Six surprising reasons to consider Australian Unity for your health insurance

Choosing a health insurer is one of those decisions that feels harder than it should be. The policies blur together, the fine print is dense, and the benefits that actually matter to you as you get older are often buried beneath a long list of things you will never need.

Australian Unity is different in a few specific ways – and if you are considering your health insurance options, those differences are worth understanding before you make a decision.

Jake Bottomley, Customer Lifecycle Team Leader at Australian Unity, works with people who are weighing up their options every day. “When we walk new members through what’s actually included in their cover, the reaction is almost always the same,” he says. “They’re genuinely surprised by how much is there.”

Here is what that looks like in practice.

1. Physiotherapy – including hydrotherapy

Australian Unity extras cover includes physiotherapy, with coverage extending to sports physiotherapy and hydrotherapy.

For anyone managing joint pain, recovering from a procedure, or wanting to maintain mobility and strength as they age, this can be a highly valuable everyday benefit.

Australian Unity General Manager, Customer, Lenette Gear says staying active and out of hospital often comes down to early action and regular support. “Regular exercise is important for healthy ageing, and services like physiotherapy can play an important role in both recovery and ongoing maintenance,” she says.

2. No Gap Dental – preventative care at no out-of-pocket cost

When you visit a dentist in the No Gap Dental Network, Australian Unity members can receive up to 100 per cent back on dental check-ups but here is what people may not know – it also includes the x-rays. And, depending on your cover, these benefits don’t count towards your dental limits, helping you get more value from your Extras cover.

For anyone who has been putting off dental care because of the cost, this changes the calculation immediately. Preventative care now costs nothing, and the problems it prevents are far more expensive. As Lenette says, “Regular dental care is important because oral health can be an indicator of more serious underlying diseases,”

3. Hearing aids

Some of Australian Unity’s extras covers include hearing aids – the appliance, replacement and repairs Hearing loss is one of the most common and most undertreated conditions for Australians in their 60s. Having this covered from the day your waiting periods are complete means you can address it properly, rather than putting it off.

4. Podiatry and orthotics

Podiatry consultations are covered, along with foot orthotics when recommended by a podiatrist or medical practitioner and supplied by an approved provider. For anyone managing diabetes, circulation issues or the cumulative wear of decades of walking, this is a meaningful benefit that supports long-term independence.

5. MindStep

This is the benefit that tends to surprise people most.

MindStep is a free six-week phone-based , mental health program delivered through Remedy Healthcare.

Based on low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy, it is designed to help members manage symptoms of anxiety or depression – and no GP referral is required.

The outcomes are genuinely impressive. Around 75 per cent of MindStep graduates either show a measurable improvement in their mental health or recover completely. Australian Unity members with eligible hospital cover or hospital cover with extras can access the program.

6. HealthierMe – a personal health coach, free for up to two years

HealthierMe is a telephone-based health coaching service available free of charge to members with appropriate hospital cover. A qualified health professional works with you over an extended period – up to two years – to help you meet your personal health goals, including managing long-term conditions such as heart failure, diabetes and COPD.

This is the kind of service that, from a private provider, would cost hundreds of dollars. This is included for Australian Unity members who have had hospital cover for 12 months.

What new members should know

Australian Unity‘s 2026 average premium increase of 3.98 per cent is below the industry average of 4.41 per cent – which means new members are joining a fund that is actively managing costs as well as delivering genuine value.

“We want new members to start using their cover from day one,” Jake says. “The best thing anyone joining can do is call us and have a detailed conversation about their health situation – we can make sure the cover they choose actually fits their life.”

To find out more or to explore joining Australian Unity, call 13 29 39 or visit australianunity.com.au

Sponsored content produced in partnership with Australian Unity. Information is general in nature. Benefits vary by policy and waiting periods apply — always check the product Fact Sheet or contact Australian Unity directly.