How to use your nib health insurance
Congratulations on purchasing health cover! You’ve taken the first step in protecting your health, but at nib, we’re more than a health insurer, we’re your health partner – giving you access to tools and benefits to keep you feeling your best.
So now that you’re an nib member, you might be wondering: what’s next?
We’ve put together a little step-by-step guide to make sure you feel confident about your chosen cover so you can start getting the most out of your cover quicker!
Read your policy documents
Once you’ve signed up to be an nib member, we’ll send a welcome pack to your email address. This will include information on your chosen policy and information on the Government’s health insurance rebates and the Lifetime Health Cover loading.
Your welcome pack outlines your cover details and can help answer common questions about what's included, waiting periods and how to make the most of your membership.
Double-check your annual limits and what you're covered for
It’s important to double-check the inclusions listed on your policy to make sure you’re covered for all of the services you might need. For example, if you’re looking to access pregnancy or dialysis services, you may need to opt for one of our higher levels of cover. Need some help? Learn how to check what you're covered for.
Regardless of what level or type of cover you’ve chosen, you can rest easy knowing that nib offers unlimited emergency ambulance on most health covers1. We also provide members with nib Hospital cover access to our Accidental Injury Benefit. If you have an accident and present for treatment with a medical practitioner at the emergency department within 72 hours of the accident, you can receive benefits related to the accident in line with our Gold Hospital cover within 90 days after an accident if you end up being admitted to hospital2.
If you have Extras cover, some services may have annual limits. An annual limit is the maximum amount you can claim for a service or group of services during a calendar year. To avoid surprises, it's a good idea to check your remaining limits before booking treatment. You can do this anytime in the nib App or your online member account, where you'll also be able to view your recent claims and cover details.
For more information about annual limits and when they reset, read our article on When do private health insurance annual limits reset?.
Get a health insurance card
All nib members can access a digital member card through the nib App, making it easy to claim on the spot using your smartphone. If there is more than one person on your policy, each member can access their own digital card using their registered contact details.
To get started, follow our guide on accessing your nib member card. You can also add your card to your Apple Wallet or Android device, so it's ready whenever you need it.
Learn more about gaps and going to hospital
A 'gap' is the difference between what Medicare and your health insurer pay and what a doctor, specialist or hospital charges for their services. This can result in out-of-pocket costs when you're admitted to hospital.
To help reduce these costs, nib has agreements with many private hospitals and specialists across Australia. Before treatment, it's a good idea to check whether your provider participates in nib's agreement arrangements and to ask for informed financial consent, so you understand any costs upfront.
Use our Find a Provider search tool to find nib agreement hospitals and healthcare providers in the nib network.
If you think you may need hospital treatment, it's important to check that your procedure is covered and whether any waiting periods apply. You can do this by using our Going to Hospital tool to check your procedure is covered, choose the right specialist and hospital and understand any costs upfront.
For more information, visit our article: Why do I have to pay a gap when being treated in hospital?
Start claiming
Now that you've got a good understanding of your policy, it's time to start claiming! One of the easiest ways to make an Extras claim is through the nib App. Simply log in, upload a photo of your receipt and follow the prompts to submit your claim. For step-by-step instructions, check out our guide to claiming in the nib App.
Looking for a provider for your next dental, physio, optical, hearing or mental health appointment? Search nib's First Choice network to find healthcare providers near you who offer agreed rates and No Gap offers on selected services. You can search providers using our Find a Provider tool.
Get rewarded
Another perk of being an nib member is that you’ll unlock access to nib Rewards where you can access discounts and offers from more than 100 retailers, helping you save on everything from groceries to gym memberships3.
Have any questions about your policy? Visit our Help and Support hub or contact us via nibby chat 24/7.
The information in this article is general in nature and doesn't take your personal circumstances into account. Before making decisions about your health cover or treatment, consider seeking advice that's appropriate for your situation.
11 day waiting period applies. Not available to: (i) QLD residents who have ambulance services provided by their State ambulance schemes; (ii) TAS residents who are covered under state ambulance schemes in TAS and when travelling in mainland Australia except SA and QLD; or (iii) pension and health care card holders who have ambulance services provided by State ambulance schemes (check entitlements with Centrelink if unsure).
2Excludes consult at an Emergency Department or with a Medical Practitioner (e.g. GP). Accidental Injury Benefit criteria must be met for approval.
3T&Cs apply. Some offers may vary or be available for a limited time. For members with private health insurance, nib Rewards are available to new health insurance members after 30 days of membership, provided premium payments are up to date.