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:

2202 / 580 George Street Sydney NSW 2000

PHIO Complain Hotline: 1800 640 695Phone: 02 8235 8777Fax: 02 8235 8778Web: www.phio.org.au

[ ]

4 Queensland Country Health Fund | September 10

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

qchealth@qccu.com.au. As we have moved over to paperless

technology if you are planning to mail your claim form to us,

we would also appreciate your co-operation in using paper

clips instead of staples, it’s one way we’re helping to save

the planet!

Combined LimitsSome of your Extras have sub-limits. Whilst the overall

Therapy limit is $900 for Essential Extras and $1400 for

Premium Extras, some Extras have a sub-limit. This means

you can only claim up to a certain amount for specific

therapies. These include Physiotherapy and Podiatry. A

combined limit applies to Osteopathy, Chiro and Massage.

Dental service categories also attract a sub-limit. To see

exactly how much you can claim for your particular level of

cover please see a list of our Extras on our website

www.qldcountryhealth.com.au or you can call us on

1800 813 415.

Tax TimeIt’s that time of year again. If your postal address details on

record are current, you should by now have received your

Tax Rebate Statement and Lifetime Health Cover certificate

required for completion of personal tax returns. It’s important

to note that once you turn 30 years of age you need to

maintain your health insurance cover to avoid paying the

Lifetime Health Cover loading. If you do drop off hospital

cover, you can be without cover for 1094 days without

incurring a Lifetime Health Cover loading. If you join after

this period, it is Government legislation that a 2% loading will

be added to your premium for every year that you are

without cover. If you’re a high income earner, private health

insurance hospital cover is a requirement to avoid paying the

extra 1% Medicare Levy Surcharge. Even more reason to

maintain your hospital cover!

Service CentresWe have several Service Centres for our Members'

convenience. Sometimes you may need to see a friendly

face when you have a query regarding your cover. You can

drop in claims, change Membership details, and ask any

questions regarding your cover or benefit entitlement. For

security of our staff, most of our Service Centres are now

cash free but claims are still processed and funds deposited

via direct credit to your nominated bank account. Our

Service Centres are in the following locations:

Caneland Central Shopping Centre - Mackay186 Queen Street - Ayr70 Camooweal Street - Mount Isa (cash claims available)Willows Shopping Centre - Kirwan

Before Commencing Any TreatmentIf you’re unsure of your level of cover or benefit entitlements,

and are requiring or considering commencing medical

treatment, be it with your Dentist or Surgeon, we may be

able to assist you with some information. We can confirm

your benefit entitlements for dental procedures, if an excess

is payable for hospital treatment and provide information

regarding possible out-of-pocket expenses. Before calling

please make sure you have a full estimate of costs from your

practitioner so we can best help you.

Membership Year At Queensland Country Health Fund our aim is to ensure our

policy structure is as fair to all Members as possible. This is

why we employ an anniversary or join date based system for

calculation of benefit entitlement. This means that all your

benefit entitlements are based on your initial joining date.

So when we talk about your Membership year this means we

are talking about the anniversary of your original date of

joining. If you’re unsure about your join date, please contact

us or check on Web Services via our website. Our new look

Membership cards have the Anniversary date displayed for

ease of recognition of this important date.

Did you know?

September 10 | Queensland Country Health Fund 5

Singles

The threshold for singles for the 2010-

2011 financial year is $77,000. This

means that if you earn over $77,000

and do not have eligible hospital cover,

you will be taxed an extra 1%, which is a

minimum of $770 annually.

Couples

The threshold for couples for the 2010-

2011 financial year is $154,000. This

means that if you and your partner earn

over $154,000 and do not have hospital

cover, you will be taxed an extra 1%,

which is a minimum of $1,540 annually.

Families

The threshold for families for the 2010-

2011 financial year is also $154,000, so

if your combined household income

exceeds $154,000 and you do not have

eligible hospital cover, you will be taxed

an extra 1%, which is a minimum of

$1,540 annually. This applies to both

single-parent and two-parent families,

however special rules apply to families

with more than one child. The Medicare

Levy Surcharge threshold increases by

$1,500 for every child after the first, as

per the table below:

Eligible Hospital Cover

To avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge

an eligible hospital cover policy must

have an excess:

• Equal to or less than $500 per

annum for singles or

• Equal to or less than $1,000 for

couples and families.

Who are dependants in relation to the

Medicare Levy Surcharge?

A dependant, in relation to the Medicare

Levy Surcharge is someone whose

maintenance you contribute towards,

and they would be:

• Your spouse

• Any of your children who are under

21 years of age

• Any children who are students and

are under the age of 25 years of age.

MEDICARE LEVY SURCHARGE

What is the Medicare Levy Surcharge?

The Medicare Levy Surcharge is an

extra 1% tax payable by those who

earn over a certain threshold but do not

have eligible private hospital cover and

is in addition to the 1.5% Medicare levy

paid by most Australian taxpayers. (All

Queensland Country Health Fund

private hospital covers exempt

policyholders from paying this

additional tax). The objective of the

Medicare Levy Surcharge is to

encourage high income earners to

have, and maintain private health

insurance to assist in easing the burden

on the public health system by utilising

the services offered by the private

health sector.

It is necessary to maintain eligible

hospital cover for each full 12 month

period (financial year) to avoid paying

the Medicare Levy Surcharge.

No. of children MLS threshold

1 $154,000

2 $155,500

3 $157,000

etc. + $1,500 per child

6 Queensland Country Health Fund | September 10

Medicare Levy Surcharge Thresholds

We want you to be more hands on and

we’ll reward you for it! If you register for

online services in the month of

September, you will go into the draw to

win one of 5 $100 gift cards. To register

for online services just visit our website

www.qldcountryhealth.com.au and

hit the register button in the top right

hand corner and you’ll automatically

go into the draw!

WebsiteOur website is an informative guide to

the fund and its product range. Did you

know that you can also personally access

your own membership online? By

registering for online web services, you

can check the status of your membership

whenever you want. Online web services

gives you the ability to update your

membership details whenever you want,

giving you greater control and easy

access. Please see below on how you

can also win a prize just by registering for

online web services.

To access these online web services, all

you need to do is register on the

homepage. This register icon is located

at the top right hand corner of the

screen. Once you register for a

password, we’ll send you a confirmation

email back and you’re ready to go.

You can log on at any time of the day

and check your cover; you can even

update address details, change your

level of cover and even add a new

addition to the family. Following is a list

of all the different things you can do

by registering:

• Claims history

• View/print tax statement

• Update membership details

• Change contact details

• Add a new person

• Change personal details

• Add student dependant declaration

• Add Medicare card details

• Add previous cover details

• Change level of cover

• Update your method of payment

• Update the way we pay benefits eg: direct credit

• Contribution changes

• View benefit limits

Of course, not everyone is comfortable

using the internet. That’s why you can

always call us on 1800 813 415.

We’re happy to walk you through it or

help you over the phone!

“Once you register for a password,we’ll send you a confirmation emailback and you’re ready to go.”

Web Services Life can be so hectic these days. Work,

friends and family, school, study, sport…

sometimes it’s hard to find enough

hours in the day to get things done!

That’s why we find ourselves, as a

society, using the internet more and

more to do everyday things. The

internet provides us with 24 hour

access to shopping, news,

entertainment, banking, bill paying and

even our friendships, why not your

health insurance too?

We understand that a lot of our

Members work long hours. It’s hard to

get to the phone, and sometimes by the

time you realise the time, it’s too late to

contact us in person. This is why our

new website is so helpful.

We have designed our website to

feature as much useful product

information and content as possible.

There’s all kinds of information on your

Queensland Country Health Fund cover,

and it’s right at your fingertips. If you

were thinking of changing your level of

cover, there’s a calculator there so you

can see the difference in price. If you’re

going to hospital shortly, you can check

whether your hospital has a contract

with us. You can download forms, find

important information, and contact

details. So jump online

www.qldcountryhealth.com.au

and have a look around.

September 10 | Queensland Country Health Fund 7

register online to

Win!

8 Queensland Country Health Fund | September 10

Why see a Podiatrist?

Our feet are often the most neglected

and forgotten part of our body.

Research has shown that people are

more likely to have serviced their car

than to have had their feet checked by

a Podiatrist. Yet our feet are our main

mode of transport, carrying us on a

journey of 128,000 kilometres in a

lifetime – the equivalent to three times

around the world!

Podiatrists are tertiary qualified health

professionals trained to deal with the

prevention, diagnosis, treatment and

rehabilitation of medical and surgical

conditions of the feet and lower limbs.

The complex way feet work and wide

range of foot problems demand

professional expertise to assess and

manage the causes of foot pain.

What does a Podiatrist do?

In my opinion, the primary goal of a

Podiatrist is to manage lower limb

conditions via conservative treatment,

where possible, therefore reducing or

eliminating the need for medication,

cortisone injections and surgery.

Treatment may include strapping, foot

strengthening and stretching, footwear

advice and modification or customised

arch supports (orthotics).

Can a Podiatrist help you?

Podiatrists treat people of all age

groups – from toddlers through to the

elderly. Most people are unaware that

the majority of adult foot problems

manifest themselves in early childhood,

when the foot is still developing. Early

detection may eliminate some problems

from occurring.

Podiatrists play an important role in

sporting circles, including managing

sports injuries but more importantly

improving biomechanical performance

to maximise efficiency and minimise the

risk of injury.

With the older demographic, falls at

home are frequent and linked to poor

foot mechanics and in particular foot

pain. As you get on in years you are

more likely to have bunions, toe

deformities, numbness and poor foot

strength which mean you are much more

likely to suffer multiple falls.

Unfortunately, older people tend to

dismiss foot pain and foot problems as

symptoms of ageing that just have to be

accepted, when in fact people with

these conditions need to seek treatment.

And lastly you may not be aware, foot

function does not only affect the foot

and ankle, but also has a direct affect

on how the knees and hips and lower

back will function. Body weight places

enormous stress on these load bearing

joints, so if the joints aren’t properly

aligned with the foot, then long term

ailments may occur.

So if you find any of the above relates

to you – don’t hesitate any longer

before seeing a Podiatrist!

Hayley Paterson is a Podiatrist at

PROARCH PODIATRY Townsville

Hayley Paterson

ACCREDITED PODIATRIST

B.HSc. Podiatry (Hons) M.A. Pod ABenefits of Podiatry

Type of Service Waiting period

Essential Extras$900 combined limit permembership year. Limitsapply per person covered

Premium Extras$1,400 combined limit permembership year. Limitsapply per person covered

Podiatry Sub-limit $350 Sub-limit $550

Initial consultation andsubsequent consultation

$22 $35

Approved appliances 85% of cost – a sub-limitof $350 applies

85% of cost – a sub-limitof $550 applies

Minor procedures 75% of cost 75% of cost

2 months

BENEFITS INFOCUSPodiatry

If you have Extras cover with us

you are able to claim for Podiatry

services from a registered

Podiatrist. The following table

outlines the benefits available

and limits that may apply.

September 10 | Queensland Country Health Fund 9

The key to maintaining your natural

teeth for life is in the prevention of oral

diseases and decay.

Regular preventive care appointments

are important to help prevent dental

problems. The health of your mouth

has a major impact on your general

health and wellbeing, having a nice

smile does wonders for your self-

esteem. Healthy teeth and gums

enable good eating habits and speech

formation. The health of your mouth is

closely linked to your general health.

The latest scientific research shows

that dental disease may contribute to

health problems such as; heart attack,

stroke, premature birth and diabetes.

Having regular 6 monthly visits allows

issues to be found and treated at an

early stage preventing them from

becoming a painful and costly exercise.

Most people would rather have the

experience and cost of a small filling

compared to root canal treatment or

an extraction.

Thorough and consistent oral hygiene

is one of the major keys to keeping you

smile for life. The great news is that if

you have dental extras a large amount

of the costs of preventative care will be

covered by your health fund. Early

intervention is the key to a great smile

that lasts a lifetime.

Patricia Drockman HYGIENISTPreventative Dental Care

Type of Service Waiting Periods

Essential Extras$900 overall limit permembership year. Limitapplies per person covered

Premium Extras$1,400 overall limit perMembership year. Limitapplies per person covered

Diagnostic This includesexaminations,consultations, x-rays etc

2 months $200Periodic Oral Exam - $22X-rays - $17

$300Periodic Oral Exam - $35X-rays - $27

Preventative This includesCleaning and scaling,Fluoride treatment , OralHygiene instruction andmouth guards

2 months $300Scale & Clean - $35Fluoride Treatment - $10

$500Scale & Clean - $55Fluoride Treatment - $15

DENTAL

Limits per Membership Year and What We’ll Pay

“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.