insurance

Ella Ingram – the 21-year-old student who refused to accept insurance giant QBE ’s decision to deny her travel insurance claim – has won a landmark victory against discrimination in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Released in August 2013, this information sheet outlines why the MHCA and beyondblue are concerned about the ways in which insurers may be discriminating against people with experience of mental illness. It details some of the changes that the MHCA and beyondblue are calling for to improve insurance outcomes and experiences for people with mental illness, and encourages consumers to come forward with their stories about insurance and mental illness.

beyondblue and the Mental Health Council of Australia are stepping up their campaign to end practices in the Australian insurance industry that may discriminate against people with a mental illness. The organisations are urging more potential victims of discrimination to come forward, share their stories and participate in the move to redress this issue. beyondblue CEO Kate Carnell AO said Australians with an experience of mental illness are regularly denied insurance cover, forced to pay higher premiums or have their claim rejected because of their illness.

The Mental Health Council of Australia and beyondblue: the national depression and anxiety initiative has launched the Mental Health and Insurance Project website, a collaboration with representatives from the insurance and financial services sectors as a means of addressing information gaps and empowering consumers seeking insurance products.

This submission highlights the specific challenges faced by people with experience of mental illness in applying for, or making claims against insurance policies, in particular those where they relate to the private health insurance sector.

The Mental Health Council of Australia has welcomed the release of the Productivity Commission’s final report into Disability Care and Support and applauds the inclusion of those experiencing disability caused by mental illness within the final scope of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. “The Productivity Commission’s final report recognises the right of people with psychosocial disability to receive the same disability support as people with any other kind of disability”, said Mr Frank Quinlan, CEO of the Mental Health Council of Australia.

The Mental Health Council of Australia has welcomed the release of the Productivity Commission’s final report into Disability Care and Support and applauds the inclusion of those experiencing disability caused by mental illness within the final scope of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. “The Productivity Commission’s final report recognises the right of people with psycho-social disability to receive the same disability support as people with any other kind of disability”, said Mr Frank Quinlan, CEO of the Mental Health Council of Australia.

In this Issue: Mental Health – Time to End the Neglect; Mental Health Reform – Where are We Going?; World Mental Health Day Awareness Campaign; Mental Health Carer Survey 2010; National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Leaders Call for Action Under the Government’s Human Rights Agenda; Launch of Position Statement; Recent Submissions from MHCA and NMHCCF ; MHCA Pharma Collaboration 2010-11; Mental Health Input to PBAC Decisions; Insurance Project Survey; Stress Down Day, 23 July 2010; World Mental Health Week Activities

The MHCA and beyondblue call on the Australian Government to end the unfair treatment of people with a mental illness by insurers. What is sought in this submission is a more reasonable assessment of the risks associated with mental illness, a greater understanding of mental illness from the insurance sector and greater respect for mental health consumers.