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Pulse Newsletter

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Pulse Newsletter

August 2022

We’re changing things up … in a good way

We’re looking at ways to provide our members with topical, relevant and interesting info each and every month. From September, we’ll be shifting the direction of our regular Pulse communication. It’s all about providing a more health-based information approach to support your private health cover journey.

Don’t worry – we’ll still be in touch regularly with anything you need to know about your day-to-day membership matters and any changes that impact your Transport Health membership.

Keep an eye out in your inbox late next month.

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We’re saying goodbye to cheques

We let you know in the past two Pulse newsletters that we’re saying goodbye to cheques from 1 September 2022.

As part of our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and taking care of the environment, we no longer pay benefits via cheque or accept premium payments by cheque.

We understand this may concern some members who have used cheques for many years. But there’s no need to worry, our team will be able to assist in helping you choose the available option that’s right for you.

Paperless Premiums: It’s your choice how to pay your premium. If you receive a payment notice, you can pay via B-Pay, by using ‘Make a Payment” in the online Member Services portal; in person at any Australia Post branch or by giving us a call on 1300 806 808.

Better still, save time and hassle by automating your payments. Why not set up direct debit to pay your premium at a frequency that suits you? You can choose from weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or even yearly. Just give us a call and we can help you set up regular payments.

Paperless Payments: We’ll pay your benefit payment (or refund if you ever need one) into any bank account you provide details for. It’s that easy - and you won’t need to worry about your payment getting lost in transit.

How to update your details: You can easily update your direct credit bank account details (the account we pay your claims into) by logging into the online member services portal, selecting ‘Banking Details’ and ‘Update Payment of Benefits Account’.

If you’d like to update your debit account details, just give us a call.

We’ve been in touch with all members directly impacted by this change to provide more details. Please just get in touch if we can help.

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Member tip of the month

Every month we’ll be providing an insight on how to get information or use your membership. We know it’s not always easy – so we’re here to help. This month we’re giving you a run down on Hospital at Home.

Hospital at Home

Nobody likes the idea of going into hospital. But, did you know Transport Health offers the Hospital at Home services to eligible members?

Commonly called Hospital Substitute Treatment (HST) because you can be treated at home in place of treatments you’d ordinary need to visit or stay in hospital for.

If you’d normally be covered for the treatment in hospital, and your treating doctor agrees, you can have treatment at home instead. We will work with you, your doctor and hospital to cover the cost of the treatment at home for eligible members who need:

  • Intravenous (IV) therapy antibiotics
  • Complex wound care with negative pressure wound therapy
  • Rehabilitation after hip or knee replacement
  • IV chemotherapy.

You can find out more information about Hospital at Home treatments on our website.

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One month free in November

And don’t forget, due to Transport Health merging with HCF on 1 November 2021, members that were already with Transport Health at the time of the merger will get one month’s free health insurance this coming November. Plus another free month in November 2023. You don’t need to do anything, the free month will automatically be deducted in November.

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Claiming made easy – download our app

Don't forget you can manage your claims on the Transport Health mobile claiming app. No more need to fill out forms – you can submit your claims in a few easy steps. No matter where you are, just take a photo of your receipts and submit your claim electronically. It's that simple.

To get the mobile app, download it for your iOS or Android device by typing "Transport Health" into the Apple or Google Play Store. You can also find out more information by visiting our website under 'Members' then 'Mobile Claiming App'.

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We're here to help

If you need help or just want to chat through your cover, please call us on 1300 806 808 or email enquiries@transporthealth.com.au

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July 2022

Transport Health supports flood-affected members

We’re here for our members in areas that have been affected by the recent floods and we’ll support you in any way we can. Our thoughts go out to everyone impacted by the recent weather extremes and flooding. If you live in an area affected by flooding and are experiencing financial hardship, please call our Member Support team on 1300 806 808 to find out how we may be able to help.

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Reminder – we’re saying goodbye to cheques

A reminder that we’re saying goodbye to cheques from 1 September 2022.

We’re doing our bit to take care of the environment by going green with less paper when it comes to your premium payments and payment of benefits. It’s part of our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and taking care of the environment.

We understand this may concern some of those who’ve been using cheques for many years. Please don’t worry – we’re here to help you through this change. Our team will be able assist by helping you choose the available option that’s right for you.

Paperless premiums: It’s your choice how you want to pay your premium. If you receive a payment notice, you can pay via B-Pay, by using ‘Make A Payment’ in the online Member Services portal, in person at any Australia Post branch or by giving us a call (and using your credit or debit card).

Better still, save time and hassle by automating your payments. Why not set up direct debit to pay your premium at a frequency that suits you? You can choose from weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly half-yearly or even yearly. Just give us a call and we can help you set up regular payments.

Paperless payments: We’ll pay your benefit payment (or refund if you ever need one) into any bank account you provide details for. It’s that easy – and you won’t need to worry about your payment getting lost in transit.

How to update your details: You can easily update your direct credit bank account details (the account we pay your claims into) by logging into the online Member Services portal, selecting ‘Banking Details’ and ‘Update Payment of Benefits Account’.

If you’d like to update your debit account details, just give us a call.

We’ve been in touch with all members directly impacted by this change to provide more details. Please just get in touch if you haven’t received your email or letter.

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HCF Dental and Eyecare Centres

Due to our merger with HCF, Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund, Transport Health members can now access HCF Eyecare centres across Sydney. Click here to find your nearest location. The page also includes other eye care providers if you are not located in Sydney.

For HCF dental centres, click here to see what services are available to Transport Health members. For locations, including several in Sydney, one in Victoria, Queensland and the ACT, click here.

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HCF dental bookings – call to make an appointment

Just a heads up that if you’re looking to make a booking at a HCF Dental Centre, you’ll need to phone the centre directly. They’re working on a new online link – so check in on our website.

This link on our website will take you to all the HCF Dental Centres and their contact details.

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Member tip of the month

Every month we’ll be providing an insight on how to get information or use your membership. We know it’s not always easy – so we’re here to help.

How to avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS)

Who needs to know about it?

Anyone earning more than $90,000 a year as a single or $180,000 as a couple or family.

What is it?

The Medicare Levy Surcharge was created to take the pressure off the public health system by encouraging higher-earning Aussies to take out private hospital cover. You may not realise that most of us pay a Medicare Levy through our income tax.

This levy helps to fund the public health system and pay for the health services we use and claim through Medicare.

If you earn over a certain amount, and don’t have private hospital cover, you’ll have to pay an additional amount. That’s the MLS.

If you earn more than $90,000 as a single and $180,000 as a family, you may be charged an additional amount – calculated in your annual tax return. There are special rules to determine your income for this calculation – it is not the same as your taxable income. The MLS can be up to 1.5% of your income, payable at tax time.

You can also check out the ATO website for more information, including who is considered a dependant for MLS purposes.

There are a lot of specific rules that might impact your personal situation and we recommend you check the ATO website carefully to determine your own situation.

You can find out more on our website.

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One month free in November

And don’t forget, due to Transport Health merging with HCF on 1 November 2021, members that were already with Transport Health at the time of the merger will get one month’s free health insurance this coming November. Plus another free month in November 2023. You don’t need to do anything, the free month will automatically be deducted in November.

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We're here to help

If you need help or just want to chat through your cover, please call us on 1300 806 808 or email enquiries@transporthealth.com.au

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June 2022

We're saying goodbye to cheques

We’re doing our bit to take care of the environment by going green with less paper when it comes to your premium payments and payment of benefits.

We’re saying goodbye to cheques as a method of payment from 1 September 2022.

We understand this may concern some of our long-standing members who’ve been using cheques for many years. Please don’t worry – our team is here to help you through this change. They’ll be able assist by helping you choose the available option that’s right for you.

Paperless premiums: It’s your choice how you want to pay your premium. If you receive a payment notice, you can pay via B-Pay, by using ‘Make A Payment’ in the online Member Services portal, in person at any Australia Post branch or by giving us a call (and using your credit card).

Better still, save time and hassle by automating your payments. Why not set up direct debit to pay your premium at a frequency that suits you? You can choose from weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly half-yearly or even yearly. Just give us a call and we can help you set up regular payments.

Paperless payments: We’ll pay your benefit payment (or refund if you ever need one) into any bank account you provide details for. It’s that easy - and you won’t need to worry about your payment getting lost in transit.

How to update your details: You can easily update your direct credit bank account details (the account we pay your claims into) by logging into the online Member Services portal, selecting ‘Banking Details’ and ‘Update Payment of Benefits Account’.

If you’d like to update your debit account details, just give us a call.

We’ll soon be reaching out to all members directly impacted by this change to provide more details. 

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Your tax information

It’s the end of another financial year.

Just a reminder that the information you need about your private health cover to complete your income tax assessment is now sent by us directly to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). If you do need a copy of the tax statement for yourself, or any other adult covered by your membership, you’ll be able to download one from our online Member Self Service portal after 14 July.

We’ll be in touch when your tax information has been sent to the ATO.

The ATO is the best source of information about tax transactions, and you can find them at www.ato.gov.au

Please reach out to our Member Care Team on 1300 806 808 if you have any questions.

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Extras benefits – annual limits

Your annual Transport Health Extras limits will continue for the rest of 2022 (as long as you haven’t reached your limits).

That means you can continue to claim for the remainder of the calendar year (up to the benefit limits on your cover).

Benefits will re-set from 1 January 2023.

Did you know? You have two years from your date of service (the day you had a treatment or purchased an item) to make your claim with us. While there’s no need to rush your claims through, we’re more than happy to get them sorted for you. (We can’t pay any benefits for products, services or treatments you receive or purchase during your waiting periods.)

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Member tip of the month

Find a hospital – Information about our wide network of hospitals is at your fingertips. All the details can be accessed 24/7 from our website. Our convenient Find a Hospital tool helps you search for private hospitals we have agreements with. It’s available under ‘Health Services’ on our website. Of course, we’re always here if you need a hand – so just reach out if you have any questions.

One month free in November

And don’t forget, due to Transport Health merging with HCF on 1 November 2021, members that were already with Transport Health at the time of the merger will get one month’s free health insurance this coming November. Plus another free month in November 2023. You don’t need to do anything, the free month will automatically be deducted in November.

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Claiming made easy – download our app

Don't forget you can manage your claims on the Transport Health mobile claiming app. No more need to fill out forms – you can submit your claims in a few easy steps. No matter where you are, just take a photo of your receipts and submit your claim electronically. It's that simple.

To get the mobile app, download it for your iOS or Android device by typing "Transport Health" into the Apple or Google Play Store. You can also find out more information by visiting our website under 'Members' then 'Mobile Claiming App'.

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We're here to help

If you need help or just want to chat through your cover, please call us on 1300 806 808 or email enquiries@transporthealth.com.au

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May 2022

HCF Dental and Eyecare Centres

Transport Health members can now visit HCF’s Dental and Eyecare Centres as part of their membership.

You can find more details, including a list of locations, how to make your first appointment and the services available to you on our website, for dental or optical.

For optical, you’re also able to access services from the list of optical providers we currently have agreements with – they’re listed on the Find an Optical Provider links on our website.

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Your tax information

We know many of you will be preparing for the end of financial year and tax time. As we do every year, we’ll make sure your tax statement is available by early July.

Remember, the information you need about your private health cover to complete your income tax assessment is now sent by us directly to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), so it will appear when you or your tax agent prepare your annual tax return. If you do need a copy of the tax statement for yourself, or any other adult covered by your membership, you’ll be able to download one from our Online Member Service portal.

We’ll be in touch when your tax information has been sent to the ATO and when statements are available to download.

The ATO is the best source of information about tax transactions and you can find them at www.ato.gov.au

Please reach out to our online member services on 1300 806 808 if you have any questions.

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Protecting your online security

Providing a safe and secure online environment for our members means we can continue to provide great service every day. That’s why we’re continuously upgrading the security of our online networks and resources.

One recent measure we’ve taken is to block online contact made from certain regions. This is called geoblocking and allows us to safeguard our online resources.

This will only impact members wishing to use our Member Service Centre and mobile app while travelling to Albania, Algeria, Belarus, China, Pakistan, Russia and Ukraine.

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One month free in November

And don’t forget, due to Transport Health merging with HCF on 1 November 2021, members that were already with Transport Health at the time of the merger will get one month’s free health insurance this coming November. Plus another free month in November 2023. You don’t need to do anything, the free month will automatically be deducted in November.

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April 2022

Get your – and your kids’ – COVID-19 booster shot before winter

If you still haven’t had your third shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, don’t put it off any longer. The Australian Financial Review reports that less than 70 per cent of people over 16 in Australia have had their third shot. With fourth shots becoming available recently for select groups, third shots are plateauing under 70 per cent for people over 16. COVID-19 vaccine take-up has also stalled for children under 11 years of age, so make sure your kids’ shots are up to date too.

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Transport Health members can now access HCF Eyecare Centres & get a $50 discount*

Due to our recent merger with HCF, Australia’s largest not for profit health fund, Transport Health members can now access HCF Eyecare Centres across Sydney. Find your closest location on our website.

Even if you’re not near a Centre, you’ll be able to take advantage of a first-time welcome offer with $50 off your first purchase of glasses or sunglasses – either in store or online.*

If you’re looking to book or want more details, we’ve put together some handy info on our website.

We’ll be in touch again soon with an update on access to HCF Dental Centres.

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Hospital wait times to blowout as health authorities expect a simultaneous surge in COVID-19 cases and flu cases

The Age newspaper reports that health authorities are preparing for a simultaneous surge in COVID-19 and flu cases before winter, intensifying pressure on hospitals hit by crippling staff shortages and a huge surgery backlog. So don’t delay getting your flu shot for 2022, as well as making sure you’re up-to-date with your COVID-19 vaccinations.

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One month free in November

And don’t forget, due to Transport Health merging with HCF on 1 November 2021, members that were already with Transport Health at the time of the merger will get one month’s free health insurance this coming November. Plus another free month in November 2023. You don’t need to do anything, the free month will automatically be deducted in November.

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App reminder

Don't forget you can manage your claims on the Transport Health mobile claiming app. No more need to fill out forms – you can submit your claims in a few easy steps. No matter where you are, just take a photo of your receipts and submit your claim electronically. It's that simple.

To get the mobile app, download it for your iOS or Android device by typing "Transport Health" into the Apple or Google Play Store. You can also find out more information by visiting our website under 'Members' then 'Mobile Claiming App'.

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March 2022

Access to HCF clinical centres

We’re looking forward to letting you know about access to HCF Dental and Eyecare Centres soon. We’ll be reaching out to you shortly with further details about how you can access HCF Eyecare Centres, so stay tuned.

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You won't pay more this April

We’ve committed to a freeze on premium increases until at least November this year. That means no price increase from 1 April. We’re one of just a few funds – rt health and HCF – who have delayed increases right through until November

We’re proud to have invested more than $3.5 million in COVID-related support to our members since 2020. The freeze on premium price increases until November 2022 is our way of passing on savings made due to COVID-19 back to you.

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Keeping your kids covered for longer

Knowing your kids’ health is protected is one of the main reasons for having private health insurance. And knowing that you’re able to keep those who depend on you the most on your cover for longer is important.

That’s why we’re invested in making your private health cover affordable and offering better value for families with older children.

From 1 April 2022, we can further assist families by increasing the maximum age that kids can remain covered on your family policy up to 31.

This will be available to all Transport members through our rt health range of products.

Full-time students can remain covered for free and working kids can remain covered for an additional premium that is less than the amount they’d pay for an equivalent single person cover.

For all conditions and additional information, call us on 1300 806 808 or contact rt health directly on 1300 886 123 to chat about Family Extension options.

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Member advisory groups

Listening to our members and delivering improvements to provide value for our members is something that’s close to our hearts. That’s why we organise regular Member Advisory Groups. Hosted by an independent partner, these group sessions provide a chance for you to give honest and frank feedback on a range of topics related to your rt health membership. Member Advisory Groups are scheduled every couple of months. We take the time to examine and learn from the feedback you provide so we can deliver greater value and service. The next Member Advisory Group sessions will be conducted in May. If you’d like to be involved, just give our Member Care team a call to register.

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We're here to help

If you need help or just want to chat through your cover, please call us on 1300 806 808 or email enquiries@transporthealth.com.au

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Please feel free to call us and speak to one of our member service specialists.