Forming a partnership with someone you love comes with exciting opportunities, but also important responsibilities. One of those is ensuring both of you are protected when health issues arise. Whether you’re planning a future together or simply wanting peace of mind, couples health insurance is a smart investment.

While Medicare covers a range of healthcare services in Australia, private health insurance offers benefits that go beyond what’s provided in the public system. For example, private hospital cover gives you more control over your healthcare, including access to private hospital rooms, shorter wait times for elective surgeries, and the ability to choose your own doctor or specialist.

Additionally, if you’re planning to start a family, couples health insurance can be essential for covering hospital stays, maternity services, and certain pregnancy-related treatments. Private health insurance can also protect you from costly out-of-pocket expenses that Medicare might not cover, making it a wise choice for long-term financial security.

Whether you’re new to a relationship or have been together for years, couples health insurance provides essential coverage for both partners, ensuring that unexpected medical bills don’t cause financial strain.

There are a few different types of couples health coverage provided by different companies in the market today for you to choose from. Each type of insurance caters to different needs of the buyer and it is therefore important to understand what each of the insurance covers and offers. Generally, there are three main types of couples health cover insurance. Each type can be modified to fit your and your partner’s needs. The three types and their description are as follows:

Hospital Cover 

This type of insurance coverage focuses on and covers almost all sorts of in-hospital treatments, gives you a choice in selecting a doctor for your treatments and the dates of treatments, and also covers your accommodation at the hospital. This type of cover is most suited for people with any chronic or ongoing illnesses and complex needs. However, this type of insurance can also be mended to meet your or your partner’s specific needs. This cover also includes palliative care, rehabilitation, and psychiatric services. Therefore, hospital cover for both of you is a good choice for keeping your peace of mind and budget in place. 

Extras Cover

Extras cover for couples includes a wide variety of out-of-hospital services like dental, optical, physiotherapy, and hearing aids. The best thing about this cover is its customisation. You can add one or more extra covers for yourself or your partner or for both of you. The possibilities are endless with this type of insurance. This cover also works great for starting in the private health insurance sector from Medicare as you do not need to get comprehensive insurance just to try out an insurance company. 

Combined cover

This type of insurance is a mix of hospital and extras coverage. This private policy covers both in-hospital and out-of-hospital services and is a complete package for you and your partner. This policy is also best for someone who wants comprehensive health insurance and does not want to deal with various insurance companies and keep all the policies and paperwork together. Fortunately, in this cover, you also have the choice to select the services that you may require to meet your and your partner’s unique lifestyle and specific health needs.

Choosing the right couples health insurance policy requires a careful evaluation of both partners’ healthcare needs, budget, and future plans. Here’s how to make sure you’re selecting the best policy for you and your partner.

Assess the Current Health Status of Both Partners

Understanding both your and your partner’s health situation is crucial in selecting the right level of cover. Start by asking yourselves:

• How many times have you both needed to visit the GP for routine checkups or emergencies in the last year?
• Are there any ongoing health concerns, such as chronic illnesses or pain management needs?
• Are either of you on regular medication?

These answers will help you determine whether you need a basic policy that covers emergencies or a more comprehensive policy with extra cover for treatments such as dental, physiotherapy, or specialist consultations. If you and your partner are generally healthy, a Bronze or Basic cover might be sufficient, but if you want peace of mind that more major surgeries are covered, then Silver, Silver Plus or Gold may be more appropriate.

Consider Future Health Needs

When choosing couples health insurance, it’s essential to think about what your future health needs might look like. Are you or your partner likely to need surgery or specialist treatments? Are there any hereditary health issues that may arise later in life?

Planning to start a family also has significant implications for your choice of insurance. If you and your partner are looking to have a child, it’s important to note that pregnancy and birth-related services are covered under Gold hospital policies in most circumstances (Some Silver Plus policies including pregnancy do exist). Therefore, the woman will need to be on Gold cover to ensure full maternity and birth coverage, while the partner can opt for a Basic, Bronze, or Silver cover to save on premiums since they won’t need maternity cover.

Budget and Affordability

Your budget is a major factor when choosing a couples health insurance policy. Different policies come with different costs, depending on the level of cover and the insurer. When looking at affordability, consider:

• Premiums: These are the regular payments for maintaining the policy. Can you comfortably pay them fortnightly, monthly, or yearly?
• Excess and co-payments: These are the out-of-pocket costs you’ll need to pay when you make a claim. A policy with a higher excess generally results in lower premiums but can be more expensive if you need frequent treatment.
• Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading: If you haven’t held private health insurance since turning 31, you may face an additional 2% premium loading each year you delay getting cover. This cost applies for 10 years, so it’s worth considering whether now is the best time to take out cover.

To get the most cost-effective policy, it’s essential to compare premiums and policies across providers. 

Exclusions and Waiting Periods

When it comes to private health insurance in Australia, exclusions and waiting periods are two critical factors that influence your coverage. Here’s how they work:

Exclusions
Exclusions refer to the medical treatments or clinical categories that your health insurance policy does not cover. For example, lower-tier hospital cover, like Basic or Bronze, may exclude certain services such as pregnancy, joint replacements, or heart surgery. It’s essential to thoroughly read your policy’s Standard Information Statement (SIS) to understand what services are excluded so you aren’t caught off guard by unexpected out-of-pocket costs. Always clarify with your insurer if there are specific services you think you’ll need in the future, such as mental health care or surgeries, to ensure they’re covered.

Waiting Periods
A waiting period is the amount of time you need to wait after purchasing your policy before you can make a claim for certain treatments. These are in place to prevent people from buying insurance, making an expensive claim, and then cancelling their policy. Waiting periods vary depending on the type of service and the insurance provider. Here are the standard waiting periods:

• 2 Months for New Conditions: This is the usual waiting period for new, non-pre-existing conditions, such as minor surgeries or medical treatments. After two months, you can make a claim for these services.
• 12 Months for Pre-existing Conditions: Pre-existing conditions are medical issues you had before you took out your insurance policy. For services related to these conditions, you’ll typically have to wait 12 months before being eligible to make a claim.
• Pregnancy and Birth: If you’re planning to start a family, note that most policies require a 12-month waiting period for pregnancy-related services like childbirth and maternity care. If you’re planning to have a baby, ensure you sign up for Gold-level cover early to serve this waiting period.

When Do You Serve a Waiting Period?

• First-Time Taking Out Cover: When you first take out private hospital insurance, you’ll need to serve the relevant waiting periods, whether for new conditions or pre-existing conditions.
• Upgrading Services: If you’re switching between policies or insurers, and you’ve already served your waiting periods with your previous insurer, you won’t have to re-serve them for the same services. However, if you’re upgrading to a policy that covers services not previously included, you’ll need to serve waiting periods for the newly added services.

Tips:

• Always check the SIS to know exactly what treatments are excluded from your cover and the waiting periods that apply to essential services.
• If you’re considering surgery, pregnancy, or any planned treatment, ask your insurer about the waiting periods to ensure you’re covered in time.

Understanding these key aspects will help you plan effectively and avoid surprises when you need to use your insurance.

Private hospital insurance for couples plays a crucial role in ensuring that both partners are adequately covered for a wide range of medical needs. These policies provide flexibility and security, allowing you to manage healthcare costs and make important decisions regarding your health together. One of the significant advantages of couples hospital cover is the freedom to choose how and where you receive your care, whether it’s in a private or public hospital, or a day hospital facility, giving you options that align with your lifestyle and schedule.

Private hospital cover typically includes a broad array of in-hospital services, such as:

• Gynaecology
• Assisted reproductive services (fertility treatments)
• Male reproductive care
• Palliative care
• Rehabilitation
• Psychiatric services
• Heart surgery
• Dialysis
• Cataract surgery
• Joint surgery
• Brain and nervous system treatments

Having coverage for these services can greatly reduce the financial burden associated with major surgeries or long-term treatments. Moreover, opting for private hospital cover allows you to bypass long waiting lists often associated with public hospitals, especially for non-emergency treatments. Additionally, private cover gives you access to amenities like private rooms (if available) and the ability to choose your preferred specialist or surgeon, offering both comfort and a tailored healthcare experience.

Customising Your Hospital Cover for Couples

One of the key benefits of hospital cover for couples is the flexibility to tailor your plan to suit both your health needs and your budget. You can select different levels of excess (the upfront cost you pay if admitted to the hospital), which directly impacts your premium. Higher excesses often lead to lower monthly premiums, providing flexibility depending on your financial situation.

Private hospital cover in Australia is divided into four tiers: Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Basic. Each tier offers different levels of coverage, with Gold covering the most comprehensive range of treatments and Basic offering more limited services.

• Gold: Provides coverage for all hospital clinical categories, including pregnancy and birth-related services, making it ideal for couples planning a family.
• Silver: Covers many hospital services but excludes certain high-cost treatments such as pregnancy and birth.
• Bronze: Offers coverage for more common health concerns but excludes coverage for higher-cost treatments like heart and spinal surgery.
• Basic: Covers only a few treatments on a restricted basis, mainly for emergency or essential services.

Extras cover for couples is an essential component of private health insurance, providing coverage for a variety of out-of-hospital services like dental, optical, physiotherapy, and more. These services help you and your partner maintain your day-to-day health and wellbeing while managing the costs of ongoing treatments that aren’t covered by Medicare.

Key Services Typically Covered in Extras Policies:

• Dental: Preventative treatments, check-ups, fillings, and major dental work.
• Optical: Coverage for glasses, contact lenses, and eye exams.
• Physiotherapy: Treatment for injuries and ongoing physical therapy.
• Chiropractic and Osteopathy: Coverage for back, neck, and joint pain relief.
• Alternative Therapies: Some policies may cover services like acupuncture or remedial massage.

How Extras Cover Works for Couples

While you can’t tailor extras cover to provide different services for each partner, you both benefit from the same range of services covered by your policy. Importantly, each partner on the policy will have individual annual limits for the services covered. This means that both you and your partner can make separate claims up to the limit allowed for each service under your policy.

For example:

• If the policy has an annual dental limit of $500, each partner can claim up to $500 for dental services during the year.
• If you both wear glasses, each of you will have your own individual limit for optical services.

This structure ensures that both partners have access to the same services without needing to share a combined limit, so you don’t have to worry about one person using up the entire coverage.

Choosing the Right Extras Policy

The key to selecting the right extras cover is ensuring that it provides benefits for services both you and your partner are likely to use. If one of you regularly needs physiotherapy and the other requires optical services, make sure the policy includes these areas with sufficient annual limits to cover both your needs.

When comparing policies, it’s important to consider not only the services covered but also the benefit amounts and any out-of-pocket costs you might incur. Extras cover can reduce the costs of routine healthcare, making it a cost-effective option for couples who want to manage their day-to-day health expenses.

The cost of couples health insurance can vary widely depending on the coverage type—whether you opt for hospital cover, extras cover, or a combined health policy. It’s essential to understand the different types of costs associated with private health insurance in Australia to make an informed decision. Here’s a breakdown of the key costs to consider:

Premiums for Couple Policies

Premiums are the regular payments you and your partner make to keep your health insurance active. You can usually choose to pay these premiums fortnightly, monthly, or yearly, depending on your financial situation. The amount you pay will depend on several factors, including:

• Level of coverage: Hospital, extras, or combined cover.
• Services covered: More comprehensive policies that cover a wider range of services will typically come with higher premiums.
• Health Fund and location: Different insurance providers may offer different pricing for similar coverage, and costs can also vary based on the state you live.

To make sure you’re getting the best value, it’s a good idea to compare premiums between health funds. Keep in mind that if you stop paying your premium, your coverage will cease for both you and your partner.

Excess and Co-payments

When considering excess and co-payments for couples health insurance, it’s essential to understand how these out-of-pocket costs work, as they can impact your premium and hospital costs.

• Excess: The excess is an agreed-upon amount that you pay if you’re admitted to the hospital. Opting for a higher excess generally results in lower premiums, making this a way to reduce your monthly or annual insurance payments. However, it’s important to remember that the higher the excess, the more you’ll pay when you’re admitted to the hospital.
  Most health insurance policies will require you to pay the excess only once per person, per year, even if you have multiple hospital admissions. However, there are some policies that may charge the excess more than once within the same year for repeated admissions. To avoid any surprises, it’s important to carefully review the fine print regarding the excess structure in your couples health insurance policy
• Co-payments: Co-payments—an additional fee paid at the time of using certain services—are becoming less common in today’s health insurance market. However, they still exist in a few policies, so it’s worth checking whether co-payments apply to the services you’re most likely to use. Always clarify with your provider to avoid unexpected costs when using medical services.

By understanding and adjusting your excess and co-payment options, you can balance your out-of-pocket costs with affordable premiums. Make sure to carefully read your policy’s details to understand the excess structure and any co-payment requirements.

Lifetime Health Cover Loading 

Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading is an additional cost applied to private hospital insurance for individuals who take out cover after turning 31. This loading increases by 2% for every year you are over the age of 30 when you first take out hospital cover, up to a maximum of 70%. It’s important to note that this is separate from the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS), and applies only to hospital cover, not extras cover.

For example, if you first take out hospital insurance at the age of 35, you will incur a 10% loading (2% for each year over 30), which is added to your premium for the next 10 years.

LHC for Couples Health Insurance

When couples take out a combined hospital policy, the LHC loading is averaged between the two partners. For instance, if one partner, John, has a 20% LHC loading due to taking out cover later in life, and the other partner, Mary, has a 0% LHC loading (because she took out cover before 31), the couple would share a 10% LHC loading on their joint policy. This is calculated by adding the two loadings (20% + 0%) and dividing by two, resulting in a 10% loading on the total policy.

This system provides some balance in couples policies, as a higher LHC loading from one partner can be mitigated by the other partner’s lower or zero loading

Government Rebates for Couples

The Australian Government offers a rebate on private health insurance premiums to help reduce the cost, and it’s based on your age and income. For couples, this rebate can significantly lower the overall cost of health insurance, especially if you have a dual-income household. However, it’s important to note that the government calculates the rebate based on the age of the eldest partner in the couple.

For example, if Steve is 70 and his wife Maggie is 64, the rebate will be applied to both of them as if they were both 70, the age of the eldest person. This means they’ll qualify for a higher rebate than if it were based solely on Maggie’s age, making the policy more affordable.

The rebate is also means-tested, which means that the amount of rebate you are eligible for depends on your combined income. The rebate percentage decreases as your household income increases, and there are income thresholds to determine eligibility.

It’s important to understand the specifics of how your rebate will be calculated and applied to ensure you are getting the best possible deal on your couples health insurance policy. You can easily calculate your rebate using the government’s online rebate calculator or speak with your insurer for more details.

Balancing your health insurance costs with government rebates is crucial to ensure you’re maximising savings and getting the right level of cover for both partners. For any questions feel free to contact our team at Health Deal.

Now that we’ve covered the key aspects of couples health insurance—types of cover, tiers, rebates, associated costs, and services—the next step is choosing the best health insurance provider that meets both you and your partner’s medical and financial needs.

When comparing health insurance providers for couples, it’s important to consider several factors:

• Coverage Options: Make sure the provider offers the right combination of hospital and extras cover that aligns with your health priorities.
• Cost: Premiums can vary significantly between health funds. Look at how the costs match up with the level of cover, especially considering your budget and potential out-of-pocket expenses.
• Provider Networks: Ensure the health fund has an extensive network of healthcare providers so you can access a wide range of services without additional fees (Doctors and dentists).
• Customer Service: A provider with strong customer service can make all the difference when you need support, whether it’s making a claim or adjusting your policy.

Health Deal’s comparison tool makes it easy to weigh your options. It allows you to quickly compare policies from different health insurance funds, helping you find the best fit for your needs while keeping costs within your budget.

Review Your Policy Regularly

Once you’ve chosen a couples health insurance policy, it’s important to review it annually. Health insurance providers regularly update their offerings, and what worked for you last year may no longer be the best option. An annual review ensures that your policy continues to meet both you and your partner’s evolving health needs and budget.

When it comes to choosing the best health insurance provider for couples, there is no single “best” policy that suits everyone. Every couple has unique needs, health priorities, and financial circumstances, which means the ideal policy for one couple may not be right for another. According to Health Deal, the notion of “the best health insurance for couples” is subjective—it’s all about finding what works for you based on your individual circumstances.

For some, providers like Bupa may offer the coverage and services that align perfectly with their requirements, while for others, nib, Australian Unity, or any other provider may be a better fit. Each health fund has its own strengths, including different approaches to extras cover, hospital tiers, and network reach. What matters most is how well a specific policy aligns with your and your partner’s needs—whether that’s access to certain hospitals, coverage for pregnancy and birth, or specific extras like dental or physiotherapy.

No One-Size-Fits-All

For example, couples who prioritise extras cover for dental and optical services may find one provider better suited to them, while couples planning to start a family might look for policies that offer comprehensive pregnancy and birth coverage. Some health funds also cater to niche requirements, such as fertility treatments or chronic health conditions, while others may offer strong no-gap arrangements with particular healthcare providers.

It’s All About Your Personal Needs

The key takeaway is that health insurance for couples isn’t about finding the single “best” provider—it’s about identifying the policy that caters to your personal needs. Health Deal’s comparison tool makes this process easier by allowing you to compare a wide range of couples health insurance policies. You can assess various providers based on factors like coverage, premium costs, inclusions, waiting periods, and excess levels to ensure you’re choosing the policy that fits your lifestyle and healthcare needs.

Additionally, it’s worth revisiting your policy regularly. As your health circumstances change over time, it’s good practice to review whether your current policy still offers the best value and coverage. A policy that worked well for you two years ago may no longer be the most suitable option, especially if you’re planning significant life changes like starting a family.

In short, finding the best couples health insurance comes down to understanding your unique situation and comparing policies to find the right balance of coverage, cost, and convenience for you and your partner.

Fortunately, the government offers rebates for couples health insurance policies which are a great help for managing your expenses. There are two main schemes available to couples which include the Private Health Insurance Rebate and the Medicare Levy Surcharge exemption. 

Most Australians who hold a private health insurance policy receive a rebate from the government to help cover the cost of their premiums and this rebate is income tested which means the amount of the rebate depends on your and your spouse’s income and at which level your combines income falls on the income thresholds for couples set by the government. You can get an idea of how much health insurance rebate you are eligible for based on your age and income through this page and can read about various couples health insurance incentives.

The Medicare Levy Surcharge is a levy that is paid by an Australian taxpayer who currently earns above a certain income and does not hold private hospital insurance. However, you might be eligible for a Medicare Levy Surcharge Exemption. You can assess your and your partner’s eligibility from this page.

If you already have a couples health insurance policy, switching your insurance provider for you can be a good idea for you financially. There are six steps that you need to know about how to switch health insurance after you have had the time to compare health insurance:

• Step 1: Choose a new insurance provider based on your and your partner’s needs and get a detailed quote from them including government rebates and lifetime health cover loading surcharge. 
• Step 2: Buy the policy that is according to your needs and ask the provider to start the policy only when your old policy is cancelled. 
• Step 3: Request your old couples health insurance policy provider to provide you with a clearance certificate and an itemised claim statement. 
• Step 4: Request your old couples health insurance policy provider to cancel your policy and then cancel direct debit with your fund and your bank.
• Step 5: Collect the necessary documents for cancellation, send them to your new provider and ask them to start your new policy. 
• Step 6: Finally, check your bank statement to make sure that your new cover has started, that your old cover has been cancelled and that there is no overlap in payments to any insurance providers. 

These six steps will help you switch to a new insurance provider in no time. 

Planning for the Future
As we’ve explored couples health insurance, it’s also essential to consider how your needs might change if you decide to expand your family. When you transition from being a couple to starting a family, your health insurance will need to evolve as well. While couples policies cover two individuals, adding a child requires an upgrade to family health insurance. This adjustment ensures that both the pregnancy and your newborn’s healthcare needs are adequately covered.

Many health insurance providers offer family-specific policies designed to cater to these changing needs. Whether it’s maternity cover or comprehensive healthcare for your child after birth, planning ahead is key. Make sure to review your existing couples policy and the additional coverage needed, especially for pregnancy services, which often come with a 12-month waiting period. By addressing these requirements early, you can ensure a smooth transition to family cover when the time comes.

Case Study
Let’s consider a couple, Emma and Tom, both in their early 30s and living in Melbourne. Emma, aged 32, works as a marketing consultant, and Tom, aged 34, is an architect. The couple has been together for several years, and recently they’ve been planning to start a family.

Initially, they had combined couples health insurance, covering basic hospital and extras. Both have regular dental checkups, so extras cover was important. However, after discussions about having children, they realised that their existing plan would not provide sufficient cover for pregnancy and birth.

To prepare, Emma switched to a Gold-level hospital cover to ensure she was fully covered for maternity services, including pregnancy, obstetrics, and postnatal care. Since Gold-level cover tends to be more expensive, Tom opted to stay on a Bronze Plus policy to save money, as he didn’t need the additional coverage related to pregnancy.

This strategy allowed the couple to balance costs while ensuring that Emma received the necessary maternity benefits. Once their baby is born, they plan to upgrade to a family policy that covers all three members under one policy. This phased approach helped them avoid paying for unnecessary services while still preparing for their growing family.

This example illustrates the flexibility and customisability of couples health insurance, allowing each partner to choose the right cover based on their specific needs—whether it’s for current healthcare or planning for the future.

Here is a list of tips that you can use to maximise your couple’s health insurance policy:

1. Choose the most appropriate coverage level according to your needs. 
2. Prevention is better than cure so make sure you engage in physical activity and a well-balanced diet. 
3. Use and claim benefits that come with a policy like discounted medical clinics and incentives. 
4. Understand what the policy entails completely to avoid paying for things that were supposed to be covered. 
5. Consider paying upfront for your health insurance by a year. 
6. Take advantage of wellness programs that are offered by the insurance provider and utilise your extra cover. 

These are a few tips for you to maximise the use of your health insurance. 

Selecting couples health insurance is a significant decision, and choosing the wrong policy can lead to unexpected costs or insufficient coverage when you need it most. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when choosing health insurance as a couple:

1. Failing to Compare Policies Across Providers
   Many people make the mistake of not comparing health insurance policies from multiple providers. Since coverage and pricing can vary significantly between insurers, it’s essential to shop around. Comparing policies ensures that you’re getting the best value for your needs and budget. Using comparison tools like Health Deal can simplify this process by providing side-by-side comparisons of multiple health funds.
2. Neglecting to Update Your Policy When Planning a Family
   If you and your partner are thinking about starting a family, it’s crucial to update your health insurance policy early. Pregnancy and childbirth often come with a 12-month waiting period, so you must have maternity cover well before conception. Additionally, when the baby is born, you’ll need to upgrade to a family policy. Failing to plan in advance can leave you unprepared when you need the coverage the most.
3. Overlooking Hidden Costs, Waiting Periods, and Limits
   Health insurance policies has waiting periods (the time before you can claim benefits) and annual extras limits. Failing to check these details can lead to surprises when you need to make a claim. Always review the Standard Information Statement (SIS) and ensure you understand any waiting periods for treatments you might require, especially for services like hospital stays, major surgeries, or maternity care.
4. Focusing Solely on Low Premiums
   While choosing a low-cost policy can seem appealing, it’s important not to focus exclusively on premiums. Cheaper policies may provide less coverage by restricting the range of treatments or services included, which means you could end up paying more out of pocket for services that aren’t covered by your policy.
5. Neglecting the Importance of Extras Cover
   Extras cover provides benefits for non-hospital services like dental, physiotherapy, optical, and chiropractic care. Some couples may overlook the value of extras cover, but if you both require regular treatments, this can be a cost-effective way to claim back some of your healthcare expenses. Make sure you tailor the extras cover to your needs to avoid paying for services you won’t use.
6. Missing Out on Special Offers or Deals
   Health insurance providers often run promotions or offer discounts for new members, such as waiving waiting periods or providing several weeks free. Failing to take advantage of these deals can result in missing out on savings. It’s worth checking for new and profitable offers when comparing health insurance policies.

Key Takeaway

Choosing the right couples health insurance requires thorough research and careful consideration of your specific needs. Avoid these common mistakes by comparing multiple policies, planning ahead for family expansions, understanding costs, and balancing premiums with coverage. Using comparison tools or speaking with health insurance experts, like those at Health Deal, can help guide you through the process and ensure you make the best decision for your future.

Here are the answers to a few common couples health insurance FAQs:

How Do I Claim the Australian Government Rebate on Private Health Insurance?
The Australian Government provides a rebate to help reduce the cost of private health insurance premiums. The amount of rebate is income-tested, meaning it depends on your income and age. You can claim the rebate in two ways:

1. Upfront through your insurer: You can have the rebate applied as a reduction to your premium. This means you’ll pay a lower amount upfront to your health insurer.
2. At tax time: If you don’t apply for the rebate upfront, you can claim it as a tax offset when lodging your tax return with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

The rebate is a great way to make private health insurance more affordable, especially for couples. Be sure to check your eligibility based on your income and age when choosing how to claim the rebate.

What Are Waiting Periods?
A waiting period is the time you must wait after taking out a health insurance policy before you can claim benefits for certain treatments. During this period, you won’t be able to claim on specific services, and you’ll need to cover these costs out of pocket.

• General waiting periods: Typically, 2 months for new conditions or services, such as hospital treatments or extras like dental.
• Pre-existing conditions: A waiting period of up to 12 months may apply if you have pre-existing medical conditions.
• Switching policies: If you switch to a new health insurer and have already served your waiting periods with your previous provider, you won’t have to re-serve them, provided you switch to a similar or higher level of cover. You only serve a waiting period on upgraded services. 

Always read your policy’s standard information statement (SIS) to understand the specific waiting periods for your coverage.

Comparing couples’ health insurance policies is the best way to find the right cover for you and your partner. Use the Health Deal Insurance Comparison tool to compare plans, prices, and coverage options from different providers. For personalised health insurance advice, you can contact Health Deal at enquiries@healthdeal.com.au or speak to one of our experts at 1300 369 399. We’re here to help you make informed decisions for your health and future.

Get in touch now to speak with our expert and receive health insurance expert advice and support in making viable health insurance decisions for you and your partner. Or use Health Deal’s comparison tool to get started on your health insurance journey.

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