St.LukesHealth insurance review

Overview

St.LukesHealth offers seven hospital plans, starting with a Basic Plus policy through to premium Gold plan with tiered levels of excess.

Three straightforward extras policies are also available.

St.LukesHealth has partnerships that can provide added benefits to their members, including discounts at Specsavers and OPSM as well as discounts if you’re with MyState Bank.

St.LukesHealth isn't on our panel but we're confident we can get you a great deal on your health cover.

Hospital cover

Nobody chooses to go to hospital.

But when you do, hospital cover will help you get the treatment you need, where and when you want it.

It also helps to pay the bills, as fees for hospital rooms and specialists can add up.

Think about what services you're likely to need, in line with your budget.

If you earn over $90,000 individually or $180,000 as a couple, you could avoid paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge.

St.LukesHealth offers three budget policies and four mid-high range policies.

Basic Plus Hospital 500

This cover has some essentials covered, including dental and more, and offers more cover than the Basic cover, but has more exclusions than the Bronze cover.

An annual excess cap of $500 for singles and $1,000 for couples applies.

Key inclusions:

• Skin

• Ears, nose and throat

• Rehabilitation

Bronze Hospital

This cover has excess caps of $250, $500, and $750 and offers singles, families, and couples cover on the essentials.

Key inclusions:

• Dental surgery

• Pain management

• Bone, joint and muscles

Bronze Hospital Plus

This cover has excess caps of $250, $500, and $750 and gives you top cover while still being affordable.

Key inclusions:

• Eyes (not cataracts)

• Joint reconstructions

• Kidney and bladder

Silver Plus Hospital (Silver)

Mid-level cover that offers extra services such as heart and vascular, and implantation of approved hearing devices. Has an excess cap of $250, $500, and $750.

Key inclusions:

• Brain and nervous system

• Hernia and appendix

• Heart and vascular system

Planner Silver Plus Hospital (Silver)

Mid-level cover is ideal for those with a young family or those planning to start a family. Has an excess cap of $250 and $500.

Key inclusions:

• Pregnancy and birth

• Assisted reproductive services

• Heart and vascular system

Protector Silver Plus Hospital (Silver)

Mid-level cover that covers dialysis for chronic kidney disease, joint replacements, and more. Has an excess cap of $250, $500, and $750.

Key inclusions:

• Insulin pumps

• Plastic and reconstructive surgery

• Implantation of hearing devices

Gold Hospital

StLukeHealth’s top level of cover allows members to take advantage of weight loss surgery, pregnancy, and more. Has an excess of $0, $300, $500, $750 and $100.

Key inclusions:

• Weight loss surgery

• Pain management with device

• Assisted reproductive services

Ambulance cover

Emergency ambulance cover is included on all hospital policies after a one-day waiting period.

Extras cover

St Luke Health Fund’s extras reset on January 1 every year.

From dental, to optical, to chiro and more, extras insurance helps cover the bills for routine treatments with rebates of up to 100%.

While we've summarised the key points of each plan below, it's always worth digging a little deeper into any gap fees, how much you can claim back, and whether your preferred healthcare provider, such as your local dentist, has an agreement with the health fund.

Take time to work out what you need and what you're prepared to pay.

If this feels a bit overwhelming, you can speak to one of our experts who can talk you through what is and isn't included in each extras policy.

St.LukesHealth offers a choice of three extras policies, from basic plans to cover common procedures and a comprehensive plan to cover an extensive range of services.

All extras packages can be combined with hospital cover policies.

Starter Extras

Basic Extras covers the basics like general dental, chiropractic, and physio services. You can save 15 to 40% off dental treatments if they are performed by any smile.com.au approved dentists Australia-wide.

Key inclusions:

• Preventative and general dental 

• Optical

• Physiotherapy, chiropractic, osteopathy, acupuncture, and Chinese medicine 

Wellbeing Extras

Covers general dental, optical and physiotherapy. Get a set amount back on each service and claim up to 100% back on optical.

Key inclusions

• Preventative and general dental 

• Podiatry

• Physiotherapy, chiropractic, osteopathy, acupuncture, and Chinese medicine 

Super Extras

Extras cover that includes emergency ambulance, general dental, optical, and acupuncture services. You can claim up to 100% back on optical as well as save 15 to 40% off by going to an approved smile.com.au dentist Australia-wide.

Key inclusions

• Audiology

• Clinical psychology

• Home nursing

Waiting periods

To stop people signing up, claiming, then cancelling their health insurance, all insurers apply waiting periods.

Generally, the more expensive the treatment, the longer you'll wait.

But keep an eye out for special deals with waiting periods reduced or waived.

Hospital waiting periods

• 12 months for pre-existing conditions, other than psychiatric treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care. There’s also the same waiting period for obstetric related conditions, including private postnatal care services to members in Northern Tasmania

• 2 months for all other services

Extra waiting periods

• 36 months for hearing aids

• 12 months for clinical psychology, major dental and orthodontics, orthotic appliance and other health appliances and aids

• 6 months for optical

• 3 months for health management programs

• 2 months for all other services

Member benefits

StLukesHealth has three corporate partnerships with MyState Bank, Spirit Super and a range of optical providers including OPSM and Specsavers.

If you’re with MyState Bank, you can get a 3% discount on your base health cover premium.

If you’re with Spirit Super, you are eligible for a 5% discount on selected StLukesHealth products.

Specsavers, OPSM, Total Eyecare, and Eyelines all offer a range of discounts on their eyewear, including a 5 to 10 per cent discount on specific products.

How to claim

Claim immediately through the HICAPS payment system at your provider or online. You can also claim via email.

Hospital agreements

St.LukesHealth has agreements with most private hospitals and day clinics across Australia.

When comparing policies, it's worth checking if your local hospitals and clinics are covered.

Our specialists at Compare Club can do this for you.

Customer service

StLukesHealth received 0.4% of all complaints which is less than their market share of 0.5%^.

FAQs

1. Is StLukesHealth a not-for-profit fund?

Yes, StLukesHealth is a not-for-profit fund.

2. Who can apply? Are there restrictions?

Any person over the age of 18 can apply for a StLukesHealth Health Insurance Policy.

Members must comply with the requirements of the fund and give full and complete disclosure on all matters required by StLukesHealth.

3. Is it easy to switch to StLukesHealth?

StLukesHealth isn’t on our panel so it’s best to contact them directly to switch. However, we’re confident the Compare Club team can find you a great deal from the insurers on our panel.

4. Do I need to re-serve waiting periods?

If you switch to an equivalent or lower level of cover, you generally won’t have to serve new waiting periods. However, you may need to serve new waiting periods if your new policy includes additional services or higher benefits.

5. Can I change my level of cover?

Yes, you can modify your cover with StLukesHealth directly. If you move to a higher level of cover, you will usually need to serve waiting periods on the extra services/higher benefits.

6. Do I get the government rebate?

For every dollar of private health insurance premiums, the Australian Government provides eligible Australians with a rebate of up to 33.4% (depending on your age and income). To learn what you’re entitled to, read our rebate guide.

7. Do I have to pay the Lifetime Healthealth insurance premiumsh Cover loading?

If you’re 31 or over, you usually need to pay 2% loading for each year you’ve gone without hospital cover since the 1st July following your 31st birthday. You can find out more here.

8. Up to what age are children covered?

Children and young adults are automatically covered under family or single parent cover until they turn 23, provided they are not married or in a de facto relationship.

This guide is opinion only and should not be taken as medical or financial advice. Check with a financial professional before making any decisions.

^Private Health Ombudsman,St.LukesHealth, accessed 13 January 2022.