Keep health costs down now!
Health insurance is one of those things we all need to factor into the budget but with premiums continuing to rise, is there a way to stay on top of the costs?
The recent changes to the way in which the government’s private health insurance rebate is calculated coupled with rising insurance premiums is forcing many people to re-evaluate whether or not they can afford health cover.
With changes to the age pension indexation and a proposed increase to the pension eligibility age, household budgets are tightening with people having to reassess what’s a necessary expense and what can be removed. When times are tough financially, it provides an opportunity to review your health cover and check if better value options are available.
Together with rising premiums and income concerns, a change in life stage also requires a different type of health cover to keep you living life at your best. It becomes increasingly important to find cover which is specifically tailored to the needs of over 60s.
Here’s a few easy tips for managing private health insurance costs.
Remember to claim
The cost of your private health insurance overall is a balance between the premium and your potential returns through claims. You should always claim to ensure your return on investment, especially with extras policies. When making a booking with your healthcare provider, check to see if they have HICAPS, which allows you to claim automatically at your health service provider.
Know your policy
A common mistake among many people is that they forget what they’re insured for and what amount they can claim back. In this case, the cost of private healthcare becomes a liability, not a benefit. When reviewing a policy, take a look at the services you claimed for in the last 12 months, how often you claimed, your spend on health services, which you didn’t or couldn’t claim for, and any new services you might want to claim for in the following year.
Be smart with extras
When assessing your existing health insurance policy or shopping around for a new one, make sure you look at the services the policy provides, especially the extras. While some people have been content to buy a comprehensive policy which gave them a few added ‘luxury’ services, many are now taking a closer look at the extras they’re paying for and reassessing whether they actually need them.