When was the last time you claimed something on your health insurance? If you claimed anything at all it was probably for something obvious like dental or optical. One of the major reasons Aussies don’t like private health insurance is that they perceive it as providing very little value for money.
The fix? Claim more! To get the best health insurance and make sure you’re getting the most value, here are six things you might be able to claim for right now:
Gym memberships
Healthy members claim less, which is why some private health insurers will cover part of the cost of your gym membership. In some cases, private health funds will cover up to $200 towards annual gym memberships costs.
If your health fund doesn’t cover gym memberships, it may have a relationship with a specific chain of gyms. For example, if you’re with HCF you’ll receive a 10% discount when you take out a new membership with Fitness First.
Seniors fitness programs
Looking to stay fit in retirement? Well, check your extras policy to see if it covers seniors fitness programs under the broader health or health management programs section. Many insurers cover resistance training for people suffering from osteoporosis and osteopenia, strength training and courses on how to reduce your risk of falls in the home.
Depending on where you live, your state government may have a list of activities available in your local area, along with whether or not those services have a private health insurance rebate. For example, in NSW head to the Active & Healthy website.
Benefits for people with diabetes
If you have diabetes, you might want to pull out the old private health insurance cover booklet and see if you’re covered for insulin pump treatment, blood glucose monitors and accredited diabetes action programs.
Medication not covered by the PBS
While many drugs in Australia are subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), not all medications are listed on the PBS. If you’re in need of a medication that is not listed on the PBS (ie a non-PBS drug) you may be able to receive a benefit payment towards some of the costs of the medicine or vaccine.
Seeing a nutritionist
Need to get your diet in check? Once again, check your health management section, as you might be able to claim a benefit towards seeing a nutritionist for consultations or seeing a dietician.
Depending on your policy you may be able to claim for group or one-on-one dietetics, or ongoing consultations with an accredited nutritionist.
Sunglasses
I love summer and going to the beach but one of the most annoying things is trying to read while at the beach because I need reading glasses. If I just wear my sunnies I’ll end up squinting and getting a headache. If I want to wear my glasses I’ll go blind from the sunlight reflecting off the page and taking them to the beach means there’s one more thing to pack, lose or damage. First world problems, I know.
Normally, sunglasses aren’t covered by your private health insurance but, bang a couple of prescription bifocal lenses in there and you don’t have to worry about packing those reading glasses next time you want to read in the sun.
At the end of the day, the key to making the most out of your health insurance is ensuring you’re getting value for your money. Claim as much as possible to receive back as much as you can in benefits. If you’re looking for some other financial life hacks, check out this article.
Author:
Richard Laycock
Insurance expert
finder.com.au
