What's the difference between a Shared Responsibility and an Excess?
Shared Responsibility and an Excess offer ways to help control your premiums - but there are differences with how they work.
How does Shared Responsibility work?
Shared Responsibility is a co-payment feature that allows you to take greater control of your health insurance premium.
Unlike a traditional Excess, a set percentage of treatment costs are paid, no matter how small. You share the cost of your treatment by contributing a smaller set percentage. Your contribution is also capped at your chosen level for your policy year.
Shared Responsibility is applied per person, per policy year and not per claim. The examples below are based on a Shared Responsibility of 25% paid by you and 75% by WPA. Other percentage splits may be available.
1
WPA will pay 75% directly to the treatment provider. We will then inform you of your share which you will need to pay yourself.
2
Your contribution is then taken from your chosen level of Shared Responsibility.
3
Once you reach your chosen level of Shared Responsibility WPA will pay 100% of any eligible claims subject to your benefit limits.
4
When your policy is renewed, your level of Shared Responsibility starts again with the new policy year, even if the course of treatment started beforehand.
An example
Select a level of Shared Responsibility:
Please note that the examples are for indicative purposes only. They are based upon the assumption that the Optional Extras or level of cover chosen provides benefit for the types of treatment illustrated.
Shared Responsibility levels and percentage splits
Other Shared Responsibility levels and percentage splits may be available. For full details please refer to your Policy Brochure, Guide, and Benefit Schedule.
Shared Responsibility or Excess?
To help you choose which option is right for you, we have created this helpful video which runs through the two options, the pros and cons of each, with some example scenarios to help you see the differences between a Shared Responsibility and an Excess.
Finding the right option for you is important, and can also help to keep your health insurance premiums at an affordable level.