Anyone switched to NIB? Tell me what you think.

[chicken]

I'm thinking of switching our family policy with Medibank Private to NIB as it is a lot cheaper. We are currently paying $224 per month, and paying for a lot of services we don't need (including pregnancy, as we won't be having any more). NIB's basic cover is a full $100 a month cheaper (with $250 excess) and seems to cover all the obvious things we'd need (eg dental, optical), but I want to make sure there isn't something I'm missing.

I'm in Brisbane and NIB has this thing where you only get money back with their recognised service providers. I know most insurance companies do this, but I just want to make sure this isn't an extremely limited list or something.

Basically, can anyone tell me their experiences with NIB?

[luv2luv]

We’re with NIB. We’ve been with them for 8 years now.

In that time we haven’t been to hospital and have only claimed on extras. I have recently searched their list for obs that I would probably see if I go private (which I don’t think I will) when the time comes. All of the ones I searched are on the list as NIB agreement doctors.

I have never had any complaints with them. The only thing that has changed recently is they are getting rid of their “Loyalty Rewards” as of 31 May. Basically it was a programme where you accrued money into a rewards system. On our plan we got $150.00 per year up to a maximum of $750.00. Then once you reached your threshold on any extras, it just used up money in your Loyalty Rewards so you could still keep claiming even after you had reached the annual limits on extras. It was brilliant cos you never had to worry about “how much do I have left on dental” etc.

Apparently instead of the Loyalty Rewards they are increasing the amount on some of the extras. I personally would have preferred for them to keep the loyalty system in place.

Each year when the premiums rise I always start researching cheaper funds to see if it is worth switching but so far MBF, HBA, HCF and Medibank are far more expensive or they don’t do the % back on extras like NIB. We get 65% back but some funds will only give you say $20 back for a remedial massage so I wouldn’t be able to afford to get one cos where I go they charge $80.00 and to only get $20.00 back is not worth it IMO anyway.

Hope that helps.

[Purplebird]

We've been with NIB for 5 years and have always found them to be very good. We've used them for osteopathy, dental, massage to name a few things and have had no trouble getting refunds online straight away. I would definitely recommend them.

[JaMM]

I have recently changed from NIB to Medibank LOL, but I always found them to be fine. I just found Medibank to be much cheaper especially the fact I get to 2x free dental checks per year for all of us and I eliminated PG services from my hossy cover.

[katemaree]

Ive been with NIB for a few years, previously on my parents and now my own. I have used NIB for inpatient cover quite a few times and found them to be great. Claiming has never been a problem.
Also found them great for optical cover.

[DishE]

I was with NIB for about 10 years and never had any major issues. I had my first baby with them and it was fine. However after having the baby we converted to a family cover rather than 2 singles, and we had endless problems with their system from then on! We had letters from solicitors saying we owed them money for services and that we were behind with payments, but the payments were being processed via direct debit every month but NIB couldn't work out which policy number they wanted us to use! We would receive info saying my son and I were covered but not hubby... and everytime I spoke to someone there they kept telling me it was just 'computer glitches'.
Eventually I got sick of it and changed. I checked out the govt website for comparing funds, and we are with Westfund now. Heaps cheaper, still has preg cover too! No excess or co-payments. Extras don't have quite as high rebates, but still enough for us so far. Am due for next bub in October and I've spoken to them and everything's ok so far.

Best of luck with your change of fund. If you go with NIB hope it all works out, I had 9 years ok with them, and then a year of problems.

[KayQ77]

We have been with NIB for about 4+ years and have found them to be good though their fortnightly premiums just keep going up! I am actually going to start looking for a cheaper fund, but might be doing this in vain as we are thinking about ttc # 2 and of course usually the waiting periods still apply. Though I might just check out westfund... it sounds good.

[Izy]

You should only serve waiting periods for new services :yes: so don't be afraid to consider changing funds.

When switching make sure the cover you choose covers pregnancy and you should be able to get continuity as long as you move directly from one fund to the other (no gaps between):thumbsup:

[megaminz]

Because of NIB I will very likely NEVER have health insurance again.

Firsty 11.5months into my membership with them I ruptured my appendix. Rupturing ones appendix would usually be deemed emergency condition...would it not??? Well NIB took MONTHS to decide after asking for about a million letters from different drs, scan place etc... that it wasn't a pre-existing condition and that they would cover it. PRE-EXISTING?? I ruptured my appendix!! If I had been walking round with that for more than a week let alone 11.5months I think I would be DEAD and we wouldn't have the issue

THEN....my DH got told he had advanced Lymphoma...$3600 worth of tests and drs visits and specialists visits later he finally got told "oh good news you don't have lymphoma you have sarcoidosis"...well NIB took SEVEN months to pay out exactly $306 to us out of that $3600 worth of bills, in the meantime we had $600 worth of late fees added on to our $3600. They gave no reason for the delay they were just being cr@p

So in the two total instances where we needed them they failed us miserably....sometimes there is a reason they are cheaper....

[Bellas_mummy]

I have had nothing but trouble with nib and it is always at the most stressful time. After being on my parents account for my whole life (not always nib but last 10 years or so) i then transfered to family with my husband to the same top cover. I had no period out of private health my whole life. When i had my miscarriage i had 1 hour from finding out to having my D and C. They refused to cover me when i rang up and clarrified. That is the worse news at that time. My doctor was wonderful did the op and i had to chase up for weeks to get it sorted. Then when i had my baby 1 year or so later they were rediculous and wouldnt cover what all other funds cover and we had top cover. The hospital went as far as to say they hate dealing with Nib they are the most difficult to deal with out of all the funds. Every time i rang up i got told a different story as well.

It is upto you, but i have had so many tears over stressful situations with them. Think twice before you change.

I have changed to Mutual Community now but havent used them for anything yet so cant say much.

[Mrs Little]

We've been with NIB for about 9 yrs. When we lived in NSW they were fine, however we did find that the Drs on their lists were never the Drs that we wanted or were available to us. We found their list very limited, and therefore found we were paying large amounts of Drs bills out of our own pocket.

Claiming process was always quick and efficient.

However, since going to WA it's only gotten worse. They paid a measly $28 out of a $200 pathology bill i had done while IN hospital. Medicare paid more than they did towards the bill. The pathology company told me that NIB is one of the worst companies that wont come to table with signing up to agreements with them so the customers only get charged the scheduled fee. We also found that NIB wasn't helpful in paying OB fee's here either.

Needless to say, we'll be changing health funds sooner rather than later.

Mrs Little & Sons.