7 ways to use your RT Health extras cover
Keen to use your extras cover for more than just dental and optical? From mental health support to hypnotherapy, there are many services you may not know are part of your extras cover.
We’ve pulled together some info about the lesser-known benefits of extras cover and how you can use them to your advantage.
What are health insurance extras?
Extras cover helps you look after your general health and wellbeing. It covers common services like dental, optical, chiro and physio. What most people don’t realise is there’s a wide range of other benefits you can claim (depending on your selected cover) to help you look after your health.
You can choose to have extras cover on its own, or you can combine it with hospital cover. And you can change your extras (and your hospital cover) to match your needs and lifestyle as often as you like.
We’ve pulled together a few examples of services you may not know are covered by your extras.
Mental health support
Many people don’t know that psychology is covered by extras (depending on the level of cover you choose). There are benefits under most RT Health’s extras covers to provide you with access to mental health support and services.
You can claim for visits to accredited and approved mental health social workers under your psychology and/or hypnotherapy benefits benefit (depending on your cover). This is in addition to claiming for visits to a psychologist.
You may also be able to claim for counselling and social worker sessions for yourself or your family, or group sessions, up to your annual limits.
Eligible RT Health members* can also claim for online cognitive behavioural courses delivered by This Way Up.
These evidence-based programs have been developed by psychiatrists and clinical psychologists and help you manage depression, generalised anxiety, social anxiety, health anxiety, panic and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – just to name a few.
Check your RT Health Cover Guide to see what’s available to you.
Prescriptions and vaccines
Prescriptions, medications and vaccines can often be expensive, especially if you’ve got a family. If you’ve got extras cover, you may be covered for some of those high-cost prescription medications, and for certain vaccines.
If you’re covered, you can find them listed as ‘pharmaceuticals’ on your cover guide.
Alternative therapies
Alternative therapies are services like acupuncture, exercise physiology, Chinese medicine and myotherapy.
Alternative therapies may just be one of the ways you could use your extras cover to improve your health and wellbeing.
We’ll pay benefits for consultation services provided by a registered provider as long as they’re included in your cover (but we can’t pay for products like remedies and oils).
Speak with your GP if you’re not sure about how these alternative therapies can help with your personal health concerns.
Swedish and remedial massage may also be included in your cover under alternative therapies.
Mouthguards
Playing sport? You know how important it is for you and your children to protect your mouth and teeth.
Every member, every year can get a mouthguard with $0 to pay^ when visiting an HCF Dental Centre or More for Teeth provider.
It’s just one of the preventative services (listed below) you can get once a year through our More for Teeth program+.
Use our handy Find a Dental Clinic link to find a More for Teeth provider near you.
Gym membership
We all need to move more and it’s good to know you can claim your gym membership as part of your extras cover (depending on your level of cover).
If your extras cover includes gym membership (take a look under the ‘Health Improvement’ section of your RT Health Cover Guide and you’ve served your waiting periods, you’ll be able to claim a benefit.
If you stay covered, you can claim a benefit every year.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is a therapy used to induce relaxation and/or to help deal with stress, depression, phobias or to initiate behaviour change.
Hypnotherapy is included under ‘Specialist Therapies’ if it’s part of your extras cover. If you’re covered, you’ll be able to claim for consultations provided by registered providers.
Over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapy
Quitting smoking is hard. We support members by paying benefits on some over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapies.
There are some rules about what we can cover, so get in touch with us to find out what you can claim.
How to claim extras on health insurance
We make claiming simple.
You can claim on the spot for many service providers and our mobile claiming app makes submitting your claim fuss-free.
Know your cover
Knowing what you’re covered for is important. You may discover some benefits you didn’t know you had. It’s one way you can make your private health insurance work for you.
Your RT Health Cover Guide is a good place to start. It’s worth checking in to make sure you’re making the most of your extras cover.
To find your Cover Guide, log in to the online Member Services portal. Or just go to our website any time that suits you.
We're here to help
We get it. Private health insurance can be complicated, but we’re here with you every step of the way to help you get more value from your cover.
If you have any questions about your cover, our Member Care team can answer any questions you have. Give us a call on 1300 886 123 or get in touch via email to help@rthealth.com.au
Important information
*This Way Up is available to RT Health members with Top Extras, Deluxe Extras and Smart Extras.
^100% back at More for Teeth providers is available to members with RT Health extras cover. Waiting periods and annual limits apply. Providers are subject to change. We recommend that you confirm your chosen provider is part of More for Teeth prior to your appointment.
+Panoramic x-rays. Eligible members can get up to 3 services in a 5-year period (your 5-year period starts on the day of your first claim).
This wellbeing message is brought to you by the team at RT Health, a division of HCF, The Hospitals Contribution Fund of Australia Limited (ACN 000 026 746). This communication contains information which is copyright to HCF. It should not be copied, disclosed or distributed without the authority of HCF. Except as required by law, we do not represent, warrant and/or guarantee that this communication is free from errors, virus, interception or interference. All reasonable efforts have been taken to ensure the accuracy of material contained on our website. It’s not intended that this website be comprehensive or render advice. The information provided on this website is general information only and may not be suitable to your individual circumstances or health needs. Please check with your health professional before making any dietary, medical or other health decisions as a result of reading this website.