New year, new you. How health insurance can support your 2024 goals 

Every year thousands of Australians set new year resolutions to improve their lives in the coming year, and 2024 is no exception. For many of us, those resolutions involve wellbeing goals, but other people might choose to focus on better financial choices, or improvements in other areas of their lives (or all of the above).  

If you’ve set new year resolutions to get healthy or get financially fit, reviewing your health insurance might prove helpful. And if you don’t have a health insurance policy, this could be a good reason to consider getting one.  

Can health insurance help you get healthy?

It’s a little-known fact that some insurers support your health goals by reimbursing some of your exercise costs or even offering rewards for being physically active.  

Depending on the level of cover you have, if you’re exercising at a gym to rehabilitate or treat a health condition or injury, your insurer might cover a limited amount of your gym membership costs. You’ll need a healthcare professional to sign off on a form provided by your insurer, so talk to your insurer to find out their process for health insurance gym membership claims.

In addition, some insurers offer rewards programs where you earn points for healthy choices. You can redeem the points for reduced premiums or gift cards down the track. It’s important to do your homework before signing up, as there may be joining fees or other conditions. 

Read more about health insurer incentives for staying healthy

Can health insurance help you lose weight? 

One of the most common new year resolutions is to shed a few kilos, and you might be surprised to learn that your insurer can support you to lose weight. 

Many insurers offer weight loss programs with coaching and support services for eligible people, particularly if you’re living with a health condition such as osteoporosis. Of course, you’ll need to have the right level of cover and fit your insurer’s eligibility conditions.  

The best way to find what weight loss support is available is by looking at the health management programs section of your insurer’s website, or giving them a call. Make sure you check all the fine print before you sign up. 

Can health insurance help you get financially fit? 

Whether your financial goal is to save money or reduce your spending, rethinking your Private Health Insurance policy can help you get financially fit.  

Having the right health cover will make a big difference to your budget through lower premiums and reduced healthcare costs during the year, so it’s worth reviewing your policy on a regular basis.  

The first step is to consider what you need from your health cover. If you already have a policy, your needs may have changed since you first took out the policy. For example, if you’re not planning to have any more children, you don’t need cover that includes Pregnancy and Birth any longer, so downgrading your policy to a lower tier could save you money. Here are some factors to consider when reviewing your existing policy: 

• What is your budget? 
• Who needs cover (including family members)? 
• Do you have existing health conditions, or is it likely your health needs will change in the near future?  
• Do you need both Hospital and Extras Cover, or just one? 
• Specifically, what Extras Cover do you need? 
   

When considering cost, you need to look beyond just premiums and think about total healthcare costs. For example, you may need to spend more on premiums to cover health conditions that are currently costing you a lot of money but you’ll end up saving more by having these conditions covered. 

The next step is to compare your policy, new or existing, with other similar policies. There are 50 insurers, including open and restricted. You’re busy and you don’t have time to check the policies from each insurer, so thankfully the healthslips.com.au Calculator makes it quick and easy to compare. And while other health insurance comparison websites only compare a small slice of the market, we are the only website that compares all 50 insurers and every policy without any bias on prices and information, with cheapest price guaranteed. 

Want to know more? 

If you want more support for your health goals than your current Private Health Insurance policy offers, use the healthslips.com.au Calculator to compare it to a different policy that meets your needs better. You could end up saving money and getting healthier, which is a fantastic way to make 2024 your best year yet.  

And if you don’t already have health insurance, this is a great time to take out a policy to support your health goals. Whether you’re planning to run a marathon or shed a few kilos, your health insurance could make a big difference.  

Try the healthslips.com.au Calculator.

Trudie McConnochie

Writer and Researcher

Knowledge is power – that’s the guiding principle behind everything Trudie writes, and it’s a philosophy she brings to her work at healthslips.com.au. By breaking down complex information into easy-to-understand blogs and stories, she aims to empower Australians to make the best choices and an informed decision around private health insurance.

Trudie understands firsthand some of the complexity of private health insurance having moved to Australia from New Zealand and having to navigate a vastly different public healthcare system and health insurance structure.

Trudie holds a Bachelor of Communication Studies (journalism major) from the Auckland University of Technology.

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