At Navy Health, we understand that it may be necessary for you to suspend your health cover from time to time. Whether you are travelling, working overseas, or find yourself under some financial pressure, we can assist you with a temporary suspension of your membership. We allow you to put your policy on hold, with no premiums payable during the suspension period.
Please be aware that Members suspending their hospital cover are not considered to hold valid private hospital cover for tax purposes, so you may be liable for the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) whilst suspended. The MLS may affect you if your taxable income exceeds the relevant threshold. Travel Insurance is not considered to be private hospital cover for MLS purposes. If you need to know more about the MLS and if it will affect you, please contact the Australian Tax Office on 13 28 61 or visit www.ato.gov.au.
Upon reactivation of your policy, a 12-month pre-existing condition (PEC) waiting period may apply for any condition that arose during your suspension period. PEC waits apply to Hospital cover only. No waiting periods will be applied to Extras services, provided all waits have been served before suspending your cover. Any waiting periods applicable prior to suspension will continue once your policy is reactivated.
A suspension can be applied for the following circumstances:
1. Financial Hardship: suspensions are available for a minimum period of three months and a maximum period of 12 months. There is a limit of 3 financial hardship suspensions over the lifetime of a membership. Suspension PEC waiting periods will apply upon reactivation of policy.
2. Overseas Travel: suspensions are available for a minimum period of one month and a maximum period of 24 months. Suspension PEC waiting periods will apply upon reactivation of policy.
3. Overseas ADF Postings: suspensions are available for a minimum period of one month and a maximum period of 24 months initially; this can be reviewed if the posting is extended. To avoid any waits on reactivation, the membership must recommence on the day you return to Australia. Upon reactivation of your membership, an International Record of Movement will be required for each covered adult.
4. ADF Member: suspensions are available to persons returning to full-time service in the Australian Defence Force. To avoid any waiting periods, your cover must commence the day after your full-time service is completed. A document showing your completion date will be required upon reactivation of your cover.
How do I suspend my policy?
To apply for a suspension, please complete an Application for Suspension form. Suspended memberships will automatically reinstate on the date nominated by you; Navy Health will contact you prior to confirm your reactivation date. If your policy is set to direct debit payments, these will recommence automatically upon reactivation.
A completed suspension form can be emailed to query@navyhealth.com.au. Please ensure you read the suspension terms and conditions below.
Terms and Conditions
- Your membership must be financial and fully paid up to the date of suspension.
- For Financial Hardship and Overseas Travel suspensions, your membership must have commenced at least 12 months before the suspension date.
- For Financial Hardship and Overseas Travel suspensions, your membership has been active for a minimum period of 6 months following a previous suspension (if applicable).
- If you hold hospital and ancillary cover, you must suspend both covers – partial suspensions are not permitted, i.e. you cannot suspend your hospital cover and keep your ancillary cover active.
- Individual members can be suspended on a policy. Please call Navy Health to advise if you are only suspending an individual and not the whole policy.
- Upon resumption, a 12-month pre-existing condition (PEC) waiting period may apply for any condition that arose during your suspension period. PEC waits apply to Hospital cover only.
- Any waiting periods applicable prior to suspending will continue once the policy is reactivated.
- Benefits are not payable whilst suspended.
- A suspension cannot be applied retrospectively. The suspension period must commence on the date of submission, or a future date.
