital and / or extras cover for at least six months, with up-to-date premium payments for this period of cover.
• Not suspended your cover within the previous 3 months.
• No pending claims.
• No current hospital or hospital in the home treatment.

We understand that financial hardship can occur as a result of many reasons, including:

• Loss or reduction in income
• Natural Disaster
• Illness or Injury
• Separation
• Cost of living pressures
• Loss of immediate family member
• Family or domestic violence

Whatever your circumstance, our team is here to help. Call us today on 1300 113 113 to explore your options.

If you already pay LHC loading, the suspension does not count towards your permitted Days of Absence and your loading will not increase while your hospital cover is suspended. Be aware that suspending your hospital cover will extend the LHC removal date.

Suspension does not count towards your LHC loading permitted days. If you terminate your membership at any time during suspension, this period may then count towards your LHC permitted Days of Absence.

Learn more about Lifetime Health Cover loading.

You are not considered to have hospital cover for Medicare Levy Surcharge purposes during a suspension. Depending on your income, this means you may become liable for the Medicare Levy Surcharge at tax time.

Learn more about the Medicare Levy Surcharge.

You can suspend your membership for a maximum of 12 months at a time. You can suspend your membership up to 3 times over the life of your membership.

If you have suspended your membership for less than 12 months and you’re still experiencing financial hardship, you are eligible to extend your suspension for an additional 3 months per extension, until the maximum of 12 months has been reached. At this point, you will need to reactivate your membership for at least 3 months, before another financial hardship suspension can be applied.