5 ways to make the most of your health insurance extras in 2024
If you're paying for health insurance, you want to make sure that you're getting the most out of your policy.
Sponsored by HIF. What if you could score 6 weeks of FREE cover? Take out eligible Hospital and Extras with HIF before March 31 2024 and you'll do just that! Plus, HIF will waive all 2-month Extras waiting periods*. That means you could claim straight away on general dental, optical, chiro, physio and more! T&Cs apply.
With the right planning in place, 2024 can be your year to get the maximum benefit from your health insurance Extras.
1. See if you can find a way to pay less on your policy
Some insurers will offer a free period or a waived waiting period on your policy when you take out a new one with them. Offers like this can help reduce your overall costs when you switch providers.
One example is HIF. Until 31 March 2024, when you take out an eligible Hospital and Extras policy with HIF, you'll receive 6 weeks for free.
You can claim this offer by using the code 6W2M at the checkout.
Shopping around for offers like this can help you cut back on your costs while still helping you get the cover that you need.
Learn more about getting cover with HIF
2. Look for ways to avoid waiting periods
When you first sign up for a health insurance policy, there's usually a waiting period for being able to make a claim. While this may be understandable in principle, it's not always very convenient when you need a particular type of care straight away.
So opting for a policy that lets you make claims right away – or at least relatively quickly – can be a great way to maximise the value you get from your policy.
Let's take a quick squiz at HIF again. In addition to offering 6 free weeks on a new policy, HIF is also currently waiving the 2-month waiting period on many of its Extras.
In practical terms, that means you're able to claim on a range of Extras as soon as your policy is approved. This includes general dental, optical and physio, along with a range of other Extras.
However, it's important to note that hospital waiting periods aren't able to be waived, irrespective of provider.
You can see the complete list of included Extras on the HIF website.
3. Check which existing expenses you have that may be eligible
One way that Extras go to waste is by people not realising what cover is actually included in their health insurance policy.
If you're not reading the fine print, it's quite possible that you're forking out more cash than necessary for a range of care and procedures.
Some common things that people often overlook include gym memberships and visiting a psychologist.
After all, paying excess is one thing, but paying for your policy and then paying full price on top of that because of an oversight is just unnecessary.
So before you book your next specialist appointment, make sure that you check the details of your policy to see if you are covered.
Your insurance company should be able to provide support with this process, too.
HIF provides a range of options for getting in touch with policy questions.
4. Rethink which Extras you need – both now and for the future
Extras aren't always easy to pick, especially when you're young and healthy. Dental and optical are obvious choices, but what about beyond that?
Before you sign up for a new policy, it's worth thinking about your current and future needs.
Let's say you're looking to change your lifestyle, give up smoking or go on a weight management program. HIF has a Healthy Lifestyles benefit, so a percentage of the fee may be covered under your Extras policy.
Or maybe you play sports regularly. Physiotherapy might be a handy option to have in the event of injury. After all, you want to get back onto the field as soon as possible.
However, you should always check with the private health insurer to see if your provider is eligible.
Being able to mix and match the Extras you choose can help you create a policy that's properly aligned with your medical needs and wants.
It may also be worth investigating your family medical history, if possible. This can help you make more informed decisions about the types of Extras you select moving forward.
5. Don't let them go to waste!
Any Extras that you select as part of your policy have a reset date. Depending on your insurer, this may align with the calendar year, financial year or simply the anniversary date of your policy.
Whatever the case may be, make sure that you use your Extras before you lose them. To get the most value out of your policy, check your reset dates and book the necessary appointments accordingly.
HIF Extras reset in line with the calendar year. Looking for policies like this can make it easy to keep track of when you need to use your Extras.
Find out about getting cover with HIF
Sponsored by HIF. What if you could score 6 weeks of FREE cover? Take out eligible Hospital and Extras with HIF before March 31 2024 and you'll do just that! Plus, HIF will waive all 2-month Extras waiting periods*. That means you could claim straight away on general dental, optical, chiro, physio and more! T&Cs apply.
