Seniors health insurance

Are you over 65? Make an informed decision when comparing seniors health insurance.

Looking after yourself in later life is about taking charge of your health. You can achieve this through a healthy diet and regular exercise, by accessing all the age benefits you’re entitled to and by having adequate seniors health insurance.

This article provides general advice for warding off common ailments that can affect older Australians, outlines the various government benefits available to seniors and explains how to tailor a health insurance policy to meet your needs as you age.

Compare health insurance for seniors offered by 30+ health funds

Why is health insurance important for seniors?

While exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy diet are key to warding off health issues as you age, it's an unfortunate fact that as you get older you become more prone to certain illnesses and conditions. This is why it might be worth taking out health insurance once you've reached pension age.

On the other hand, if you already have health cover it can still be worth reviewing your existing policy. Here's why:

What can health insurance offer over 65s

Are seniors eligible for a health insurance rebate?

The good news is that all Australians whose income falls below a certain threshold can claim the government's private health insurance rebate. The better news is that if your over 65 the rebate amount you receive increases, providing you're not classified as a high-income earner ($140,001 for singles and $280,001 for families, single parents and couples).

The rebate can be claimed either as a premium reduction through your health fund or as a tax reduction through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

What is the rebate for those over 65?

Select the age group you or your partner fall into to find out the rebate percentage that can be claimed based on income. As you can see, the older you are and the lower your income, the higher your rebate for health insurance. Please note that families include single parents, couples and de facto couples.

How does the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card work?

Once you turn 65 you are considered a senior by the Australian Government which means you may be eligible for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. This is a concession card for older Australians which can be used to subsidise the cost of certain medical treatments and services.

The Government introduced the Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card in 1994 to encourage people to self-fund their retirement. With the income test threshold remaining the same since 2001, the government has now committed to indexing the threshold every year to reflect cost of living increases.

The eligibility requirements and benefits you can claim with this card are outlined below:

What options are available for home care?

As you get older, living at home can become increasingly difficult. If you need home care assistance there are two government options and one private option available:

How to stay healthy in your golden years

As well as having seniors health cover, another way to insure yourself against ill health in later life is to improve your diet

• Eating well
• Lowering your blood pressure
• Maintaining your vision

How is rheumatoid arthritis treated?

• What is it? Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that leads to pain and swelling in the joints. While the white blood cells and antibody proteins in your blood are supposed to fight off infection, when you have rheumatoid arthritis they attack your joints instead. Swelling and tenderness result from the associated inflammation in affected joints.
• Which joints does it affect? Typically the body’s smaller joints, such as those in the hands, wrists and feet. However, larger joints in the knee and hip can also be affected. Over time, this inflammation of the joints can lead to thinning of the cartilage that covers the end of your bones, which can then lead to them being eroded away.
• What causes it? While doctors still don’t know what causes rheumatoid arthritis, it occurs more commonly in people who are smokers or who have a family history of the disease. Following a physical examination to diagnose the condition, your doctor may also conduct x-rays and blood tests to determine how much damage has been caused to your joints.
• How is it treated? The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis varies depending on the specific nature of your condition, so your doctor may tailor a management plan that can include medications (to relieve pain or slow the disease), heat treatment, cold treatment, surgery, physiotherapy and complementary therapies such as massage or acupuncture.

What are the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?

• What is Alzheimer's disease? It is currently the most common form of dementia, accounting for 70% of all dementia suffers. The disease attacks brain cells, nerves and the neurotransmitters that transmit information to and from the brain, affecting the way your brain functions. This leads to impaired memory and thinking processes as well as behavioural issues.
• How do you contract it? Doctors are still unsure of the exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease, although your chances of developing the disease may be increased by factors including age, a family history of the condition, lifestyle factors, suffering previous severe head injuries and vascular disease.
• What are the effects of Alzheimer's? Symptoms can include frequent memory difficulties (especially involving recent events), speech problems, difficulty understanding questions or instructions, mood swings, sudden personality changes, forgetting people or places and losing the ability to perform everyday activities.
• Can you cure or slow it's progress? There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's, although you can do several things that may delay the onset of the disease. Eating a balanced diet, not smoking and reducing alcohol intake can help, while regular health tests from your doctor are a must. Keeping as active as possible, both mentally and physically, is also beneficial.