Privacy Policy
The Doctors' Health Fund is committed to protecting your privacy. Any personal information you provide while visiting our website, talking to our consultants, joining or claiming will remain confidential.
Introduction
We have a legal obligation to comply with the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988, as amended by the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 (the Act) and the National Privacy Principles which form part of the Act. If this policy is inconsistent with our obligations under the Act, we will comply with the Act.
Under the Act, organisations in possession of an individual’s 'personal information' must observe strict restrictions and standards about the collection, use, disclosure and security of that information.
We are a national 'restricted membership’ fund. In providing our services, we may require some personal information. Our primary purpose in collecting such information is the provision of your benefits and meeting our legal obligations as a registered fund. We have developed this policy to inform you
• how we will collect, hold, use, and disclose personal information;
• how you can gain access to personal information held by us; and
• how you may complain about any perceived breaches of privacy.
What personal information do we collect?
• In order to set up your health insurance policy for you: your name, address, date of birth, contact details and other personal details;
• The names, dates of birth and other personal information of all the persons covered on your policy;
• The status of your health insurance cover;
• Details of claims you or the persons covered on your policy make or wish to make;
• Your preferences for products, services and benefits.
We may seek to collect personal information regarded as ‘sensitive’ or ‘health information’. We will not do so without your consent, unless authorised by law or, if necessary, in connection with a legal claim or in relation to the fairness of our handling of your claim for benefits.
Personal information includes information related to you and the persons covered under your health insurance policy. Unless we are notified otherwise, all information, including that of all the persons covered on the policy, may be disclosed to you or to the person authorised by you to have access to your policy.
How do we collect personal information?
A. Information gathered from you
We obtain most of your private information directly from you,
• when you apply for a product or service;
• when you apply to vary your level of cover or persons covered;
• when you submit a claim; and
• each time we speak to you on the telephone.
We may sometimes ask for particular personal information. Unless we have already done so, we will take reasonable steps to inform you:
• why we need the information;
• if any law requires that we collect the information; and
• the main consequences if you do not provide all or part of the information.
B. Information gathered from third parties
We also collect information:
• where additional health information is required, we may, with your permission, contact your nominated health provider;
• from your health provider to clarify details provided by you;
• from other individuals covered by your family membership;
• with your authorisation, where services claimed may be compensable from another source, from any other persons who can help to establish your eligibility.
How do we store personal information?
We hold your personal information in a combination of computer storage facilities, paper-based files and other records located in secured premises in our offices or those of our contractors. We follow strict information security policies and procedures to protect personal information from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure and require our contractors to do the same.
How do we use personal information?
We collect and use personal information to:
• check your eligibility for membership and to check your identity;
• process your applications for services;
• approve transactions/claims you wish to make or on your behalf;
• set up an account for billing your membership contributions;
• provide you with services you have requested;
• inform you of health-related products, benefits or services we think might interest you;
• inform you of other products and services which we believe might benefit you;
• investigate and resolve complaints concerning our provision of services; and
• comply with legislative requirements and provisions.
How personal information is disclosed?
With your consent
We will sometimes ask you, in writing, over the phone or via e-mail, to consent to a disclosure of your personal information for a particular purpose.
Where you indicate that you wish to obtain information about products or services, your consent will be taken as given.
Without your consent
We may disclose or use your personal information, without your consent, in the following circumstances:
• for a reasonably expected purpose related to the collection of information, as contemplated by this Privacy Policy Statement;
• we reasonably believe it is necessary to assist an enforcement body to perform its functions;
• we suspect that an unlawful activity has been, is being or may be engaged in, and your personal information is a necessary part of our investigation into, or our reporting of, the matter;
• we reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent a threat to life, health or safety;
• we are authorised or required by law to do so (e.g. where information is required by bodies regulating us or in response to subpoenas or warrants);
• we have contracted an external organisation to provide support services and that organisation has agreed to conform to our privacy standards and to be audited by us in this regard; or
• the disclosure is to a credit reporting agency in connection with our extending credit to you or recovering from you amounts you owe us.
Disclosing your personal information to others
We do not disclose your information to others, except
• to organisations which provide services to us;
• with your consent or where it is necessary to provide you with services;
• to organisations which have requested us to provide services to you or who co-operate with us in offering products or services; or
• where required by law.
We have a legal obligation under the Private Health Insurance Act 2007 to participate in the Hospital Casemix Protocol (HCP) data collection by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing. Data is de-identified for statistical use. The Australian Health Services Alliance (AHSA) is our agent for HCP data collection.
Your consent
In general, unless you advise us otherwise, you consent, in providing us with personal information, to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with this Privacy Policy Statement.
Access and correction
You may ask our staff for access to your personal information held by us. If that information is not accurate, complete or up-to-date, we will take reasonable steps to correct it. A request for access or correction may, in limited circumstances, be denied, in which case we will explain our reasons.
Security
We have strict information security policies and procedures in place to prevent misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification and disclosure of personal information. We use a secure waste disposal system for destruction of records containing personal information which are no longer needed.
Changes to our Privacy Policy
We may, from time to time, change our policies and update this Privacy Policy. If so, we will publish an updated Privacy Policy at www.doctorshealthfund.com.au/privacy-policy.
You may, at any time, request a copy of our most current Privacy Policy.
Complaints about privacy
You should address any complaint of an alleged breach of privacy to our Operations Manager. If we fail to resolve your concerns, you can ask the Privacy Commissioner to investigate your complaint.
Contact Details:
Operations Manager
The Doctors' Health Fund Limited
P O Box 482
St Leonards NSW 1590
Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner
Privacy Hotline 1300 363 992
(local call charge)
http://www.privacy.gov.au/
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