Author: Trudie McConnochie

There are literally thousands of health insurance policies available in Australia (68,538 open policies as at 7 April 2026, to be exact). So if you think your health cover isn’t quite hitting the mark, you have tonnes of alternatives. Staying with a policy that isn’t right for you means you’re throwing money down the drain, and potentially leaving yourself without sufficient cover when you need to claim for health treatments. So, how do you know if you’ve got the...

If you’re likely to need surgery this year, you could be in for a long wait. Although your surgery will be free under Medicare in the public health system, there may be a lengthy wait for non-urgent procedures. Of course, if you have health insurance, you can be seen quicker as a private patient, but that doesn’t necessarily mean your surgery will be free. Depending on your policy, and the doctors...

If you wear glasses or use contact lenses, you’ll know Extras Cover can be a handy way to bring down those costs. And even if you don’t need glasses right now, having optical cover can be useful as you age. Optometry Australia says our eyes lose the ability to focus on near objects from around...

If you’re confused about which natural therapies are covered by health insurance and which aren’t, you’re not alone. The government has changed the rules about health insurance cover for natural therapies twice in the past decade, which means there’s a lot of confusion around what can be claimed on Extras Cover. That can make it...

Whether you’re training for a one-off sporting event, a year-round gym junkie, or just starting out on your fitness goals, health insurance could be your MVP (most valuable player). From helping you recover from sporting injuries to supporting you to stay on track mentally and physically, health insurance could make a big difference to your...

If you hear the word ‘grommets’ you might think of surf lifesaving, but for many Australian families, the word means surgery. Around one in 15 kids in Australia need surgery for grommets, where a tiny tube is inserted into the eardrum to help reduce middle ear infections and glue ear. Although this procedure (known clinically...

If you’re having a baby, or thinking about starting a family in the next couple of years, one of the bigger decisions to weigh up is whether it’s worth having health insurance so you can deliver your baby in private care. There’s lots of confusion about what health cover for pregnancy includes and what it...

Losing your job is an incredibly difficult experience that can leave you reeling emotionally – especially if it was unexpected. On a practical level, it also means a lot of decisions and adjustments to make, particularly around your finances. You may need to reassess your expenses until you land a new job. When it comes...