Buying health insurance online? Learn more about how to compare policies on the web.
If you are looking for health insurance for yourself or your entire family, it’s easy to compare a wide range of policies online and choose one that matches your needs. Buying online is also becoming an increasingly popular way to obtain cover, with Roy Morgan Research revealing that the popularity of purchasing health insurance online rose from 18.8% in March 2013 to 22.9% in December 2013.
But what are the benefits of buying cover online and how can you find the right policy for you? Let’s take a closer look.
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Health insurance policies currently offered by leading health funds
Details
Features
GoldStar
Premium hospital cover with complete cover for hospital expenses. Save 4% when you pay for 12 months of your cover upfront.
All theatre fees covered
Unlimited maternity cover
Choose no excess or $200, $400, $500 per admission
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Basic Hospital ($500 excess) & Premium Extras
$100 gift card for all new members and discount on extras cover when taken out in combination with a hospital.
No excess for dependents under 21
Excess halved for day surgery
100% back on emergency ambulance transport
Optical and dental covered
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High 65 / 75 / 85% - $0/$250/$500 Excess
Combines High Hospital Cover with its highest level of extras cover.
Cover starting from $44.74 weekly
12 month waiting period for pregnancy
65% back on extras
Choice of $0, $250 and $500 excess
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Deluxe flexi
Deluxe flexi provides cover for a range of treatments including hip replacement, spinal fusion, dialysis and major eye surgery.
No excess for kids
All joint replacements
Major eye surgery
Rehabilitation
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Smart Combination
Smart combination provides a high level of cover for both hospital and extras.
Claim up to $2725 back on extras
Hip and knee replacements
General and major dental
Physio
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Prestige
Highest level of combined cover offered by CBHS. Includes the same benefits as Comprehensive Hospital and Top Extras plus more. Restricted fund: Only current or former staff (and their families) of Commonwealth Bank Group and their subsidiaries which include Aussie, Bankwest, Colonial First State and more can join.
No excess or co-payments on hospital cover
Non-student dependent under 25 can be kept on policy
Access to Chronic Disease Management Programs
Widest range of extras including orthodontics
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Bronze Hospital (no pregnancy) and Bronze Extras Set Benefits
High level of hospital cover and extras cover for a range of popular services including knee and should reconstructions.
Most comprehensive hospital options
Cover for general and major dental
Shared or single room in a private hospital
Intensive and coronary care
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Premium Hospital and Silver Extras Cover
Comprehensive hospital cover including pregnancy cover. Also included affordable mid-level extras cover for dental, optical and therapies.
Cover from $39.50 per week
Pregnancy and birth-related services cover
Heart surgery cover
100% cash back on two dental check per year
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Top Hospital with Top Extras
Get comprehensive hospital and extras cover and tailor your policy to your needs.
Pregnancy and birth services cover
Back surgery cover
$1000 general dental annual limit
$600 physiotherapy annual limit
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Young Couples Combined Cover
Mid-level hospital and basic level Extras package with an excess for young, healthy couples that are not quite ready to start a family.
Emergency ambulance cover
Cancer-related surgery cover
70% back on extras
$300 dental annual limit per person
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Discuss your health insurance needs with an adviser
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Complete the form and you'll be contacted by a consultant for an obligation free discussion about your health insurance options.
The consultant will work with you to compare a range of health insurance providers which may include:
Why look for health insurance online?
There are plenty of reasons why it makes sense to shop for health insurance online, including:
Convenience. Shopping online allows you to compare your health insurance options whenever and wherever it’s convenient for you to do so.
Information at your fingertips. You can quickly and easily access the product disclosure statements of many different health insurance policies, allowing you to work out what each policy does and does not cover.
Choice. When you shop for health insurance online, you can quickly and easily compare policy options from a wide range of Australian health insurance providers. This allows you to research the market and choose the policy that is the best fit for you.
Discounts. Some health funds offer premium discounts when you purchase cover online.
Transparent quotes. Buying health insurance online allows you to compare quotes from a variety of health funds. This ensures transparency and allows you to determine which policy offers the best value for money.
Access to assistance. Need help finding the right health fund? You can access online live chat or email help from insurance comparison websites, insurance brokers or the insurers themselves.
What are the pros and cons of getting a policy online?
The upsides of purchasing your health insurance online include:
Convenience. Buying health insurance online allows you to compare cover features and options, obtain quotes and research insurers all without leaving your couch.
Ability to compare multiple providers. When you shop for cover online, you can quickly and easily compare the policies offered by multiple private health funds around Australia.
Obtain quotes easily. Shopping online provides a simple way to obtain quotes from several health funds and see how they stack up against one another.
Customise your cover. Many health funds offer user-friendly websites with tools that help you choose a policy based on your budget, the type of cover you want or the level of protection you need.
However, there are downsides to be aware such as:
Being less personalised. Some people prefer the personalised service and assistance that is only available when you shop for health insurance in person.
More likely to be confusing. Buying cover online can be confusing if you don’t understand how private health insurance and Australia’s health care system work.
How can finder.com.au help me compare health insurance online?
Here at finder.com.au, we’ve joined forces with some of Australia’s leading health funds so that you can compare a wide range of cover options all in the one place. There are three ways you can compare cover:
Using the adviser form.
Comparing online and then going to the provider’s website.
Receiving a direct quote from the health insurer.
These three methods are explained in more detail below. Simply select an option to learn more.
Using the adviser form
Obtaining a quote through the provider's website
Receiving a quote directly
Using the adviser form
This form allows you to get in touch with an insurance consultant for an obligation-free discussion about your health insurance options. All you have to do is provide a few simple details and hit “Enquire now” and you will be contacted by a consultant who can help you compare a range of health insurance providers.
To fill out the form you will need to provide:
Your full name
Your email address and phone number
Your state or territory
Your age
Whether or not you are currently insured
Comparing online and then going to the provider’s website
If you choose this second option, available with insurers such as HIF, you can review and compare information about a health fund’s policies at finder.com.au. We’ve gathered a range of information on the cover options available, what each policy covers, who the policy is designed for and any excesses that apply.
Once you’ve compared your options and found a policy that you would like more information about, click on the relevant “Get Quote” link for that policy. You will be redirected to the health fund’s website where you can find more details about the policy and also request a quote.
Reviewing the policy and using the direct contact form
This third option, available with insurers such as health.com.au, allows you to contact the insurer directly for more information. Once you’ve browsed the details we’ve provided about the fund’s policy options, including what each policy covers and the type of member they’re designed for, you can send an enquiry form direct from finder.com.au to the insurer.
All you have to do is provide the following details and then click “Enquire Now”:
Your full name
Your email address and phone number
Your state or territory
Your age
Your lifestage (single, couple, family or single parent)
Tips for buying health insurance online
Keep the following tips in mind to ensure that you find the right health insurance policy online:
Understand how health insurance works. Finding private health insurance can be confusing. Check out our database of articles for details on how private health insurance works in Australia, what the difference is between hospital and extras cover and how private health insurance complements the subsidised medical services available under Medicare.
Consider your cover needs. Before you start hunting around for a policy, take the time to think about exactly what you want your health insurance cover to provide. Are you looking for the lowest level of cover available that will allow you to take advantage of tax breaks? Do you want a policy that provides cover for specific services, for example, pregnancy or assisted reproductive treatments? Or do you want high-level cover that provides complete peace of mind?
Consider your budget. Think about how much you can comfortably afford to pay for private health insurance. Once you know your budget, you can start comparing policies and get a clearer picture of what you can purchase with the money.
Compare multiple policies. Don’t just settle for the first policy you come across. Instead, compare the features and exclusions of multiple policies to see which one offers the cover you need at the right price.
Read the fine print. Look past the promotional material and marketing gimmicks to get down to the nitty gritty of each policy. Check out the product disclosure statement for in-depth information about what’s covered and to what level, as well as what services and treatments are restricted or excluded. Also make sure that you’re aware of any excesses or co-payments that apply.
Compare quotes. Obtain quotes from several insurers and see how they compare. However, remember that cost should never be your only consideration when choosing a policy; you must also consider the features and exclusions of each policy.
Look for ways to save. From online discounts to family discounts and even special offers from a health fund’s retail partners, look for ways that you can save money on private health insurance. For example, you could enjoy substantial savings simply by purchasing a hospital cover policy and extras cover from separate health funds.
Review cover regularly. Your cover needs change regularly and health funds are improving their policies all the time. That’s why it makes sense to review your cover once every 12 months and make sure you still have an adequate level of protection in place.
Ready to dive into online health insurance? Compare and get policy help from an adviser
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