Is private health insurance worth it?

Every day we answer questions about the value of private health insurance. And that’s fair enough. We know it’s not always easy to get the cover that’s right for you.While every person and every family will have different circumstances, it’s important that your level of cover suits your needs, your budget and your lifestyle.

And that’s why we approach it differently at RT Health. We’re here to guide you through the process to support you with information and advice about our cover.

Why is private health insurance important? 

Private health insurance, especially Hospital cover, provides security. It’s peace of mind knowing your loved ones will be cared for if they’re injured or have a health condition. Having private hospital insurance means that even if the worst happens, you or your loved ones will be protected. 

We’ve put together some of the main reasons why private Hospital cover is so important.

Peace of mind: Nobody has a crystal ball about what future health issues might affect them. With hospital cover you’ll be better prepared for whatever happens.

Avoid waiting lists: We live in a lucky country. While Australia’s public health system is very good, there can be major wait times to get elective surgery. During that wait time, you or someone you love may be in pain or struggling. Hospital cover means you may get faster treatment for elective surgery – unlike those relying just on the public system.

Freedom to choose: Wouldn’t it be nice to choose your treating doctor or surgeon when you go into hospital? With private health insurance, you have more control over who treats you.

Incentives and rebates: There are some incentives and rebates to be aware of when it comes to making the decision to take out private health cover. 

There are three main incentives or rebates that may impact you:

  • Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS)
  • Lifetime Health Cover loading (LHC)
  • Australian Government Rebate on private health insurance.

These don’t apply to everyone, so we’ve put together some information to explain each on our website.

 

What do I need?

So, you’re thinking about private health insurance. What are your options?

From the start, a crucial decision is whether to take up Extras cover, Hospital cover. Or both. 

Hospital cover protects you when the unexpected happens. Extras cover gives you choice, benefits and tools to improve and maintain your health and wellbeing.

Quality Extras cover provides support for regular health checks (dental and optical), alternative therapies (like remedial and Swedish massage) as well as special therapies (chiro and physio) to keep you at your best. There’s a lot more available to assist you on your journey to better health – including dietetics, pharmaceutical benefits. 

You can take a look at our Extras cover options here.

What’s in it for me?  

So, what’s in it for you? Here are just a few of the most important reasons private health insurance could be for you.

More control over your healthcare: Hospital cover provides security, choice and timely access to care. There’s comfort in knowing you and your family are protected if the unexpected happens. 

You won’t have to wait: Hospital cover helps avoid those public hospital waiting lists (as long as you’ve got a suitable level of cover), so you’ll be able to access care when you need it.

Your cover, your choice: Extras cover empowers you to take control of your own health and wellbeing, knowing you’re supported with regular health treatments when you need them.

How do I pick the best health insurance for me? 

There are a few things to keep in mind when looking for private health cover.

Budget: Low-cost options may be a starting point. If you’re just starting out you may like to start with a lower level of cover – but it’s worth doing your research. Cheap doesn’t always mean best when it comes to your cover. Just remember, we’re here to talk you through your options and what our cover can provide for you.

Your health needs: You may need to consider your health needs to make the best decision when it comes to your health insurance. If you’re used to having regular dental, optical and chiro/physio appointments, it makes sense to maintain these good habits.

Health & wellbeing: Extras cover provides opportunity to focus on your health and wellbeing. And, if you already wear glasses it makes sense to remain covered if you can. Our Extras covers also pay a benefit for gym membership (as long as you have a letter from your doctor and the gym is a member of AUSactive), so it’s worth considering the investment you make in your health.

Security: Hospital cover provides peace of mind, knowing you’ll be covered if the unexpected happens. With waiting lists in public hospitals getting longer, it’s always good to know you have private cover if and when you need it.

We get it. Private health insurance can be complicated. But you’re not alone. 

Our team of consultants is on hand to chat through your cover options with you and which of our covers is best suited to your needs. Just reach out 1300 886 123 and we’ll help you any way we can.

Get a Quote today

Our expert team understands everything you need to consider when choosing what health insurance cover you need. Our consultants will spend as much time as you need to help you to understand what the best cover is for you. With just a few simple questions, we can get a picture of the type of cover you need.

Give us a call on 1800 886 123 or reach out via email to join@rthealth.com.au


DISCLAIMER: The information above provides a general overview to selecting the best cover. It’s also important to understand that some health insurance policies include restrictions and exclusions, based on the level of cover. In particular, our Basic Public Hospital cover does not assist or enable you to avoid public hospital waiting lists. It’s also important to be aware that doctors and specialists usually work in a few select hospitals and this may impact the choice of hospitals available to you if you wish to be treated by a particular doctor. We’re always here to talk you through the best option for you and to provide further information on these restrictions and exclusions.