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Claiming insurance in Australia? - Printable Version

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Claiming insurance in Australia? - Sleeper999 - 08-13-2013

Has anyone in Australia imported a new machine from the USA and been successful in making a claim with their insurance company? I'm with BUPA and from what I read they won't make a payment. The machine I imported cost $400 less than the one I was supposed to get locally (and is a much more capable machine). So I thought to ask if anyone has had any luck and if yes, how did you succeed? Thanks.


RE: Claiming insurance in Australia? - Moriarty - 08-13-2013

(08-13-2013, 07:41 AM)Sleeper999 Wrote: Has anyone in Australia imported a new machine from the USA and been successful in making a claim with their insurance company? I'm with BUPA and from what I read they won't make a payment. The machine I imported cost $400 less than the one I was supposed to get locally (and is a much more capable machine). So I thought to ask if anyone has had any luck and if yes, how did you succeed? Thanks.

Assuming you have a script from your specialist and an invoice (both essential) you should be able to get your few hundred dollar refund.... regardless of where it was purchased..

Although none of them pay much for the machine and nothing for masks etc the different health funds here vary wildly in how easy they are to get on with. I probably shouldn't state an opinion here but after a bit of research and talking to health providers I didn't choose BUPA.


RE: Claiming insurance in Australia? - Tez62 - 08-13-2013

Sleeper999, I bought mine in Australia and my insurance is through Bupa, I have extra's which covers 20% or about $500, I think you should be able to claim it, have you rang or been into a Bupa office. I will be interested because the next time I buy one I will get it over the net, the prices can be 50% cheaper than our prices if you shop around. I went through a local company for the first machine as I was new to it and lease the machine and mask for 3 months before I purchased them and the lease cost came off the purchase price.


RE: Claiming insurance in Australia? - Sleeper999 - 08-13-2013

Thanks for info. I will go into a BUPA office and let you know the result. I was with Mutual Community for years and that changed to BUPA.


RE: Claiming insurance in Australia? - Ulrika - 09-01-2013

I am with BUPA and had my diagnosis through a company called Health Dynamics (I had seen a specialist several times prior to going there as I had been on a waiting list for years) - they give you a take home unit (after a referral from your GP) and the data is sent to a specialist sleep physician. When I took my doctors letter and the diagnostic letter to BUPA - my doctor had written that I had not had an official sleep study, which meant that BUPA wasn't going to pay me out the $500 they had said I would receive.

I had to have a slightly heated discussion to explain that Health Dynamics gets referrals from our local sleep study specialists if there are no other health/ sleep issues as there is such a long waiting list and they are gradually using the take home units more frequently. My point is that it depends on who you talk to at the BUPA office they may try to find reason not to pay something. I was a bit disappointed that my doctor worded his letter in a way that made it sound I had not been diagnosed by a specialist sleep physician. I did get my refund Smile


RE: Claiming insurance in Australia? - Sleeper999 - 09-01-2013

Thanks for this info.

As it turned out, in my case they declined any refund on the basis that the Resmed S9 Autoset was purchased from overseas. Anything bought online (even locally) or from overseas is disallowed. No accessories (even if purchased locally) are covered either. So the end result is I saved them money and they refused to pay anything. Looking for another insurance provider. Does anyone know of a good one?


RE: Claiming insurance in Australia? - Moriarty - 09-02-2013

I am with MBP and they also only pay $500 for the machine and nothing for masks hoses etc. I have heard that there are less likely to reject a CPAP machine claim than some funds, but I don't know of any evidence to support that assertion.


RE: Claiming insurance in Australia? - Jaypee - 09-02-2013

(08-13-2013, 07:41 AM)Sleeper999 Wrote: Has anyone in Australia imported a new machine from the USA and been successful in making a claim with their insurance company? I'm with BUPA and from what I read they won't make a payment. The machine I imported cost $400 less than the one I was supposed to get locally (and is a much more capable machine). So I thought to ask if anyone has had any luck and if yes, how did you succeed? Thanks.

I did extensive research re machines and prices in Australia and overseas. Whilst machines purchased oseas are considerably cheaper ie $1000US v up to $2600 AU for S9, I am informed that you cannot claim if your supplier does not have an australian ABN. I bought my RESMED S9Autoset with humidifier and all the bits for $1499 from a local supplier who imports direct from US and sells direct with full warranty and received $500 refund from Medibank Private.


RE: Claiming insurance in Australia? - alby_c - 09-05-2013

I had a long talk with Medibank private before I bought my machine. Same story as Jaypee, but I did not find the supplier she talked about, so I went ahead - saved a heap and bought from US. shame as with shipping costs and the refund I was willing to pay up to $700 more for a local supplier, but not the $2000 more it would have been to get the masks , 12V DC power supply as well as the CPAP itself - I was looking at replacement pillows for the Swift FX yesterday - $19 from US and cheapest in Australia I found on line is $69. I had hoped the gouging was not extending to spare parts but looks like it does.


RE: Claiming insurance in Australia? - TMPFO - 09-05-2013

I have no idea where my sleep study is from 1997 but have been using a Sullivan V Elite since then until it died a month ago.
My Wife has a 2007 sleep study and has been using an S8 Lightweight.

We upgraded both to S9 Autosets from an Australian Web Supplier for about $800.00 each less than the stupid quoted prices from a Resmed Agent who's Staff think they are doing you a favour even talking to you.

We supplied Medibank Private with carefully crafted Doctor's reports and a copy of my Wife's Sleep Study. They accepted both claims. My refund of $500.00 appeared in my Bank yesterday - my Wife is still waiting for hers.

Medibank refused our claims for 2 locally sourced overpriced F&P full face masks. The next masks we buy will come from oversees.