MBF, HBA and Mutual Community to re-brand as one, 'Bupa'
22 October 2011
Leading private health insurance brands MBF, HBA and Mutual Community are to become ‘Bupa’ as part of a change that will see Australia’s largest privately owned healthcare group provide members with a range of better services.
Bupa has operated in Australia since 2002 and currently cares for more than 3 million Australians through its private health insurance, aged care, optical care, chronic disease management and corporate wellness businesses.
Bupa’s Managing Director, Richard Bowden, said he was excited about the change, which has the best interests of the organisation’s members at its core.
“HBA, MBF and Mutual Community have been helping Australians live longer, healthier, happier lives for over 60 years – and we’re extremely proud of that,” Bowden said.
“But increasingly, as the health challenges facing our country have changed, people need us to provide a wider range of healthcare services, support and guidance; and as ‘Bupa’ we are better able to do that.
“The decision to change to Bupa is not something we’ve taken lightly. We’ve made this decision because we’re absolutely certain it’s in the best interests of our members.”
Bowden pointed to the unique benefits members would experience following the change, including access to Australia’s largest combined provider network* (of over 10,000 healthcare professionals) and the biggest retail network of any private health insurer.
“Under one brand it’s going to be much simpler and easier to access the range of services we provide. And the fact that this will also help us to operate more efficiently means we can keep costs down whilst simultaneously investing in the new healthcare services our members need,” he said.
Work to enable the move to a common ‘Bupa’ brand has been taking place for some time, and has included development of a unified IT system to better service members needs, and one consistent product suite across all of Australia.
Whilst immensely proud of its Australian heritage, the change to a common brand will also enable Bupa to better leverage the organisation’s international experience and reputation of caring for over 33 million people in 190 countries.
“We see our international experience as a strength,” Bowden said. “And we’re bringing the best of what we’ve learnt overseas to benefit our members’ right here in Australia.”
Bowden went on to say that he expects positive awareness of Bupa to build strongly over time.
“I firmly believe that the range of healthcare services we can now deliver to our members will help create strong affection for the Bupa brand, especially since we’re part of a global organisation that reinvests its profits back into healthcare - both here in Australia and around the world,” he said.
“And I’m confident that, over time, more and more people will realise that Bupa can help all Australians to be healthier.”
– Ends –
* Bupa members can access Australia’s largest combined dental, optical, physiotherapy and chiropractic provider network.
Bupa – Key Facts:
About Bupa in Australia
As a leading Australian healthcare group, Bupa’s purpose is to help Australians live longer, healthier, happier lives.
Bupa Australia Pty Limited proudly provides health insurance to more than three million Australians. It also provides complementary healthcare services through Bupa Health Dialog, Peak Health Management and Blink Optical. Bupa Aged Care Pty Limited is an aged care provider with 47 facilities around Australia.
Bupa focuses on providing sustainable healthcare solutions that represent real value, and on leading the industry in the promotion of preventive health and wellness – helping customers better manage their health for the long-term. Bupa’s Australian businesses are part of the international Bupa Group, which cares for more than 30 million people in over 190 countries.
