A person with disability is defined as someone who has a physical or mental condition that limits their movements, senses or activities. Disabilities can include everything from loss or impairment of hearing, vision, speech and mobility to intellectual and mental disabilities such as Down syndrome, depression and schizophrenia. Sufferers and carers often require financial and community support and this guide looks at how both public services and private health insurance can help those with disabilities.
How can private health insurance help people with disability?
While the government provides some assistance to people with disability both financially and through community support services, private health insurance can also help to relieve the burden for both people with disability and their families. Ways in which private health insurance can help can be seen in the following case studies:
Paying for non-PBS medicines. Jay has a debilitating spinal disease that requires regular medication to treat the chronic pain associated with the condition. Jay’s private health extras cover helps him to cover the cost of these medicines, some of which are not listed with the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and therefore are not subsidised.
Paying for diagnosis of a disability. Peter and Sue’s son Alex exhibited signs of profound deafness at an early age and he was referred for specialist diagnosis and treatment. His parents were able to pay for most of these appointments thanks to government assistance, and their private health extras cover paid for Alex’s hearing aids after an initial waiting period.
Paying for hospital treatment of a disability. Karen was badly injured in a car accident and became unable to walk again. She needed extensive follow-up surgery to treat her condition and between Medicare and her no-gap hospital cover, she had no out-of-pocket expenses for any of her hospital visits.
What health insurance options are available for people with disability?
Health insurance falls into two main categories, Hospital cover and Extras cover. Here are the key differences:
Hospital cover pays for your treatment and accommodation in a public or private hospital, treatment by a doctor of your choice, the option of a private or shared room and little or no waiting periods for elective surgery.
Extras cover helps pay for ancillary services not covered by Medicare such as optical, dental, physiotherapy and chiropractic services.
Both types of health insurance can be taken out separately or, as is more often the case, combined in a single policy. Combined policies are typically offered with a choice of three main levels of cover:
Basic covers basic hospital treatment with a lot of procedures excluded and at least one ancillary service included such as general dental or optical.
Medium covers more than basic but less than top, offering a mid-range level of protection.
Top cover provides comprehensive hospital cover, with most or all services and treatments included and generous extras cover including major dental and orthodontics.
Why compare health insurance with Finder?
We don't ask for your phone or email to see prices.
With 1 click, you can open your results to nearly every fund in Australia.
You pay the same price as going direct – we charge no fees.
The excess. Are there any excesses or co-payments that you will have to pay? Is the excess affordable and, if so, could you afford to increase it even further to reduce the cost of your premiums?
The gap. Are the benefit amounts you will receive high enough to cover the treatments and services you require? Does the fund have a no-gap scheme and is using preferred providers convenient for your situation?
The restrictions. Are the waiting periods typical or excessive and what restrictions apply to benefits?
The exclusions. Are there too many exclusions or are they typical, such as no cover for cosmetic elective surgery or treatment outside of Australia?
Making a health insurance claim
Most funds will provide their members with a range of claiming options.
Hospital
If your hospital treatment is with a preferred provider, the bill will be sent directly to the fund. If you do receive any bills from the hospital, you'll need to claim first from Medicare and then from your fund.
Extras
Claiming for ancillary services can be done on the spot (if the service provider has an electronic claiming facility), online via the fund's website or by email, fax or post.
What public assistance is available for people with disability?
Many people with disability are eligible for government assistance. Some of the benefits available include:
Disability Support Pension. The Disability Support Pension is a benefit paid to those who are permanently blind or have a physical, intellectual or psychiatric condition that prevents them from working.
Sickness Allowance. A Sickness Allowance provides a temporary benefit if you can’t work because of a medical condition or, in some cases, if you are unable to study full time due to illness or injury.
Mobility Allowance. Mobility Allowances offer financial assistance to help those with a disability, illness or injury to participate in approved activities (for example, the allowance can help pay for transport costs, etc).
Child Disability Assistance Payment. A Child Disability Assistance Payment is an annual benefit paid to assist parents caring for a child with a disability.
Youth Disability Supplement. A Youth Disability Supplement provides additional financial support for young people with a disability who already receive income support payments.
Continence Aids Payment Scheme. The Continence Aids Payment Scheme is a scheme in place to help people with permanent and severe incontinence pay for their continence-related products.
External Breast Prostheses Reimbursement Program. The External Breast Prostheses Reimbursement Program provides a financial reimbursement towards the cost of a new or replacement external breast prostheses for women who have had a mastectomy as a result of breast cancer.
Better Start for Children with Disability. The Better Start for Children with Disability initiative provides early intervention services and treatments for children with disabilities.
Helping Children with Autism. Helping Children with Autism supports services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, their families and carers.
Why you can trust Finder's health insurance experts
We're free
Our health insurance engine is completely free to use. You pay the same as buying directly from the health insurer. Better still, we regularly run exclusive deals that you won't find on any other site.
Unlike other comparison sites, we're not owned by an insurer. That means our opinions are our own and you can compare nearly every health fund in Australia on the site (and find a better deal).
We're here to help
Since 2014, we've helped 350,000+ people find health insurance by explaining your options simply. We'll never ask for your number or email to see prices. We're here to help you make a decision.
Richard Laycock is Finder’s insights editor after spending the last five years writing and editing articles about insurance. His musings can be found across the web including on MoneyMag, Yahoo Finance and Travel Weekly. Richard studied Media at Macquarie University and The Missouri School of Journalism and has a Tier 1 Certification in General Advice for Life Insurance.
The Federal Court of Australia today dismissed proceedings brought by ASIC against Finder Wallet. The Judgment, handed down by Justice Markovic, ruled that Finder Earn was compliant with applicable consumer financial laws.
The Kia EV6 GT is a vehicle that marks a significant point in the evolution of the modern performance car, a nod to the future where speed and power coexist with sustainability and practicality.
Aussies are sick of being made to feel like criminals at the checkout, according to new research by Finder.
Feedback
How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Important information about this website
finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We are committed to our readers and stands by our editorial principles
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labeling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
We make money by featuring products on our site. Compensation received from the providers featured on our site can influence which products we write about as well as where and how products appear on our page, but the order or placement of these products does not influence our assessment or opinions of them, nor is it an endorsement or recommendation for them.
Products marked as 'Top Pick', 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product. You can learn more about how we make money.
When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.
Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
