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Bupa Health Insurance

Reviewed and updated 26 September 2024

About Bupa Health Insurance

What is Bupa Health Insurance? 

Bupa Health Insurance is a private health insurer that operates as an open health fund

It is part of the UK-based Bupa Group, an international healthcare company that operates in 3 markets:

  1. Health insurance
  2. Healthcare services
  3. Aged care.

The Bupa Group claims it serves 43 million customers and has 82,000 employees around the world.

Background 

The Bupa Group first entered the Australian market in 2002 when it purchased HBA and Mutual Community for $600 million. 

In 2008, it purchased MBF. 

In 2011, it integrated the 3 Australian health funds into the Bupa Health Insurance brand.

The wider Bupa organisation in Australia also provides healthcare services, including:

  • dental
  • optical
  • hearing.

As at March 2024, Bupa operated 58 Residential Aged Care facilities in Australia.

Who can join Bupa Health Insurance? 

Anyone can join Bupa Health Insurance because it is an open health fund.

What products does Bupa Health Insurance offer? 

In Australia, Bupa Health Insurance offers:

Do Bupa Health Insurance policies include Ambulance Cover?

Bupa Health Insurance includes Ambulance Cover with:

  • Hospital Cover
  • Extras Cover
  • Combined Hospital and Extras Cover.

Check your policy to see whether Ambulance Cover is capped.

Does Bupa Health Insurance offer corporate policies?

Yes. Bupa Health Insurance provides corporate policies to certain organisations. Search your organisation’s website or intranet to find out whether a corporate health insurance policy is available to you, and what conditions apply.


Is Bupa Health Insurance a not-for-profit health insurer?

No. Bupa Health Insurance operates on a for-profit basis


Does Bupa Health Insurance operate in all Australian states and territories?

Yes. Bupa Health Insurance operates in all Australian states and territories.


How does Bupa Health Insurance Hospital Cover compare with other insurers?

BenchmarksBupa Industry average
Member retention for Hospital Cover87.7%86.9%
% hospital-related charges covered 90.1%89.9%

Source: Private Health Insurance Ombudsman: State of the Health Funds Report 2023


Does Bupa Health Insurance have agreements with some private hospitals or day hospitals to provide services at low cost or with no out-of-pocket costs?

Yes. Bupa Health Insurance has agreements with a number of private hospitals that allow it to provide services to its members at low cost or with no out-of-pocket costs:

LocationNumber of private Agreement HospitalsIndustry maximum
ACT6
NSW8798
NT12
QLD4960
SA2023
TAS89
VIC6476
WA2224

Bupa Health Insurance also has agreements with a number of day hospitals that allow it to provide services at low cost or with no out-of-pocket costs:

LocationNumber of day Agreement HospitalsIndustry maximum
ACT69
NSW70103
NT12
QLD4557
SA2530
TAS68
VIC6179
WA2024

Source: BUPA Health Insurance: performance


How does Bupa Health Insurance Extras Cover compare with other insurers? 

BenchmarkBupa Industry average
% Extras Cover charges covered 49.6%51.1%

Source: Private Health Insurance Ombudsman: State of the Health Funds Report 2023


How does Bupa Health Insurance compare with other private health insurers? 

BenchmarksBupa Industry average
Market share24.9%
% medical services with no gap91.1%88.3%
% services with no gap or where known gap payment made98.1%97.2%
Market share of complaints to the PHIO23.7%3.1%
% complaints investigated by the PHIO24.7%3.1%
Benefits as a % of contributions80.9%80.5%
Management expenses as a % of contribution income10.8%13.1%
Management expenses per average policy$406$592

Source: Private Health Insurance Ombudsman: State of the Health Funds Report 2023


Is Bupa Health Insurance a member of any industry organisations?

Yes. Bupa Health Insurance is a member of Private Healthcare Australia (PHA), a body that represents 21 registered health insurers and 98% of people covered by private health insurance.


Does Bupa Health Insurance let me claim online or via an app?

Yes. Bupa allows you to make a claim online or via an app.


How to contact Bupa

Phone:

134 135 (sales and customer service)
+61 3 9487 6400 (from outside Australia)

Website:

https://www.bupa.com.au/health-insurance

Email:

No general email. Log on to Bupa to scan the WhatsApp QR code

Address:

Level 16
33 Exhibition Street
MELBOURNE VIC 3000

Postal address:

As above


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