Private Health compared for Osteo

At Infinity, one of the questions we frequently get is about private health insurance: Should we get it? How much cover should I get? Which one is best? 

When considering getting private health insurance there are many things that need to be considered on an individual level, for example: 

• I’m already getting charged a medicare levy, how much does getting private health reduce this and is this cost worth it for me? 
• What extras do I need (for example dental and optical) and how much do these cost? 
• Is their customer service experience pleasant? What do their customer reviews look like?

When getting healthcare it is important to do your own research and find out which companies best suit your needs. Whilst we can’t definitively say which health care is best for you, we have done some research into which health care providers may provide the best coverage for osteopathic treatments. 

You may also visit the Government website: https://www.privatehealth.gov.au/dynamic/Search/

We’ve assessed in depth healthcare providers with regards to two aspects – most dollar based coverage, and best percentage back at Infinity. 

Best total dollar coverage:

1. Health partners – Best extras: covers $1200 combined osteo, physio and chiro
2. Latrobe Health Services – Premier: covers $1000 osteo
3. HBF – Flex 60: covers $1000 combined osteo, dental, pharmaceuticals, physio, chiro and other health care
4. ACA – Health benefits fund: covers $850 combined osteo, physio, chiro and other health care
5. HBF – Flex 50: covers $800 combined osteo, dental, pharmaceuticals, physio, chiro and other health care
6. HIF – Vital options: covers $800 combined osteo, dental, chiro, physio and ambulance 
7. Defence Health – Premier Extras: covers $750 combined osteo and chiro 
8. Bupa – Top Extras 90: covers $700 combined osteo and chiro, with $1400 per membership 
9. Police Health – Rolling Extras: covers $700 combined osteo, chiro, acupuncture and complementary therapies, rolling over to a max of $1400
10. Aus Unity – Advanced 80%: covers $500 combined osteo and chiro
11. NIB – Top: covers $500 combined osteo and chiro 
12. Medibank – Top Extras 90: covers $500 combined osteo and chiro
13. AIA – Enhanced extras: covers $400 combined osteo and chiro 

Best percentage returned per appointment at Infinity:

1. Aus Unity – Advanced 80%: covers 80%
2. ACA – Health benefits fund: covers 80% 
3. Police Health – Rolling Extras: covers 80%
4. NIB – Top: covers 75%
5. Medibank – Top Extras 90: covers $63.60 initial (~72%), $44 subsequent 
6. AIA – Enhanced extras: covers 70%
7. Defence Health – Premier Extras: covers $54 initial (~61%), $40 subsequent 
8. HBF – Flex 60: covers 60%
9. Health Partners – Best Extras: covers $50 initial (~56%), $40 subsequent 
10. Bupa – Top Extras 90: covers $50 for the first 10 appointments (~56%), $35 for the following 10 
11. Latrobe Health Services – Premier: covers $45 (~51%)
12. HBF – Flex 50: covers 50%
13. HIF – Vital options: covers 50% 

Overall winners:

• Health partners 
  • Best extras: covers $1200 combined osteo, physio and chiro
  • Best Extras: covers $50 initial (~56%), $40 subsequent 
• ACA
  • Health benefits fund: covers $850 combined osteo, physio, chiro and other health care
  • Health benefits fund: covers 80%
• HBF 
  • Flex 60: 
    • covers $1000 combined osteo, dental, pharmaceuticals, physio, chiro
    • covers 60%
  • Flex 50: 
    • covers $800 combined osteo, dental, pharmaceuticals, physio, chiro
    • covers 50%
• Latrobe Health Services 
  • Premier: covers $1000 osteo
  • Premier: covers $45 (~51%)
• Bupa
  • Top Extras 90: covers $700 combined osteo and chiro, with $1400 per membership
  • Top Extras 90: covers $50 for the first 10 appointments (~56%), $35 for the following 10

I really hope your company is on that list, because they were head and shoulders above the others! It’s time to evaluate your health cover, there are tax benefits, but you also need to be aware if extras cover is worth it for you.

Worst coverage (the shame list!)

1. Latrobe – Core Essentials: $200 combined osteo, physio and chiro, 34% cover
2. HCF: $150-300 combined osteo, chiro, chinese medicine and other services, ~50% cover
3. CUA: $300 combined osteo and chiro, 60% extras cover 
4. GMHBA: $350 combined osteo and chiro, 75% cover 
5. Frank: $400 combined osteo and chiro, 50-80% cover 

Disclaimer  

These rankings do not take into consideration the cost of each package and some may include other services such as dental, physio and other health services. As such, it is important to do your own research to find out which private health insurance company will best suit you and your families needs. As a general rule, good coverage should have an annual limit towards or in the vicinity of $800. Lower coverages around $250 per annum are not as good and may fall short of your healthcare needs. 

*All information in this article correct at 1st July 2021