Membership suspensions allow a pause in the membership for a set time.

While the specific criteria for the two types of suspension are different, the overall rules are the same.

What a suspension means

There are consequences to taking membership suspensions. It is important for you to understand these consequences before making a decision about requesting to suspend your HCi membership.

1. You cannot make any claims
   While overseas, you can’t claim any medical expenses anyway. However, if in financial stress the inability to make a claim could make unexpected medical expenses problematic.
   You also cannot access any additional benefits during the suspension.
2. OMS access continues as usual
   This includes being able to make partial payments at any time to make premiums easier to meet when you resume your membership
3. Waiting periods pause* while suspended
   However, it is really important to realise that you must pay premiums within 30 days of your membership resuming. Not making payments within the 30 days means your waiting periods will reset and need to be served again.
4. Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS)
   If you earn above the threshold, you will be liable for the MLS for the days your membership is suspended. This will be calculated in your annual tax return.
5. Lifetime health cover (LHC)
   A suspension is still considered to be cover so your LHC loading is not affected by a suspension. However, the time of suspension is not part of the LHC period – so if you suspend membership for 6 months, the end of your LHC period is extended by 6 months.
6. Your existing payment frequency and method will resume once the suspension ends
   Please ensure there is sufficient money in any accounts to allow for this.

Requesting membership suspensions

To request a membership suspension simply

1. complete a Overseas Suspension Form or Financial Hardship Suspension form
2. collect the appropriate evidence
3. submit the form and evidence via OMS (or via email)

Note that HCi assesses all requests to ensure appropriate evidence is provided and the relevant criteria are met.

Applications for suspension cannot be backdated.

Overseas membership suspensions criteria

You may be eligible for an overseas suspension if you meet all of the following criteria:

• have held HCi cover for at least 12 months
• all HCi payments are current as at the application date
• you will be out of Australia for 28 days to two years
• it has been at least six month since the end of a previous suspension
• you apply before leaving Australia.

Note that the suspension starts the first day after you leave Australia and ends the day before you arrive back in Australia. So, you are covered for the day you travel to the airport or port but not whilst out of the country. Premiums paid for cover that falls during the suspension will be used to provide cover immediately upon your return.

Overseas suspension evidence

To support your request for an overseas suspension, you will need to provide us with travel dates and proof travel has been paid for. This may take the form of

• travel itinerary showing exit and return dates
• Visa documents
• a ticket

Criteria for financial hardship membership suspensions

Financial hardship has a specific definition – this suspension is designed to help in unexpected and extreme situations.  A common example is recently eligible to receive unemployment or sickness benefits from Centrelink.

To be eligible for a financial hardship suspension, you must meet all of the following:

• have held HCi cover for at least 12 months
• all HCi payments are current as at the application date
• it has been at least six months since the end of a previous suspension
• have not taken more than two financial suspensions in the past
• be able to demonstrate the hardship (see evidence list below)

Please note that acceptance of a suspension is at HCi’s discretion. Approval may not be provided even if relevant documentation is provided, or it may be provided for a shorter time frame.

Financial hardship suspension evidence

As support for your request for a financial hardship suspension, you will need to provide copies of supporting evidence. The documentation differs between reasons for the suspension but may include:

• employment termination letter
• employer letter (outlining reduced hours, etc)
• Centrelink statements
• medical bills
• doctor letter
• bank and/or credit card statements

Please contact our friendly member services team with any questions about membership suspensions and to clarify your personal options.

* While membership is suspended waiting periods do not change. So, if you have 3 months left to serve on a waiting period, you will serve that 3 months after the suspension period. However, if your waiting periods are all cleared, they remain in place after any suspension. Of course, if cover and premiums are not resumed within 30 days of the suspension ending then waits will have to be served again.