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Benefits of Choosing Couples Health Insurance
The type of cover you choose should reflect your health needs at every stage of life. Couples health insurance cover is a natural progression for a shared lifestyle where healthcare is prioritised. Couples cover could be the right health insurance for you for total peace of mind.
What is a couples health insurance policy?
Couples health insurance is when two adults are covered under one health insurance policy. There are two types of couples private health insurance policies: hospital cover and extras cover.
Private hospital cover
You and your partner are treated as private patients in private or public hospital settings. You can choose your physician (if available), receive a private room, and avoid long hospital waiting lists.
Extras cover
Extras cover helps you pay for healthcare services such as dental, optical, physiotherapy, and chiropractic that Medicare doesn’t cover.
There are different levels of private health insurance such as bronze plus, silver, and gold hospital cover. Personalised couples cover offers peace of mind. With GoSwitch, you can compare different health funds, pricing structures, annual limits, and the level of hospital cover you want.
Why people take out couples health insurance
Your healthcare needs can grow together
While you can use singles cover so you can claim on different services, many couples have similar health needs. Having one policy can make it easier to make changes and update your cover as you and your partner get older.
You pay only one bill
It’s easier to keep track of your health insurance premiums and income threshold when there is only one bill to pay. Plus, under one policy, it can be easier to understand what you can claim at tax time.
Health insurance policy waiting periods may apply if either you or your partner weren’t previously covered or are upgrading to a higher level of cover.
Choosing couples insurance cover
Once you’ve decided that couples health insurance is the right choice for you, the next step is to find a policy that meets you and your partner’s healthcare needs. This can include needs for hospital treatment, emergency ambulance cover, preventative care therapies, physio, general dental, and other health-related services.
- If you’re taking out an extras policy as a couple, pay close attention to the annual claiming limits.
- If you’re looking for hospital insurance or combined cover, think about the health insurance tier you want. For example, joint replacements are often covered by silver and gold hospital services.
- One of the best ways to find a new policy is to compare your options online. GoSwitch can help you switch to a new policy in minutes, absolutely free of charge.
Health insurance considerations for couple
It’s important to make sure you and your partner are on the right level of cover. Life is unexpected, and if your circumstances change (such as having a baby), you can upgrade at any time to include additional healthcare services. Bear in mind there will be waiting periods before you can claim any insurance upgrades. Further considerations include:
You and your partners medical history
Consider any previous hospital admissions you or your partner have had. Consider both your family’s medical histories when choosing the appropriate level of cover.
Two singles policies instead of couples cover
While couples cover is convenient, as you only have to maintain one policy and payment, couples cover can sometimes cost more overall than two individual policies. This commonly occurs when partners have substantially different sets of needs.
You may get a higher rebate
If your partner is over the age of 65 and is entitled to a higher private health insurance rebate, you will both receive the higher discount. This discount can be applied to your health insurance policy to reduce your premiums.
The best health insurance for young couples?
A couples health insurance policy is often the right choice for a young couple. However, it depends on the couple. For example, if one of you wants cover for pregnancy and obstetrics, you may be better off with two singles policies, with one of them covering pregnancy.
You can add your partner to your existing health insurance policy provided your policy is available to couples. Your partner will have to serve the waiting periods for any additional services or health insurance policy upgrades.
In terms of providers, the choices are all yours. It’s as simple as comparing policies with GoSwitch, and making an informed decision for your future.
Further couples health insurance considerations
- The Australian Government Rebate – It helps many Australians pay for private healthcare but can be affected if you’re insured by a couples policy. With couples health insurance, your combined income is used to determine a rebate suitable for you both.
- The Medicare Levy Surcharge – is an amount you may need to pay at tax time if you earn over a certain amount and you or your partner don’t hold an eligible private hospital policy for the financial year.
- Lifetime Health Cover Loading – is designed to encourage Australians to take out hospital cover earlier in life. Premiums increase by 2% for each year you don’t hold hospital cover following your 31st birthday.
Choosing the right cover with GoSwitch
If you are considering a health insurance policy upgrade, or you want to include another person in your cover, there are a lot of options available. A thorough search could take days, but fortunately GoSwitch is here to offer a free health insurance Australia price comparison. Simply enter your postcode to get started. We partner with leading Australian insurance companies to provide the best deals all in one place in real-time.
The choice is all yours for a better health insurance for couples deal. Speak with a GoSwitch health insurance expert and find a better deal today.
FAQs
What is the best health cover in Australia?
The best health cover depends on your individual needs and the insurance premiums (cost) and excess required to pay when making a hospital claim. Some health insurance products might be great for families, while others are better suited to seniors, singles or couples. GoSwitch can help you compare different policies to find the perfect fit for you.
How much does private health insurance cost?
The cost of private health insurance varies depending on your age, the level of cover, and the for-profit health fund you go with. Some funds offer basic cover for a few hundred dollars a year, while others can cost a few thousand. It’s always best to compare different health funds and policies with GoSwitch to find the one that suits your budget and needs.
How do I get two private health insurance policies?
You can split your health cover between two providers if you prefer. This could mean having hospital cover with one insurer and extras cover with another. GoSwitch can help you compare and combine different hospital policies to find the right mix for you.
Does private health insurance cover dental services?
Dental coverage depends on your specific policy and level of extras cover. Many policies cover routine checkups and basic treatments, while some also cover major dental work like orthodontics. Use GoSwitch to compare policies and see what’s included in each.
What is the best health insurance company to go with?
The best health insurance company for you will depend on your individual needs and the specific health services you’re looking for. Some companies excel in hospital cover, while others offer better value for extras. GoSwitch makes it easy to compare different companies and their offerings so you can find the one that’s right for you.