Whatever decade you’re in – and especially as you move through your 50s, 60s and beyond – it’s important to ensure you have age-appropriate health cover. As your health needs and priorities evolve, regularly reviewing your policy can help you feel confident it continues to support your wellbeing now and into the future.
Think back to your earlier years. Since then, you’ve probably changed jobs, homes, hairstyles – and maybe even welcomed children or grandchildren into your life. But that’s not all that’s altered over time.
As your life has changed, so too has your health, body and mind.
It’s one of the reasons Australian Unity health insurance experts recommend reviewing your health cover at least once a year. Taking the time to sit down and check your policy – or have a detailed conversation with your health fund – can help ensure it still meets your changing needs, including any current or pre-existing conditions that may require support as you get older.
“You never know what’s waiting around the corner,” says Customer Lifecycle Team Leader, Jake Bottomley, “but by having a good idea of what your future health needs might look like, you can make sure you have the appropriate cover in place.”
Whether we like to admit it or not, ageing is associated with a range of conditions that might require medical attention or even hospitalisation, as well as an increased risk of developing a chronic illness such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes. Private health insurance helps you prepare for the future, not only by offering preventative care services, but also by helping you plan for and manage the cost of treatment.
Jake, who helps Australian Unity members get the most out of their health insurance, explains further.
“Many people don’t realise how much their policy pays out to them, and that’s because hospitals send the bill to their health insurer directly, without the need for you to make a direct claim. It’s often a pleasant shock when people see how much private health insurance has saved them.”
So when’s the best time to review your cover? Jake recommends taking the time to sit down and check your policy, or call your health fund, at least once a year.
When speaking to your health insurer about your requirements, Jake recommends putting yourself at the centre of the conversation.
“Have a detailed discussion about your current or pre-existing health conditions, and anything that you think might need to be covered. For example, an issue another family member has experienced, like diabetes.”
It’s also important to discuss the needs of your partner and other family members if you are thinking about collective cover for your household.
“By talking through insurance requirements from every angle,” says Jake, “we can make sure that everybody’s needs are met through the cover we arrange for them.”
Looking beyond hospital cover to include extras can provide valuable day-to-day support as you age. Extras are often the services people use on a regular basis, helping to encourage a preventative approach to managing health.
“Extras are the things that you require on a weekly, monthly or yearly basis,” says Jake, “such as physiotherapy or remedial massage, dentistry, or new glasses.”
Having these services included in your cover can make it easier to stay on top of regular check-ups and identify potential issues early. “Having access to these services on a regular basis through private health insurance means that any symptoms or issues that could potentially lead to a bigger problem are spotted early and, if needed, treated immediately,” says Jake.
Taking care of your health as you get older means being prepared, but it also means taking a proactive and preventative approach. Lifestyle changes, such as increasing your fitness levels, maintaining strength and balance, or choosing to eat a healthier diet, are good places to start. And the beauty of private health insurance is that some policies will assist you in making these changes.
Australian Unity General Manager, Customer, Lenette Gear, urges people to “use every part of your insurance cover by accessing subsidised weight loss and health coaching programs, for example.”
Taking a holistic approach means not just paying attention to your physical wellbeing but also supporting your mental health as you age.
“MindStep, our low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy program, is showing really strong results among people living with anxiety and depression,” says Gear. “While our health coaching program, HealthierMe, seeks to get a complete picture of your overall health, as opposed to considering an illness or medical need in isolation.”
When checking your insurance and hospital cover meets your health needs, try to assess what areas you might need to focus on now and in the future, and find out all the ways that your provider might be able to support you.
As Lenette says: “Insurance is always there when issues arise, but if we can prevent those issues in the first place, that’s a great start.”
Supporting your mental health as you age is just as important as caring for your physical wellbeing, and having the right cover in place can help you take a more confident, proactive approach to both.
Jake agrees, adding: “Private health insurance gives you peace of mind that, in your hour of need – those times when you or a family member needs looking after – we’re going to be there for you.”
Information provided in this article is not medical advice and you should consult with your healthcare practitioner. Australian Unity accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any of the opinions, advice, representations or information contained in this publication. Readers should rely on their own advice and enquiries in making decisions affecting their own health, wellbeing or interest.
This article was originally published on Australian Unity Health.