Essentials

If you’re living with your partner, you might consider joining your health cover into one policy. But while a Couples policy might simplify your household expenses, it won’t save you any money. In fact, having separate Singles policies might work out cheaper. Here’s why…. Is Couples health insurance cheaper than Singles? No. One health insurance policy that covers 2 adults isn’t cheaper than the same policy for one adult doubled. But while a Couples policy won’t save you money, it does mean you’re only making one payment, which some...

When you’re claiming private hospital treatment on Hospital Cover, you probably assume all your costs will be covered – so it can be a bit of a shock to learn you might have to pay a Gap (out-of-pocket costs). Fortunately, health insurance Gap cover schemes – offered by many insurers – can help you reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket costs. Here’s how they work. Why do Gaps exist?  Gaps happen when doctors charge more than the Medicare Benefits Schedule Fee (MBS) set...

If you’ve been told you’ll need surgery in the near future and you have private health insurance, you might be wondering whether it’s better to go to a public or private hospital. In 2023-24, around 67% of elective surgeries in Australia were done in private hospitals. While being treated in a public hospital is free under Medicare, there may be long waits to be seen by a specialist and then to have your surgery – and you can’t choose...

It’s a question we’re asked often at healthslips.com.au: what’s the cheapest health insurer in Australia? There is no definitive answer because everyone’s health and insurance needs are different. But if you’re trying to save money on health insurance, here are some tips to help you find the most affordable insurer for your unique needs.  1. Focus on policies, not insurers When you’re looking for the cheapest health insurance, instead of focusing on insurer brand, focus on...

If you’re looking for a new Hospital Cover policy or upgrading your current policy, you’ll need to decide what private health insurance tier you need. There are 4 tiers of Hospital Cover: Here are the 3 steps to choose your Hospital Cover tier.  1. Decide on your healthcare needs Make a list of the hospital services, (known as clinical categories), you might need in the near future – especially if you want the option of being treated privately for those procedures. Take into...

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...

Of the 48 insurers selling health insurance in Australia right now, 22 of them are not-for-profit, which means they aren’t focused on making and returning a profit to shareholders. So, does that mean policies from these insurers are cheaper? Here, we explore whether you’ll save money on health insurance by buying a policy from a...

According to recent data from the ATO, record numbers of Australians are now paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge at tax time. If that’s you – or you think you might be at risk of being charged it next year – here’s what you need to know. Do I have to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge? First things...