For singles, health insurance isn’t just about covering emergencies; it’s also about ensuring that your long-term healthcare needs are met. Living independently means you’re responsible for every aspect of your life, including maintaining your health. Your health needs as a single person may be diverse, depending on your lifestyle. For example, if you’re active in sports, regularly hit the gym, or enjoy outdoor activities like hiking or surfing, you might be more prone to minor injuries like muscle strains or sprains.

In these situations, having health insurance gives you access to a range of elective procedures that might otherwise involve long waiting periods in the public system. For example, if you need surgery for a knee or shoulder injury, private health insurance allows you to choose your surgeon and hospital and avoid waiting lists for elective surgery. Moreover, it offers flexibility for non-emergency procedures, allowing you to schedule treatments at your convenience and with your preferred healthcare provider.

Health insurance also offers peace of mind for unexpected medical situations, ensuring you can access prompt care without the stress of managing the logistics or costs on your own.

Different health funds in the market provide different types of single health coverage. Each type of insurance caters to the different needs of the buyer, and it is therefore important to understand what each type of insurance covers and offers. Generally, there are three main types of single’s health coverage insurance. Each type can be modified to fit your needs. The three types and their descriptions are as follows:

Hospital Cover

Private hospital cover is an insurance policy that will cover the costs associated with going to the hospital for elective surgery. The main benefits of private hospital coverage are that you get to choose the hospital and avoid public waiting lists for elective surgeries. Different health funds offer a list of different hospital covers. Each of these covers slightly different medical treatments and procedures. In general, these can be broken down into 7 different categories:

1. Basic Hospital
2. Basic Plus Hospital
3. Bronze Hospital
4. Bronze Plus Hospital
5. Silver Hospital
6. Silver Plus Hospital
7. Gold Hospital

By law, if your hospital policy has the word “Bronze” in its name, then that policy has to cover all of these clinical categories:

• Brain and nervous system
• Eye (not cataracts)
• Ear, nose and throat
• Tonsils, adenoids and grommets
• Bone, joint and muscle
• Joint reconstructions
• Kidney and bladder
• Male reproductive system
• Digestive system
• Hernia and appendix
• Gastrointestinal endoscopy
• Gynaecology
• Miscarriage and termination of pregnancy
• Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy for cancer
• Pain management
• Skin
• Breast surgery (medically necessary)
• Diabetes management (excluding insulin pumps)

If your hospital policy has “Silver” in its name, then it has to cover all the services in Bronze, as well as:

• Heart and vascular system
• Lung and chest
• Blood
• Back, neck and spine
• Plastic and reconstructive surgery (medically necessary)
• Dental surgery
• Podiatric surgery (provided by a registered podiatric surgeon)
• Implantation of hearing devices

If the hospital policy has “Gold” in its name, then it has to cover every clinical category, including:

• Cataracts
• Joint replacements
• Dialysis for chronic kidney failure
• Pregnancy and Birth
• Assisted reproductive services
• Weight loss surgery
• Insulin pumps
• Pain management with a device
• Sleep studies

You can choose any of these categories based on your needs. When you see a Basic Plus, Bronze Plus, or Silver Plus policy name, that means that this policy covers everything associated with that category level but also covers at least one more surgery from the higher level. In any case, it is best to refer to your policy to have an idea of what it covers.

Extras Cover

Extras cover includes a range of out-of-hospital services like dental, optical, physiotherapy, and hearing aids. You can select the services you need and pay for them only. Such type of insurance will help you save big bucks every time you need to buy a pair of glasses, a remedial massage, and more, but only if they are under your extras cover. When selecting an extras policy, you want to be mindful of a few things, such as:

1. What extras do you need and use?
2. What is the yearly limit on the extras? (How much can you claim in total)
3. What is the rebate on the extras? (When you swipe your card, how much do you get back)

When looking at an extras plan, you should remember that if you don’t use the service often, you don’t need to worry about the yearly limit; only focus on the rebate. Conversely, if you use a service often, look for a higher yearly limit. If you follow these rules when selecting an extras policy, you’re on the right track to finding a good value plan.

Combined Cover

Combined cover is a type of health insurance where you get both hospital and extras on the same policy. Most hospital policies have the word “hospital” in them, such as Bronze Hospital $500 Excess or Silver Plus Hospital $250 Excess, and most extras policies have the word “Extras” in the name, such as “Core Extras” or “Vital Extras”. Combined policies will generally not have the word “hospital” or “extras” in their name, so you might see a product called “Top Choice $500” or “Deluxe Package Silver Plus” and you know it’s combined.

So, for some people, a combined cover might be best, for others, it might be just a standalone hospital or extras plan, and for others, it might be best that they have a hospital policy with one health fund and an extras policy with another health fund. It’s all about making sure you find a tailored solution to your individual health needs.

Selecting the right health insurance policy as a single person requires careful consideration of various factors. The process becomes much simpler if you know what to focus on and how to compare your options. Below are some essential aspects to keep in mind when choosing the best health insurance plan for your needs:

1. Assess Your Current Health Status

The first step in selecting a health insurance policy is understanding your current health condition. Ask yourself:

• How often do you visit a GP or specialist for checkups or treatments?
• Are you dealing with any chronic conditions or ongoing health issues?
• Do you take regular medication, and is it for short-term or long-term conditions?

Your answers to these questions will help you gauge whether you need comprehensive coverage or if a basic plan will suffice. If you’re in good health and only need occasional medical attention, you might opt for a lower-tier policy. Conversely, if you have recurring health concerns, choosing a policy with broader coverage would be a smarter decision.

2. Anticipate Future Health Needs

When selecting a health insurance policy, it’s important to not only assess your current health but also to plan for any potential future medical needs. Most private hospital insurance policies come with waiting periods, which is the time you must wait before certain benefits become available. For instance, there’s a 12-month waiting period for coverage of pre-existing conditions.

If you anticipate needing specific medical treatments, such as elective surgeries, it’s crucial to choose a policy that includes these services. Factoring in waiting periods helps ensure that when the time comes for treatment, you’re fully covered and won’t have to delay important procedures.

It’s also worth considering:

• Elective Surgeries: If you foresee a need for procedures like a knee reconstruction, cataract surgery, or other elective surgeries, be sure to select a policy that provides hospital cover for these services. Planning ahead prevents delays in accessing necessary care.
• Chronic Condition Management: If you have ongoing health conditions that may require surgery or hospital stays in the future, choose a policy that covers these areas, ensuring you have the support needed as your condition evolves.

By thinking ahead and selecting a policy that aligns with your potential health needs, you can secure the coverage required without the stress of unmet waiting periods or unexpected gaps in your insurance.

3. Lifestyle

Your lifestyle and current health status play crucial roles in choosing the right health insurance policy. For instance:

• Active lifestyles: If you’re regularly involved in sports or fitness activities, consider a policy that includes coverage for physiotherapy, chiropractic services, or remedial massages to help you recover from injuries or strains.
• Health-conscious individuals: If maintaining good health through preventive care is important to you, look for policies that cover regular check-ups, dental visits, or even allied health services like dietetics or podiatry.
• Chronic Health Conditions: If you have a chronic condition like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease, it’s essential to select a policy that provides comprehensive hospital cover for the treatments and services you may need. While private health insurance in Australia doesn’t cover specialist outpatient consultations, it can cover the costs associated with hospital stays, surgeries, and certain therapies related to managing your condition. Look for a policy that includes coverage for hospital admissions, treatments like insulin pumps for diabetes, or rehabilitation services if you require ongoing care.

Evaluating how your day-to-day life affects your healthcare needs will allow you to choose a policy that complements your lifestyle and ensures you’re covered for the services most relevant to you.

4. Budget

When selecting a health insurance policy, it’s crucial to choose one that fits comfortably within your budget, not just for the short term but for the years ahead. Private health insurance is a long-term commitment, so it’s essential to look for value rather than just the lowest price.

Affordability is important, but that doesn’t mean the cheapest option is always the best. A policy that offers lower premiums might still provide excellent coverage, depending on your specific needs. Similarly, a more expensive plan isn’t automatically better—high premiums don’t always equate to better benefits. Be sure to carefully evaluate what’s included in each policy and consider whether the coverage justifies the cost.

Look for value, which means finding a balance between affordability and comprehensive coverage. Assess your healthcare needs, how often you’ll likely use your benefits, and whether a slightly higher premium could save you more in out-of-pocket costs down the road.

Keep in mind, that you’ll likely be paying for private health insurance for years, so it’s crucial to choose a policy that you can afford to maintain in the long run. Look beyond the immediate price tag and focus on finding a policy that will offer consistent value as your healthcare needs evolve.

5. Annual Limits

When selecting extras cover, understanding annual limits is crucial. Unlike hospital cover, extras policies come with specific caps on the amount you can claim for services like dental, optical, physiotherapy, and other allied health services. These annual limits dictate how much your health fund will pay toward each service within a given year.

For instance, your extras policy might include a $600 limit for general dental or a $200 limit for optical services. Once you reach these limits, you’ll need to cover any additional costs out of pocket until the limit resets the following year.

Before choosing an extras policy, review these limits carefully. Consider which services you’ll use most often and whether the limits are sufficient for your healthcare needs. Be sure to weigh how often you’ll use certain benefits to ensure you’re getting the best value for your money. Additionally, take note of other factors like the rebates and whether they are high enough to cover most of your treatment.

Most health insurance comes with its own exclusions and waiting periods. Exclusions are medical services or scenarios that are not covered in your plan. Waiting periods refer to the initial time frames that begin as soon as you take out an Australian private health insurance policy. During this period, you won’t be able to claim or access any benefits covered by the policy. If you require medical services during this time, you’ll need to cover the full cost yourself. The length of these waiting periods can vary depending on the type of condition.

Here are the standard waiting periods for some common health insurance benefits:

• New Conditions: 2 months
• Pre-existing Conditions: 12 months
• Rehabilitation, Psychiatric Care, and Palliative Care: 2 months
• Pregnancy and Birth-related Services: 12 months
• IVF and Assisted Reproductive Services: 12 months
• Weight Loss Surgery: 12 months

Remember, if you’re switching to a new policy and have already served the waiting period with your previous insurer, you will generally only need to serve a waiting period on services that you are upgrading.

Insurance has many types of costs, and understanding each is important for making an informed decision while buying a policy and, consequently, using it where needed. Here we explain each type of associated cost:

Premiums for Single Policies

Health insurance premiums are the regular payments you pay to maintain the policy coverage. You can choose to pay them fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly. The amount of your premium will depend on your insurance provider, what sort of coverage you have, what services are covered, and the excess level. It is important here to note that once you stop paying your premium, your coverage will cease. Some health funds will give you an extra discount if you pay yearly, and some will give you a discount if you pay via direct debit, so it’s worth asking when you sign up if you are entitled to any of these discounts.

Excess and Co-payments

Excess and co-payments are out-of-pocket costs that you pay when you go to the hospital. If your policy has an excess attached, you will be asked to pay this amount on the day you are admitted. So if your policy has a $500 excess attached, and you go into the hospital for surgery, expect to have to pay $500 to the hospital on the day of your surgery.

Some policies might charge you a co-payment when you go into the hospital. This is often an additional cost you will have to pay on top of your excess. Co-payments are rare these days and don’t appear on many policies. They are a way of keeping down the monthly premium of policies, but make sure you know if you need to pay one or not before you go to the hospital.

Government Rebates for Singles

The Australian Government’s rebate can reduce premiums based on the policyholder’s age and income. This also depends on if you are single or in a family. This page describes various situations of a policyholder and how they may receive their rebates.

Please feel free to email any of your enquiries to enquiries@healthdeal.com.au, and we will get back to you shortly with an expertly explained answer. The above-mentioned costs can be reduced and managed well according to your policy and its coverage. However, it is very important to balance your costs from your end with benefits from your insurance provider and government rebates for single health insurance. This will help you manage your bills more efficiently and ensure value for money.

Lifetime Health Cover Loading

Lifetime health cover loading is the additional cost for those who take out hospital cover after the age of 31 years. This means that if you have not taken out any private hospital cover after turning 30, and later on you decide to buy one, you will have to pay a 2% LHC loading cost on top of your premium for every year you are aged over 30.

A simple example for you to understand this loading fee is that imagine if you take out private hospital coverage at the age of 40 years old you will then have to pay an extra 20% on the cost of this coverage per year for 10 years. Likewise, if you buy a policy when you are 50 years old, you will pay 40% more per year for 10 years. This is why it is recommended that before you turn 30, you should have private health insurance in place, which will save you a good amount of the loading fee in coming years.

Customer reviews can be a helpful tool when comparing health insurance providers, offering insights into other people’s experiences. However, it’s essential to remember that only a small percentage of customers actually take the time to leave a review, so those opinions don’t always represent the full picture. Reviews should be considered as part of your decision-making process, but they shouldn’t be the sole deciding factor.

At Health Deal, for example, we’re proud of our 4.8/5 rating on Trust Pilot, which reflects the dedication we bring to helping customers find tailored health insurance solutions. Our high rating shows we’re doing something right, but we always recommend looking at what each policy offers for your specific needs. Our comparison service allows you to evaluate multiple providers side by side, ensuring you get a policy that matches both your health requirements and budget, rather than just relying on reviews alone.

There’s a common misconception that there’s one “best” health insurance provider for singles, but the truth is far more personal. Health insurance needs are unique to each individual, meaning what works perfectly for one person might not work for another, even within the same region or age group.

Rather than searching for the “best” fund, it’s smarter to look for a policy that fits your personal circumstances, including where you live, your age, and your health priorities. For example, someone in Queensland may have different coverage needs than someone in Victoria due to regional agreements with hospitals or available services. You’ll also want to ensure your chosen provider has agreements with your preferred hospitals or healthcare professionals.

That’s where Health Deal comes in. We simplify the comparison process, allowing you to focus on what’s most important—finding a policy that suits you, whether it’s for elective surgeries, extras, or comprehensive coverage. Making an informed decision is crucial, and our tools make it easier to compare multiple providers quickly and efficiently.

Government rebates for single health insurance policies can be very helpful in managing expenses. Two main schemes are available: 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. This rebate is income-tested, which means the amount of the rebate depends on your income if you are single or your spouse’s income if you are a family. This page lets you know how much rebate you are eligible for based on your age and income.

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 eligibility from this page. These health insurance incentives and rebates positively impact the overall affordability and accessibility of private health insurance for singles.

Private health insurance for young singles is very important. Young people have a lot of things going on. They are just starting in adult life and need to sort out their lives from the start. In Australia, young singles are very sporty and very active in hiking and surfing. In these conditions, health insurance should be the least of their worries. This is why a good health insurance that would cover the needs of young singles is the only way to go. Such insurance can be found after a little bit of research and comparison, and Health Deal can help you do that and much more.

Some health funds offer discounts for people aged 18–29 years of age up to 10 per cent of their private health insurance hospital premiums. People will retain this discount until they turn 41, after which it will gradually phase out. The allowable discount is 2 percent each year that a person is under 30, up to a maximum of 10 percent for 18 to 25-year-olds. The age-based discounts do not apply to people aged 18-29 who are covered as dependents on a family or single-parent policy. A person can either have their own policy and be eligible for an age-based discount or be covered as a dependent, but not both.

Here is a list of tips that you can use to maximise your single 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 have 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 the insurance provider offers and utilise your extra cover.

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

Following are some of the common questions about single health insurance.

What Is Covered Under Hospital and Extras Cover?

Under this cover, a wide variety of your in-hospital and out-of-hospital services are covered. The specific covered service will depend on your insurance provider and the tier of coverage you select, but the most commonly covered services include hearing aids, dental, optical, and physiotherapy services. Additionally, you have the choice of a public or private hospital, specialist, and private room (if one is available), all chosen by you according to your needs.

If you would like more information on what is covered under hospital and extras covered separately or in combination, here is the Health Deal Insurance Comparison tool that you can use to make an informed decision.

How Do I Claim The Australian Government Rebate on Private Health Insurance?

According to Service Australia, there are two ways that you can claim the government rebate on health insurance. One way is to claim it from your insurance provider as a reduced ongoing premium; the other is from the Australian Taxation Office. You can claim the rebate from the insurance provider as an upfront reduction to your private health insurance premium, whereas you can claim the rebate through the ATO tax return if you don’t get it as a premium reduction. The choice is yours. You can read more about health insurance rebates for singles on this page.

What Are Waiting Periods?

Waiting periods refer to the initial time frames that begin as soon as you take out an Australian private health insurance policy. During this period, you won’t be able to claim or access any benefits covered by the policy. If you require medical services during this time, you’ll need to cover the full cost yourself. The length of these waiting periods can vary depending on the type of condition.

Here are the standard waiting periods for some common health insurance benefits:

• New Conditions: 2 months
• Pre-existing Conditions: 12 months
• Rehabilitation, Psychiatric Care, and Palliative Care: 2 months
• Pregnancy and Birth-related Services: 12 months
• IVF and Assisted Reproductive Services: 12 months
• Weight Loss Surgery: 12 months

Remember, if you’re switching to a new policy and have already served the waiting period with your previous insurer, you will not need to serve it again.

How Can I Reduce My Premiums?

There are many ways that you can reduce your premiums. These ways include comparing different policies and their rates, switching to policies with lower premiums, only getting cover for services you will require, and removing those you no longer need. Another way you can reduce your premium is by pre-paying your premium for at least 12 months.

If you have any other single health insurance FAQs, we invite you to email us at enquiries@healthdeal.com.au.

Singles health insurance comparison is the best way to choose your insurance provider, and you can do that by using the Health Deal Insurance Comparison tool. Here you can compare single health insurance plans, costs, and providers.

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For health insurance expert advice, you can contact Health Deal at enquiries@healthdeal.com.au. You can speak to our experts at 1300 369 399 or fill out the online form here. Get in touch now to speak with an insurance expert for tailored advice and support in making viable health insurance decisions.