living healthy Queensland Country Health Fund Member Newsletter ed.5 PREVENTATIVE DENTAL CARE Pharmacy Benefits FINANCIAL REVIEW SMART INVESTOR EDITION JUNE 2010 September 10 Benefits of Podiatry Australia’s Health: A Mixed Bag ABN 18 085 048 237 Medicare Levy Surcharge Townsville Running Festival
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living healthyQueensland Country Health Fund Member Newslettered.5
PREVENTATIVEDENTAL CARE
PharmacyBenefits
FINANCIAL REVIEW SMARTINVESTOR EDITION JUNE 2010
September 10
Benefits of Podiatry
Australia’s Health: A Mixed Bag
ABN 18 085 048 237
Medicare LevySurcharge
Townsville Running Festival
2 Queensland Country Health Fund | September 10
From the General Manager - Health FundAs I am sure most of you know, Queensland Country Health Fund
has its head office based in Townsville, North Queensland. We are
the only Health Fund to have a head office in regional
Queensland and one of only two Health Funds based in
Queensland. Something not everyone will know is that
Queensland Country Health Fund originated in Mount Isa in 1977
and was formally known as MIM Employees Health Society. We
are very proud of our heritage and the fact that we now provide
health insurance coverage to more than 33,000 Queenslanders.
The number of people we cover is also growing rapidly. The
growth in our Members with the Fund, increased by more than
twice the industry average growth over the past year, as more
people realise the excellent value that Queensland Country offers.
In June this year, the Australian Financial Review “Smart Investor
Magazine” included an article on private hospital cover in Australia.
The Smart Investor Magazine completed a full comparison of all
Health insurers' products to determine the best value cover offered
in each state and for each life stage. This review confirmed that
Queensland Country Health Fund was considered one of the top 7
Health Funds in Australia and one of the two best Health Funds in
Queensland for families and established couples.
We are very pleased to receive this recognition but also
understand that there is more that we can do. We conduct a
Member satisfaction survey each year and based on feedback
received from our Members introduce changes and benefit
improvements with the aim of better meeting the needs of our
Members. We value your feedback and will continue to look for
ways to improve our service to you.
Offering good service is only part of meeting the expectations of
Members. We also understand that price and value for money is
very important.
Offering an affordable health insurance product that is
competitively priced forms a significant part of our assessment
when considering increases to premiums. Queensland Country
Health Fund has been successful in ensuring that our premium
increases over the past 5 years have been less than the industry
average and less than our major competitors.
Thanks for your continued support of the Fund and we look
forward to rewarding this loyalty with further improvements in our
products and service.
Aaron Newman
Health Fund 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Queensland Country Health Fund 5.04% 3.81% 2.82% 5.53% 4.50%
Medibank 5.88% 4.94% 4.64% 5.74% 5.74%
MBF 6.71% 4.39% 4.80% 5.98% 5.62%
BUPA Australia 4.92% 4.50% 4.58% 6.00% 5.39%
Industry Average 5.68% 4.52% 4.99% 6.02% 5.78%
“Offering good service is onlypart of meeting the expectationsof Members. We also understandthat price and value for money isvery important. ”
September 10 | Queensland Country Health Fund 3
Were you aware that you belong to an award winning health fund? Over the last two years Queensland Country Health Fund has won
the state award from CANNEX for outstanding value hospital cover in Queensland. We have also been mentioned in the Financial
Review Smart Investor Magazine for June 2010 as offering one of the best value Hospital insurance covers in Queensland. What an
honour! Of course we know that our product is fantastic, and this cements it in our view.
The Financial Review used data from the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman (from www.privatehealth.gov.au ) and information from
the State of the Health Funds report, along with information from insurers' websites and product disclosure statements, to compare
private hospital insurance plans from 40 different insurers, this included open and restricted access health funds. They compared
hundreds of policies and ours came up as one of the best!
Some of the features that the Smart Investor Magazine used to determine their winners' were as follows:
✔ The plan must give exemption from the Medicare levy surcharge
✔ It must have minimal or no exclusions other than for surgery by podiatrist or cosmetic surgery
✔ It must have no benefit limitation periods and no, or minimal, limits on cover for cardiac, eye lens, rehabilitation and psychiatric care
for singles, couples and families as well as covering families for assisted reproduction, pregnancy and birth and sterilisation; and for
older couples: joint replacement, dialysis and palliative care
✔ The plan must have the lowest possible excess and co-payments
✔ The relevant insurer must have a reasonable number of agreements with private and day hospitals in each state where they
are recommended
✔ They specifically looked for plans with a high level of member retention and acceptable levels of complaints
✔ The plan must give the highest possible level of gap cover for medical and hospital related services
Queensland Country Health Fund was found to be one of the two best health funds in Queensland for family cover and for an
established couple as per the above criteria.
Financial Review Smart Investor Edition June 2010
The office of the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman has moved.From 19 July 2010, their new location and mailing address is:
AUSTRALIA’S HEALTHA Mixed BagAmidst all the current debate and claims
of Australia becoming the fattest nation
and political claims that the health
system is in crisis, the recent National
Health Survey (NHS) demonstrated that
not all things relating to health in
Australia are bad. Australians currently
boast one of the highest life
expectancies in the world for both males
(almost 80 years of age) and females
(almost 84 years of age), and when
compared internationally to a host of
other health indicators Australia
generally fairs in the best third if not
leading other comparable nations.
According to national data from the
NHS and the Australian Bureau of
Statistics (ABS) Australia has seen
significant reductions in a number of
health indicators in the past 20 years.
Among the most notable changes has
seen mortality rates for breast cancer,
lung cancer, stroke, suicide and
maternal mortality all decrease
significantly moving from the middle
third among comparable nations into the
best third. Even more significant was the
reduction in mortality rates of colon
cancer moving from the worst third of
comparable nations to the best third
while other indicators such as coronary
heart disease moved from the worst
third to the middle third.
Health risk also demonstrated
significant improvement with smoking
rates falling dramatically from 30% to
almost 16% moving into the best third
among comparable nations. Alcohol
consumption also saw a reduction in the
past 20 years and remains steadily in
the middle third of comparable nations.
In turn the NHS reported an increase
from the middle third to the best third
for the number of people rating their
health as good or better with almost
85% of people reporting their health as
either good or better.
Despite this positive outlook regarding
the health of Australians there still
remain a number of not so positive
aspects that despite federal
government, state government, local
government and non-government
organisations spending a combined
$103 billion on health in Australia little
or no improvements are seen. The most
pressing example of this is the disparity
in life expectancy among different
population groups. Life expectancy for
Indigenous Australians is 10-15 years
less than non-Indigenous Australians
and despite improvements in health care
delivery Indigenous populations
continue to fair worse than non-
Indigenous populations on a significant
number of health indicators.
The NHS also revealed that regardless
of improvements in a number of health
indicators Australia is still falling behind
comparable nations in regards to a
number of health indicators. The most
recent NHS data saw Australia fall to
almost the worst third among
comparable nations for diabetes and
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
while Australia did reach the worst third
of comparable nations in regards to
infant mortality and obesity.
Despite the noticeable disparities in
health overall Australia’s health does
look good with a significant proportion
of the population reporting good or
better health, however pressure
continues to mount on the current
health care system as Australia’s
population continues to age. The
increase in chronic disease with an
aging population will likely continue to
increase costs and add to an already
stretched health care budget.
Government policies continue to
attempt to maintain the current health
care system into the future, however a
100% government funded system is
unachievable in today’s climate.
Continued private health sector growth
and individual investment in health is a
significant step towards a sustainable
health care system for the future.
“Australians currently boast one of the highest lifeexpectancies in the world for both males (almost 80 yearsof age) and females (almost 84 years of age)”.
Gary Williams
SPHTM&RS JAMES COOKUNIVERSITY
Claim Forms We know how busy you are, so to make things even faster for
you, it’s no longer necessary for you to complete treatment
details on our claim form. Even if you have 30 receipts, you
only require the one form to accompany it. You can even scan
your receipts and email your claim with a claim form to
“To help keep your teeth in great shape you shouldplan to visit your Dentist and Hygienist regularly.”
BENEFITS IN FOCUS Dental Cleaning and Checkups
At Queensland Country Health Fund we have an industry leading range of dental benefits. To help keep your teeth in great shape you
should plan to visit your Dentist and Hygienist regularly. Below are some examples of benefits that we pay towards cleaning and
check-ups. If you’re unsure of your out of pocket costs, your Dental professional will be able to provide you with the item numbers for
the services that will be undertaken and from this information we can give you an exact estimate of benefit entitlement.
Are you getting enough sun?
Living in ‘the Sunshine State’ it may come
as a surprise that a reasonable portion of
our population is actually vitamin D
deficient. Vitamin D we typically get from
exposure to the sun but it is also available
through food sources. An increasing
number of us are not experiencing regular
sun exposure as we spend daylight hours
working indoors and in fact avoid sun
exposure due to skin cancer risk. However,
there is now also mounting evidence
suggesting that a lack of vitamin D may
also increase the risk of some cancers.
So what is vitamin D?
It is one of our fat-soluble vitamins and
through various pathways and mechanisms
assists the body with calcium absorption,
regulation and healthy bone development.
Vitamin D also plays an important role
in our immune system. It can also
reduce inflammation.
What happens if I don’t get enough?
Long -term deficiency results in impaired
bone mineralization and can lead to thin,
brittle or soft bones. Long-term deficiency
can result in diseases such as rickets
(impeded growth at childhood),
osteomalacia (bone thinning disorder) or
osteoporosis (reduced bone density).
Where can I get it?
Vitamin D is not highly abundant in food
sources however the best sources are fatty
fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel,
sardines and cod liver oil. The easiest way
to get your required intake of vitamin D is
from the sun. It takes just a few minutes in
the peak daylight hours with your arms,
hands and face exposed to get the
amount of vitamin D required daily.
So how do I get enough vitamin D
without increasing my risk of skin
cancers?
• Eat plenty of oily fish – not only will it
provide you with vitamin D but it will supply
you with essential omega 3 fatty acids.
• If you spend most of your daylight hours
in the office, try to get out of the office in
your lunch break - go for a walk or eat
your lunch in a park.
• Instead of exercising inside in a gym, go
outside for a walk/run.
• Remember 5-10 minutes of sun exposure
is all you need to meet your requirements.
If you’re out for longer than this don’t
forget to cover up and use sunscreen
What about in winter, do I need more?
The recommendation is for 10-30 minutes
exposure two times per week, between
10am and 3pm.
Can’t I just take a vitamin D supplement?
You can, however vitamin D is better
absorbed via the skin than the digestive
tract so a small amount of sun exposure
tends to work best.
Should I get my vitamin D levels
checked?
If you are concerned, ask your doctor for a
blood test.
How do I know if I’m deficient in
vitamin D?
Often times you won’t until you have a
bone issue. In fact, even those who we
would presume to have high vitamin D
levels such as cricketers or outdoor
workers, sometimes have low vitamin D
levels. We do not yet know why some
people maintain good vitamin D levels
while others don’t.
Recent research has also looked at vitamin
D’s role in reducing the risk for cancers
such as colorectal, breast, prostate and
pancreas. While it is too early to write a
prescription for sun exposure to lower your
cancer risk, this research does add
strength to the importance of maintaining a
healthy vitamin D level.
Research is also looking at vitamin D’s role
in mental health disorders such as
depression. Sun exposure is known to
assist in mood disorders, while a lack of
sun exposure can exacerbate or initiate
depression. However it is unknown
whether vitamin D is the cause of this
disturbance in mood or some other factor.
There is also research looking into vitamin
D as a treatment for a variety of mental
health issues. We will have to wait for
more research to shed light on this
emerging area but it does seem that a little
sunlight is a quick and easy way to improve
the mood!
Vitamin D appears to be a very important
micronutrient so make sure you’re getting
your twice-weekly dose of vitamin D for
strong bones, reducing your cancer risk
and lifting your mood!
BENEFITS OF VITAMIN D
10 Queensland Country Health Fund | September 10
Lauren Nugent
EAT SMARTNUTRITION
CONSULTANT
September 10 | Queensland Country Health Fund 11
Pharmacy Benefits
Townsville RunningFestivalAt Queensland Country Health Fund we
love to get behind the community by
supporting a number of different sporting
teams and events. This year we have
sponsored the Townsville Running
Festival. This wonderful community event
promotes healthy living and gives the
competitors a chance to enjoy
Townsville’s beautiful Strand. You didn't
have to be the next Steve Monaghetti,
but for the more serious competitors
there was a chance to win cash prizes
and break some records. Walk or run, it
was a great way to start the day!
Some of our staff competitors
If you have Extras cover with us, you
can claim Pharmacy benefits. There are
some fund rules that determine what
pharmaceutical products are eligible for
benefits, for details please see below:
• Medication must be listed with Mims
(a company that provides
independent medical information
regarding pharmaceuticals)
• Pharmacy item must be scripted
• Medication must be supplied in the
correct dosage as per Mims – we
will only assess benefits on individual
dosage quantities if you buy in bulk
• Pharmacy item purchase amount
must be above the Pharmaceutical
Benefits Scheme (PBS) amount of
$33.30 – for more information on
this see the following paragraph
• Medication must be dispensed from
a pharmacy
• We require an official pharmacy
receipt to accompany claim
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
(PBS) is a national pharmaceutical
scheme funded by the Federal
Government where patients make a
contribution to the cost of prescribed
drugs. We do not pay for any
pharmaceutical prescriptions that are
covered by the Pharmaceutical
Benefits Scheme, ie items under
$33.30. We do pay benefits for
eligible products that exceed this
purchase amount.
We do not cover the contraceptive pill.
Some pills are prescribed solely for
skin conditions and these are
claimable. If you’re unsure on whether
you can claim for these please contact
us to check, a Doctor’s letter is
required annually and we need to
check its listing in Mims.
We do cover Compound Pharmacy
items provided that one of the
ingredients meets the above criteria.
Metvix Cream can also be claimed. It
must meet the above requirements.
Please note that photodynamic therapy
or related Doctor’s charges are not
claimable through us.
If a claim is submitted for a PBS
pharmaceutical prescription, or for items
dispensed at a Public Hospital or for
discharge drugs, Queensland Country
Health Fund cannot pay a benefit.
Visit your localQueensland Country Credit Union branch
IMPROVE THECARBON FOOTPRINTOF YOUR HOME ANDYOU COULD WIN$2,000 CASH BACK.
www.qccu.com.au
WE CAN PROVIDE A LOW COST LOAN FOR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
• Solar (photovoltaic) panels and systems
• Rainwater storage tanks
• Grey-water treatment system
• Roof insulation
OUR ECO SMART GREEN LOAN PROVIDES:
• $0 establishment fee
• $0 monthly loan maintenance fee
• No deposit required
• Borrow between $3,000 and $25,000
• Term of 1-5 years
If your Eco Smart Green Loan isapproved and funded between 1 July and 30 September 2010, you’ll automatically have a chance towin $2,000 cash back on the energyefficient product that you borrow for.
Queensland Country Credit Union Ltd. ABN 77 087 651 027. AFSL 244 533. Normal lending criteria applies.Other fees and charges apply. Competition and other terms and conditions are available on request.