Medibank says its customers have started receiving notifications of the six-month deferral of the premium increase that was due to take effect from 1 April.
The company previously announced the approved increase for its customers (Medibank and ahm) has been postponed until October 2022.
It said the deferral brings the total support provided to customers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This deferral is the next stage of our COVID give back program and will return around $163 million to customers and take Medibank’s total financial customer support package to around $463 million," said the company.
"The six-month deferral of premium increases will be applied automatically on 1 April 2022 for all Medibank and ahm customers who hold an active, resident hospital and/or extras policy at any time between 1 April 2022 to 30 September 2021," it said.
"Customers who are no longer active but held an active resident policy between 1 July 2021 and 31 December 2021 will be eligible for a give-back."