Why do 50% of Australians take out health insurance?

Every Australian has access to the public health system at no additional cost. All taxpayers pay a Medicare Levy that funds it for everyone. So why pay for health insurance on top of this?

Health insurance provides you with more choice and control when it comes to your healthcare, and it may provide tax benefits. But it can also be expensive so it’s important to understand what you need before you sign on the dotted line.

There are only two types of cover you need to think about

1. Hospital cover

2. Extras cover

Each type pays benefits for different types of treatment. Most people take out combined hospital and extras cover, but you can choose one or the other depending on your needs.

1. Hospital cover – pays benefits toward the cost of treatment in hospital. It gives you control over:

  • WHO you’re treated by – some people prefer a surgeon recommended by their doctor
  • WHERE you’re treated – access to a private hospital close to home and a more comfortable environment
  • WHEN you’re treated – because waiting times are usually shorter in the private system

The level of hospital cover you choose determines the types of procedures you’re covered for (like pregnancy or heart surgery). The higher the level of cover, the more procedures you will be covered for.

When a procedure is “covered”, that means that 100% of the cost (minus any excess) of your hospital admission, and a proportion of your doctor’s fees, are paid by your health fund.

2. Extras cover – pays benefits towards treatment for things that Medicare doesn’t cover. This includes non-GP services like general dental, major dental, optical, physio and more.

Extras is all about your lifestyle and it’s the area where you can claim benefits more often. It’s the cover that you’ll actually use, whereas hospital cover is there just in case.

There are two different ways that health funds calculate benefits for extras treatment:

  • as a percentage of the fee charged by the provider (eg. 65% back from a dental consultation) – which works out best for occasional treatment, or
  • as a fixed dollar per visit (eg. $30 per Physio visit) – which can be more cost-effective for frequent treatment

Choose a cover with the option that’s going to suit you best. Then enquire about the total annual limits your cover will provide across different services.

If you never use these types of services, then maybe extras cover isn’t a must-have for you.

There are also two types of health funds you need to be aware of:

Once you know whether you want hospital or extras cover, or a combination of both, you need to think about which health insurer will give you the best peace of mind and best value.

The Compare Health Insurance Online compares and suggests funds that provide superior value through better coverage and more benefits, which is why we have happier customers.

Compare Health Insurance Online comparison service is a brilliant way of identifying the top policies for your needs, and you can finish off the process by talking to one of our health insurance experts. We can ensure that you’re going to be able to benefit immediately from your health insurance by exploring your waiting period options and also take the time to properly explain the tax benefits you’ll receive.

You can use our online comparison service to do most of the work for you, or give us a call on 1300 73 96 92, and we’ll find the best health cover for you from a panel of health funds.