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Health Cover Rip-Off? Why Hospital Cover Can Be So Important to Aussie Seniors

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Health Cover Rip-Off? Why Hospital Cover Can Be So Important to Aussie Seniors

For older Australians health insurance is an additional expense, with Hospital cover potentially seen by some as a luxury and therefore an unnecessary expense. But why is hospital cover so important to some Aussies, and how can you reduce the cost of it, without scrimping on the many benefits?

Thanks to a newly available health insurance service, it’s now easier than ever before to reduce health insurance costs including hospital cover. It is possible to get ahead of the health insurance market price increases which occur every year. The process is very simple, fast and free to do.

Simply follow these two steps:

  • Step 1: Select your current health fund below.
  • Step 2: Once you answer a few basic questions, you will have the opportunity to compare quotes from multiple health funds.*

What Are the Advantages of Private Hospital Insurance, and is it even worth it?

Is taking our hospital cover worth it? Well, for one thing you might be able to jump the queue! Australia ranks fifth in the world in satisfaction with our health care¹, and our public health system is a big part of that. However, for elective surgeries like hip replacements, the waiting lists can be lengthy, with 50% of people waiting at least 49 days to get treated².

In contrast, private hospitals usually have a shorter waiting time for these kinds of surgeries. So, instead of spending several months in a state of discomfort, you might be able to get treated much more quickly!

Key hospital cover benefits include:

• Shorter waiting times for elective surgeries.
• The ability to choose your own doctor.
• Reduced costs for private hospital visits, with many believing that private hospitals offer superior conditions and service.

Why HCF, NIB, BUPA and other funds don’t want Seniors to find this service.

The answer is simple, they do not want you to compare and for you to find out that you can potentially get a better deal elsewhere. The cost of people comparing and switching is huge for them but for you it could be even bigger not to.

Many customers over 50 remain loyal to brands for years, but loyalty comes with a price tag. You could be getting the same (or better) coverage for cheaper elsewhere.

While there are no specific policies for over 50’s, there are different types of cover which may be more suited to the needs of singles or couples who are over 50. Health insurance can help provide peace of mind that you have cover for some of the common ageing conditions without having to rely on the public system.

BillyExplores.com.au launched in 2018 to help older Australian customers compare health insurance based on their needs. This is done by connecting consumers to a free health insurance comparison service with the the ability to compare health insurance policies from some larger and smaller funds*. By looking at both the premiums and inclusions side by side, it’s easy to see what better value options may be available, as well as how much money you might be able to save by switching to a different provider.

Health Insurance Premiums have increased by an average of 43.97% in the past 10 years⁴. Billy Explores Health Insurance helps to connect Australians with a free comparison service to compare multiple health insurance brands, cover options and pricing all in the one place. The service saves time, but the biggest benefit for many could be potential dollar savings.

Now is the time to get started

Step 1: Confirm the type of policy you are interested in.

Step 2: Confirm a few basic details and you will have the opportunity to hear about a range of health fund special offers*. Confirm a few basic details and you will have the opportunity to hear about a range of health funds

Click on your life stage to get started!

About Billy Explores

Many money smart Australians are thanking Billy Explores and iSelect for providing such an amazing service with an honest effort to help potentially save money for families across Australia. You can click here if you would like to compare to potentially enjoy the benefits of this free service.

Since launching, thousands of Australians have already jumped on board. Over 200,000¹ Australians have contacted BillyExplores.com.au to compare their household expenses, with the possibility of reducing their costs being referenced as their number one reason for using the site.

BillyExplores.com.au is a trusted partner of iSelect who has years of experience comparing health insurance. Billy Explores’ customers have been able to take advantage of a comparison service which was designed to serve everyday people all over Australia with the aim of helping them reduce their household expenses and as a result, help improve their quality of life.

This article is opinion only and should not be taken as medical or financial advice. Check with a financial professional before making any decisions.

*iSelect does not compare all health insurance providers or policies in the market. The availability of policies will change from time to time. Not all policies available from its providers are compared by iSelect and due to commercial arrangements, your stated needs and circumstances, not all policies compared by iSelect are available to all customers. Some policies and special offers are available only from iSelect’s contact centre or website. Click here to view iSelect’s range of providers

¹Ipsos Healthcare & Insurance Australia 2023. Ipsos interviewed 23,274 adults in 31 countries about their satisfaction with the quality of their health care; Australia ranked fifth, with 64% of respondents ranking their health care as good or very good.

²Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – Elective surgery

³Based on Billy Explores data using Google Analytics Tracking Tool

⁴Reference: http://health.gov.au/resources/publications/average-annual-increases-in-private-health-insurance-premiums