If you’re changing to a new health insurance policy, you can usually contact the company directly and sign up, using their website for example. The new company will usually handle the transfer for you.
If you’re staying at the same company but changing policies, this can usually be handled online or over the phone too.
If you're an ahm member, you should be able to change your cover online by logging in and going to Change Cover. If Change Cover isn't available for your policy (this may happen for a number of reasons, including if there's money owing on your account), just get in touch and we’ll sort it out for you. We can also talk to you about our cover options and which might be right for you.
If you’re going to change an ahm health insurance policy you can browse our products and then sign up or make the switch online.
Can I change my health insurance policy at any time? Can I change it mid-year?
You can. You can switch health insurance policies at any time, even mid-year, but be sure to ask about things like waiting periods and changes to your premiums, limits or excess.
If you choose to change to a new ahm policy, you can choose to start it now or at any date in the future. If you're coming to ahm from a different health insurer, you can even ask us to back-date your cover to the day after your previous cover ends (provided this period is 30 days or less) to make sure you've got cover the whole time.
If you want to change to an ahm policy you can contact us and ask about things like waiting periods and changes to your premiums, limits or excess.
What do I need to know about changing my health insurance plan?
There are a few important things to take note of if you're changing your level of cover:
- You may be required to serve waiting periods:
- that you haven’t fully served for comparable inclusions yet
- for any additional services or items not previously included under your cover or that have an increased benefit or limit.
- You may have a different Daily Charge and/or Excess on your hospital cover to your previous cover.
- In some instances, certain services may become excluded or will have their limits and benefits changed.
If you change your hospital cover, your 'Membership Year' for the purposes of Daily Charge/Excess will be reset.
Also, keep in mind that where any limits apply to your extras cover, any benefits previously paid under your old extras cover will be taken into account. This could mean that we won’t be able to help with the bill for some extras services until your limits reset.
What if my new cover isn't right for me?
We have a cooling off period of 30 days from the date your new or changed cover commences to make sure you’re happy with it. If you’re brand new at ahm and change your mind during that period, and no claims have been made, we can transfer you to a more appropriate cover or cancel it altogether and refund your premiums. If you’ve made a claim in that time the cooling off period doesn’t apply.
If you’re an existing member and change your mind during that period and no claims have been made then we can generally swap you back to your old cover, or help you choose another type of cover to start from the date the change was originally going to take place.
If you choose to increase your level of cover, you’ll need to pay any difference in premiums from the date you increased it, and you’ll be subject to waiting periods and any other restrictions or exclusions associated with additional benefits available under your new cover.