Can Extras Cover help me with my exercise goals?

By Trudie McConnochie Reviewed and updated 13 September 2024

If doing more exercise is a priority for you, well done for taking care of your health. Being physically active is proven to boost self-esteem, energy and sleep quality, and can also help you manage stress and depression. Plus, when you make exercise a regular habit, you’ll lower your risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

With all those great reasons to exercise, you don’t need any more convincing that being active is a smart choice – all you need to do is get started. Fortunately, your Private Health Insurance can provide a little motivation.

Here, we look at Extras Cover and exercise, to find out what you might be able to claim.

Health insurance can reimburse your training costs

Depending on your policy and insurer, you might be able to claim back part, or all, of your gym membership cost. To do this, you’ll need to be exercising to manage or rehabilitate a health condition or injury. You will need to fill out a form signed off by a healthcare professional such as a physio, GP or exercise physiologist.

Some insurers even offer deals with specific gyms, for example, AHM has a partnership with Goodlife Health Clubs that includes discounted memberships, free five-day trials and complimentary coaching sessions every quarter for eligible members.

You might also be able to claim back the cost of personal training or exercise coaching, so it’s worth checking what your policy covers, and chatting to your insurer about their process for claiming.

Health insurance and coaching programs

If you have a chronic health condition that would be improved by exercise, your health insurer may offer more personalised support to help you manage your condition. This could involve exercise or nutrition programs, or personalised advice from healthcare professionals such as dietitians or exercise physiologists. For example, Bupa has The COACH program that offers advice from a dietitian on exercise and nutrition for eligible people who’ve experienced a heart attack or stroke. HCF has Healthy Weight for Life, a program where health experts provide exercise videos and progress tracking for eligible people with osteoarthritis. And PeopleCare pays benefits towards approved weight loss programs for eligible members living with diabetes, heart disease or osteoarthritis.

Some insurers also offer coaching for specific forms of exercise, such as learn to swim programs, so it’s worth getting familiar with what your Extras policy covers.

Health insurance can reward you for exercise

Some health insurers go as far as offering programs that reward you for being physically active. They generally work by awarding you points when you make healthy choices, such as walking a certain number of steps, which you can redeem for items such as gift cards, or even premium reductions. Some of the more well-known of these rewards programs are AIA Vitality, Medibank Live Better Rewards and Qantas Wellbeing, but your insurer may offer something similar, so it’s worth asking them.

Health insurance to support your body

If you’re exercising more, your body may need a little extra TLC so you can get the most from physical activity. Getting a regular remedial massage or getting advice on nutrition could make all the difference.

Here are some of the healthcare services your Extras policy may cover:

Is your Extras Cover supporting your exercise goals?

If you’re finding your Extras Cover isn’t doing enough to support your active lifestyle, you could increase your cover or change policies. With our healthslips.com.au Calculator, you can search every Extras policy on the market for free, without needing to enter your contact details. Try the healthslips.com.au Calculator to c ompare your Extr as policy or search for new Extras Cover.

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.