Frequently Asked Questions - Healthcare Assist Discount Card

Do I have to make claims by sending your forms?

No. Simply present your Healthcare Assist member card when you pay for your services/treatment/products from our Preferred Partners. They will then discount your bill upfront at time of payment.  No forms, no claims, no fuss.

Are Pre-existing Conditions Covered?

YES! With Healthcare Assist membership we do not have the traditional rules of health insurance companies.  You will still receive discounts off your bills on any services/treatments/products for pre-existing conditions.

Can I still belong to a Health Fund or also have Healthcare Assist Health Insurance?
Yes. You can claim for any eligible treatment you receive through Healthcare Assist with your existing health fund. The only difference is that your 'gap' will be smaller, leaving you even less 'out of pocket'.

Are there any extra fees?
No. Once you pay your membership fee for the year, that's it. The only other money you will spend is in paying your reduced healthcare bills.

Are there any yearly limits?
No.  You can use your card as many times as you need through-out the year.  There are no upper limits.

What is your definition of a couple?
We understand the importance of diversity.  We define a couple as two people who are living together and in some way dependant on each other. This membership would (for example) cover domestic partners, single parents with one child and siblings who live together.

Are the Preferred Partners employed by you?
No.  They are private companies or practitioners. We have researched each of our preferred partners, and are holding a copy of their registration to practice with their relevant board.

Are there any waiting periods before I can use my discount card?
No. Once you receive your membership kit from us (including your member card) you do not have to wait for a minimum time to use our services. Simply make an appointment with one of our preferred partners and show your member card when paying for your services/products for instant benefits.

I am a single person, is it $69 per year for each service?
No, our yearly membership fee provides you with access to all six of our discount programmes, across dental, optical, medical, veterinarian, natural therapy, and pharmacy.

Who owns Healthcare Assist; are you owned by a private health insurance company?
No. The Healthcare Assist  is a privately owned company. It operates within Victoria and is registered as a business with Consumer Affairs Victoria, and also with ASIC as a registered company. We are also registered with the Federal Government for GST reporting and therefore have an ABN.

What is your definition of a Family?
We understand that today's family can be extremely diverse. Our family membership extends to a domestic partner and any dependant children under the age of 18, or up to 25 if studying at an approved educational institution. We also offer the same benefit to anyone with three or more people in their family, for example a single parent with two children.

Are you Australia Wide?
Although out other services are Australia wide att this point in time our discount card is only available within VIC, ACT, NSW and QLD. However, we have plans to extend this service into all other states and territories by year end 2009.

How many Preferred Partners do you have?
As from the 1st of Jun 2008 Healthcare Assist has over 2000 Preferred Partners. Our goal is to increase this over time to have one service per suburb.

My dentist isn't on your Preferred Partner list, can I get them to become a Preferred Partner?
We highly encourage our members to ask their local practitioners to join the Healthcare Assist Network. They can download a registration form, and we can arrange for a Business Development Manager to discuss the benefits with them. You can now refer healthcare professionals on the Healthcare Assist Discount Card page of this Website.

Can I get additional discount cards for the others registered on my membership?
Yes you can. This can be arranged for a small fee. Simply call us and let us know when you are making your application, or at anytime.

Can I pay for my discount card with a credit card?
Yes. We have found a cheaper way to process credit cards on-line, so we can still provide you with a low-cost product. You can now join us on-line using your visa, and master card. Credit card transactions are done via PayPal a secure credit card merchant which is a free service to you. We are not charging surcharges at present for this service.

I see a blank document when opening your brochures and other documents
There could be many variables to answer this. However first start by making sure you are using Adobe Acrobat Reader 7.0.  ou can download it by clicking the picture below. If you are still having problems, 'right click' on the link you want and select 'save target as' to save a copy on your local machine and open it from there. Large Adobe files can sometimes have problems downloading via the internet.