Claim your health extras before January 1

If you are like me and view your private health insurance premium as something to for emergencies only, then you are – correction, we are - really doing ourselves a big disservice.

Despite my best intentions, every year I fail to utilise my plan properly and end up ruing missed money-saving opportunities by not claiming all the “add ons” or “extras” benefits that I’m entitled to.

There are two types of health cover: hospital cover is for when you need admission to hospital and you hope never to have to claim on it!

But 'extras' or 'ancillaries' cover is for allied health treatments such as optometry, physio and dental - and has annual limits you can claim that expire for many policies each December 31.

This year I was looking like repeating that same lazy pattern, until I stumbled across a recent article published in the Daily Telegraph titled Health Insurance Members Urged to Use Extras Cover Before 2018 and discovered that I’m not the only one not getting their money's worth from their private health insurance provider.

The latest Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) statistics indicated that more than 13.5 million Australians (about 55 per cent of the population) have some form of extras cover.

And in the September quarter insurers paid back members significant amounts in extras claims — the average benefit paid back per dental visit was $64, optical $75, physiotherapy $35 and chiropractic $30.

While it seems Australians are becoming savvier with their private health insurance benefits, there is still a large portion of us out there that aren’t.

Thus I’ve vowed not to make the same mistakes and have decided it’s finally time to take action with my private health coverage.

I figure I pay for the add-ons anyway, so I should make use of them. 

In the lead up to Christmas I’m getting my eyes tested (it’s been way too long between drinks for that) and purchasing new prescription glasses as well as using up my remedial massage limits for my lower back pain, which I can no longer ignore. 

Yep – middle age is knocking on the back door for me… and loudly!

So whether it be a dental check-up, physio or getting new specs like me, now is the time to book an appointment. In some cases you can walk out with a brand new pair of specs or prescription sunglasses for no cost.

Before you spend up big, do two things: check whether your limits expire on December 31 (some do so on June 30 instead), and go online and check your claims history, so you know exactly what claims and how much you have left on your policy. Otherwise, give your fund a call today.

And don't forget to check out the current special offer with HCF and see if you can save here.

FiftyUps can now get up to $400 cashback over 37 months when you switch your family's hospital and extras cover to HCF^ 

^ Special Health Insurance Offer 

As a FiftyUp Club member, you can enjoy the members offers we make available and unlock, if you decide it is right for you. FiftyUp Club are able to unlock additional special offers from time to time. FiftyUp Club special offers are available for a limited time. Check the FiftyUp Club website for further information about our member and special offers.

^If you take the members offer and remain with HCF, you may be eligible to receive up to $400. FiftyUp Club will pay by way of electronic funds transfer (EFT) $100 to eligible couples and families after 3 months, 13 months and 25 months and 37 months (instalments for half these amounts will be made to singles). To be eligible to receive each instalment of cashback you must be a current member of HCF with hospital and extras cover at the point of expected instalment.

If you already have health insurance, switching to HCF is easy. HCF will contact your former health fund for you. Plus, you’ll have no additional waiting periods for services with an equivalent level of cover (excluding hearing aids). Offer is for switchers only and excludes existing HCF customers. If you take up the offer and you are not already a member of FiftyUp Club, you will become a member upon taking up the offer. HCF will recognise waiting periods you've already served with your current fund. Some longer waiting periods and conditions apply. Any benefit limits used with your current fund will apply to your new HCF policy. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other corporate offer or discount. Offer available until 12 January 2018.

Cashback instalments will be paid by EFT only, to the bank account nominated by you; no cheques will be sent to members. To receive payment as a new or existing member, you must provide and must ensure that your nominated bank account details are provided correctly to FiftyUp Club. You should do so here. The right to the cashback benefit will lapse after 12 months of the date you become entitled to it if you have not provided correct bank account details and as a result we have been unable to complete the payment.

**If you’ve switched from another health fund, you may not need to serve waiting periods, if: your HCF cover includes the same benefits and services as your previous cover; and you’ve served the equivalent waiting periods with your previous fund. This excludes hearing aids; a 12 month waiting period will apply from the date you join HCF. You’ll need to have switched from another Australian registered health insurer or an international health insurer belonging to the International Federation of Health Plans, and join within 30 days of ceasing your previous membership. Continuity of previous cover doesn’t apply to loyalty limits for services like hearing aids, dental services (including orthodontic services), physiotherapy, chiropractic, osteopathy and exercise physiology. Any benefit limits used with your current fund will apply to your new HCF policy. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other corporate offer or discount.

FiftyUp Club receives a commission for each member who takes up an offer with HCF and remains a member of HCF. FiftyUp Club returns up to $400 of this commission to members in the form of the switcher's bonus/cashback, and shares the remainder with its media partners, which include Macquarie Media Ltd, Nova Entertainment and Nine Network Australia who provide the people power to make our campaigns successful. Part of our commissions will also be used to fund future FiftyUp Club Campaigns.