Essentials

When you choose a health insurance policy, you likely look at the treatments covered and the premium, but you probably don’t check whether the policy includes accident cover. Not knowing whether or not you have accident cover could make a big difference when you need hospital treatment – and as a recent ABC News story found, that confusion could cost you thousands of dollars. Here’s what you need to know about accident cover to...

If you have wisdom teeth that need to be removed, you could be facing a painful experience for both your mouth and your wallet. Dental treatments are generally not covered under Medicare so health insurance can help with your costs – but there may be large out-of-pocket costs. Here’s what you need to know about using health insurance for wisdom teeth removal.  How much does wisdom teeth removal cost? Wisdom teeth removal...

Around 43% of Australians will experience a mental health disorder in their lifetime, and some may need to be hospitalised for treatment. While treatment in public hospitals is free under Medicare, our mental health services are under enormous strain, so you might consider using your health insurance for psychiatric care in a private hospital or psychiatric facility for faster treatment. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in 2023-24 around 21% of overnight...

If you’re admitted to hospital as a private patient, your insurer won’t pay the entire bill for your treatment. As well as the Gap, which is determined by your doctor and your insurer, you’ll also need to pay an excess and possibly also a co-payment, determined by your policy. So what’s the difference between these...

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...

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...

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 2024-25, 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....