Changing health insurers should be simple. And it is when you join Latrobe Health Services.

Here’s how switching works, what happens to your waiting periods, and the key rules that protect you.

Your rights when you switch

Portability for hospital cover

When you move to an equivalent or lower hospital policy, you don’t reserve waiting periods you’ve already completed. You may only need to serve any balance if a waiting period hadn’t fully finished with your previous fund. If you increase your level of cover when you join Latrobe Health Services, you will need to serve waiting periods for any new categories.

Cooling off period

Most funds give you 30 days to change your mind if you haven’t claimed on the new cover. You can cancel or change and get your premiums refunded.

Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) stays intact

Your LHC status follows you when you keep hospital cover continuous. If you have LHC loading with your previous insurer, you will have LHC loading when you join Latrobe Health applied to your premium.

Age-based discount

If you’ve got an age‑based discount with another health fund, you keep it when you switch to Latrobe Health Services, provided your hospital cover remains uninterrupted. The discount continues to apply to your hospital premiums until you reach age 41, when it gradually reduces in line with Government rules.

How switching to Latrobe Health works

1. Choose your cover

   Pick hospital, extras, or a combined policy that fits your needs and budget. Our Victorian based contact centre are experts in health insurance and can help understand your needs and advise the level of cover that suits you best.

2. Join online or call us

   We complete the paperwork and request your clearance certificate (also called a transfer certificate) from your old fund. This confirms your past cover, LHC status, served waits and limits.

3. We recognise waiting periods

   Transfer within 30 days of your old policy ending and you won’t re‑serve waiting periods already completed on equivalent or lower cover. If you’ve partially served a wait, you’ll serve the remainder with Latrobe Health. If you upgrade, higher benefits are available after you’ve served the upgrade waits.

4. Start claiming once your transfer is processed

   Your previous fund sends the clearance certificate, then your Latrobe Health claims can be paid subject to any remaining waits and annual limits.

Waiting periods at a glance

• Hospital waiting periods are capped at 12 months for preexisting conditions and pregnancy, and 2 months for other hospital services and for psychiatric, rehab and palliative care (even if preexisting). These caps are set by Government and apply across funds.
• Extras waiting periods are set by each fund. Portability for extras is not mandated, Latrobe Health will recognise comparable waits; check your product details when you switch or ask our friendly team for assistance.

Taxes to keep in mind

Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS)

• If your income is above the threshold and you don’t hold hospital cover all year, you may pay MLS at tax time. A policy is “appropriate” if the excess is $750 or less for singles or $1,500 or less for families.
• The Australian Tax Office (ATO) publishes the current thresholds and rates each year. Check the table that applies to this financial year before you cancel or pause hospital cover during a switch.

FAQs

Do I need to tell my old fund?

No. We contact your old fund and request your clearance certificate for you. Your old fund then confirms your dates, cover level, Lifetime Health Cover loading status and served waits with us.

Will I re‑serve waiting periods?

Not for equivalent or lower hospital cover if you transfer within the timeframe and your payments are up to date. For upgrades, you’ll serve waits on the new benefits.

Can I switch while I have a planned procedure?

Yes, but confirm any remaining waits and get Informed Financial Consent from your hospital and doctors before booking. Managing timing avoids surprises.

Does switching affect my Lifetime Health Cover status?

No, provided you maintain hospital cover continuously. LHC is a long-term setting linked to when you first took cover. We rely on the information you provide us when you join to advise you on your premium costs. This is then confirmed when we receive your clearance certificate from your previous fund.

What to do next

• Get a quote and choose cover that fits your life and budget
• Join online or call 1300 362 144 and we’ll handle the transfer
• Keep your hospital cover continuous to protect portability, LHC and MLS outcomes

Switching to Latrobe Health is straightforward. You keep the cover you’ve earned, gain the support you need, and start claiming with confidence.