What is a Private Health Information Statement (PHIS)?
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What is a Private Health Information Statement (PHIS)?
All Australian health funds are required, by law, to provide a Private Health Information Statement (PHIS) for each product they offer.
The PHIS is an important tool to help people review their existing policy, or compare private health insurance products when they’re in the market.
You can think of a PHIS as a high-level overview of your cover. It outlines the key features of your cover, and the general waiting periods. Every PHIS for any private health insurance policy can also be found here.
There are three types of Private Health Information Statements:
- Hospital - describes the features and limitations of hospital cover, including the type of accommodation, which medical services are covered in full, part or not covered, waiting periods and additional payments (excesses, co-payments and gaps),
- General Treatment (commonly referred to as Extras) - describes the features and limitations of general treatment cover, including which services are covered, waiting periods, benefit limits and example benefits for each type of service, and
- Combined - describes the features and limitations of a combined hospital and general treatment cover, with details as above.
You shouldn’t completely rely on the specific dollar amounts of premiums that are shown on the PHIS. They’re indicative, and are there for comparison purposes only. Your actual premium may vary depending on your circumstances, such as income, how old you are, and your age when you first got health insurance. Benefits will vary depending on the details of your policy, the treatments you’re having, your health service provider, and the payment option you choose.
For a comprehensive look at your cover and what’s included, read your PHIS in conjunction with your policy guide.