Because we’re member based, our aim is to give you the best benefits possible. That’s why we reward members who combine their hospital and extras covers with additional benefits every year they keep their fully paid cover. We call these additional benefits Connect Rewards Plus.

Single memberships earn $50 after the first completed year, $75 per year in subsequent years. Families/couples/single parents memberships earn $100 after the first completed year, $150 per year in subsequent years.

With your connect rewards dollars you can:

• Claim inpatient medical gap: You can claim for any inpatient medical gap you may have, which may significantly reduce or eliminate your out-of pocket expenses.
• Reduce your excess: You can reduce the hospital excess payable when you are admitted to hospital (if applicable).
• Increase major dental benefits: You can increase your benefits for crowns, bridgework, dentures, surgical extractions, implants, inlays/onlays, gold fillings or orthodontic treatment and reduce any out-of-pocket costs.
• Increase limits: You can increase your annual limits for pharmacy, physiotherapy and chiropractic / osteopathic provided these services are already included in your extras cover.
• Double your optical: Once you have reached your annual limit you can allocate your available Connect Rewards Plus dollars to increase your optical benefit, enabling you to now claim up to double your optical annual limit.
• Save money on services not covered: You can use your connect rewards dollars to claim up to 70% of the cost of the following when purchased from a GMHBA approved provider:
  • Ambulance subscription (claim once per year). Publicly funded services and State Government Ambulance schemes are excluded
  • Remedial massage (up to $17 per visit)
  • Swimming lessons (when recommended in writing by a doctor for the purpose of preventing or improving a specific health condition/s)
  • Lift for Life Diabetes programs
  • Annual membership to Diabetes Australia
  • Annual membership to Asthma Association
  • Orthopaedic shoes
  • Joint supports (upon written recommendation by doctor)
  • First aid courses
  • Melanoma surveillance photography
  • Nicotine replacement therapy patches (upon written recommendation by doctor)
  • Quit smoking programs
  • Blood pressure monitor (limited to 1 monitor per membership every 3 years. A doctor’s letter of recommendation must accompany each claim for benefits).
  • Bowel Cancer Risk Identification kit (up to 100% of the cost limited to one kit per person each 2 years).
  • Antenatal class benefits (up to $70 per year. Classes must be provided by the hospital and not included in the hospital contract. Excludes Silver Hospital cover).

Importantly, you can choose to keep your Connect Rewards Plus dollars and let them accumulate each year. Remember, Connect Rewards Plus benefit entitlements only remain available while combined hospital and extras cover is continuously maintained. Connect Rewards Plus is a membership reward.

Important information

• Services listed within the program must be provided by practitioners who are registered with recognised bodies approved by GMHBA. Contact us on 1300 4 GMHBA (46422) to confirm if a supplier is recognised.
• GMHBA does not recommend or endorse any health or medical program, therapy or appliance in respect of which Connect Rewards benefits are offered or paid. Some programs, treatments or appliances should not be undertaken or used without medical advice.
• In circumstances where family/couples/single parents memberships (with Connect Rewards accumulated in excess of the single membership limit) changes to a single membership, the existing membership may retain the Connect Rewards accrued. However, you’ll not accrue any further Connect Rewards until your accruals return to within the single membership limit of benefit entitlements.
• Connect Rewards Plus is a membership reward. Connect Rewards Plus entitlements cannot be transferred from one membership to another.
• When you have a hospital admission which results in out-of-pocket expenses, we’ll write to you within 60-90 days of your hospital discharge to ask if you would like to use your Connect Rewards Plus dollars towards the cost of the inpatient medical gap. In the letter, we’ll include your current Connect Rewards Plus balance. You must have a Connect Rewards Plus balance and an out-of-pocket medical expense of at least $50 at the time of discharge to qualify for benefits. You can only claim Connect Rewards Plus benefits for inpatient medical gap by producing a copy of the letter and completing the form attached to it. These types of claims cannot be processed in branches on the spot without having received a letter from GMHBA first.