AIA Health Insurance has announced that it will continue to refund its members facing restricted access to extras services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through AIA Health Insurance's Extras Value Protect initiative, the insurer will offer refunds on extras premiums paid, less any claims made from January 01 to December 31, 2021, to financially protect its members from any disruptions to extras services this year.
Now on its second year, the Extras Value Protect initiative protects the value of extras cover in recognition of members who, due to the pandemic, may not be able to receive the full benefits because of limitations to key extras services such as dental, physio, and optical.
AIA Health Insurance members can unlock and enhance their refund amount by engaging with the insurer's science-based health and wellbeing program, AIA Vitality, with a refund being paid attributable to their AIA Vitality status.
Platinum AIA Vitality members can receive up to 100%, Gold members up to 75%, and Silver members up to 50%. The total refund amounts will be calculated early in 2022 and returned directly to members.
Commenting on the initiative, Damien Mu, the managing director and CEO of AIA Australia, said: “Australians continue to face challenging and uncertain times, so it's important that we partner with our customers and provide assistance where we can. If our customers can't access their extras benefits due to the pandemic, then we want to ensure that we are returning these premiums accordingly.”
AIA Health Insurance has also committed to covering telehealth services, including psychology, counselling, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation, in response to increased mental health claims during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, all health insurance policies from across the industry (Basic, Bronze, Silver, and Gold) now cover COVID-related hospital admissions, with total cumulative fund benefits paid to date of $1.7 million, according to Private Healthcare Australia.
“Our dream is to champion Australia to be the healthiest and best-protected nation in the world, so we seek to empower and support our customers with their health and wellbeing. We appreciate that this can be a very difficult time, especially for those who may already be suffering from a medical condition, so we want to provide reassurance that we’re here to help with their return to wellness,” Mu said.
