Suspending Your Membership

Putting it on hold ...

To put your membership on hold at any time, just call us on 13 14 63. We’ll take you through all you need to know and discuss if this is the right option for you.

Note: you must be a member for 12 months before applying to suspend your membership.

Going Overseas? You can suspend your membership from 2 months to 2 years. You must take out travel insurance for the full time you’re away, to avoid re-serving any waiting periods on your return.

Centrelink Benefits - If you’re eligible for Centrelink benefits, you can suspend your membership for a maximum of 6 months.

A suspension ‘stops’ your membership. Waiting periods served prior to suspension don’t need to be re-served (pre-existing condition rules apply). Where waiting periods have not been fully served, the remainder of the waiting period must be served once you resume your membership. You can’t claim for any services provided while your membership is suspended.

... and then coming back

Within 1 month of your suspension’s end date, you need to complete an application to resume your membership. If you don’t, you’ll need to re-join as a new member and serve all relevant waiting periods.

If you’re returning from overseas, your suspension ends the date you return to Australia. We’ll need a copy of your stamped passport, ticket or boarding pass as proof.

If you’re on Centrelink benefits, your suspension ends the day you start work, or 6 months after you put your membership on hold – whichever comes first.

Any hospital admission within the first 12 months of resuming your membership is subject to NIB’s pre-existing condition rule.