24 May 2021

How to make the most of health insurance

Are you looking for health insurance? Or perhaps you’ve had health cover in place for a while, and would like to get the most out of it?

Here are some pointers to help you ensure your policy works with your lifestyle, fits with your financial picture, and gives you faster access to the care you need, when you need it most.

 

Pick an appropriate health insurance plan

Health insurance is designed to cover the costs associated with access to private healthcare providers, so you can get faster access to treatment and diagnosis should you need it. However, options and benefits vary widely from one insurance provider to another, and from policy to policy, so it’s important to keep your unique needs in mind.

Depending on your situation, you may choose a comprehensive package that covers anything from your glasses to surgery in a private hospital. Or you might consider an ‘everyday’ policy that only includes visits to the GP, dentist, or optometrist and leaves care that needs a hospital visit to the public sector.

Like to explore the options available to you? Get in touch. As insurance advisers, we can help you understand your circumstances, and recommend a policy that ticks all the important boxes.

 

Understand what’s covered and what’s not

Knowing what is and is not covered ahead of time can give you some peace of mind as you make treatment decisions. However, understanding the details of your policy wording can be confusing, which is why we’re here – to answer any questions you may have and help you make sense of the small print.

Also, it’s a good idea to know if there are annual limits on the total costs of treatment that you can receive, how much you’ve used and how much you still have left. You can plan any treatments and make the most of your cover if you know when your limits reset. It might be worth checking if your provider has a dedicated app for customers to help you find doctors, book appointments, and keep track of benefit limits and entitlements.

 

Review your cover regularly

Our lives can change quickly and in unforeseen ways, and in the midst of it all, it can be tempting to adopt a ‘set and forget’ mindset to health insurance. But remember, as your life evolves, so may your insurance needs.

As insurance advisers, we recommend giving your health cover a regular check-up. We can assist you in determining how changes in your lifestyle, life stage, health status, and financial condition can impact your coverage. For example, depending on your budget, you may be able to increase the excess and lower your premium amount. Or you may look into the extras and see where your money will be best spent.

By reviewing your cover on a regular basis, you can identify insurance gaps and make adjustments if needed.

 

Have questions?

Get in touch – as financial advisers, we are committed to helping you and your family secure the most appropriate health insurance plan for your needs. We are always here for you, so please don’t hesitate to reach out.

 

 

Disclaimer: Please note that the content provided in this article is intended as an overview and as general information only. While care is taken to ensure accuracy and reliability, the information provided is subject to continuous change and may not reflect current developments or address your situation. Before making any decisions based on the information provided in this article, please use your discretion and seek independent guidance.


Link Financial Group Ltd trading as Mortgage Link and Insurance Link FSP 696731 holds a licence issued by the Financial Markets Authority to provide financial advice. Insurance Link (NZ) FSP 446867 is authorised by that licence to provide financial advice. Please visit www.insurancelink.co.nz/available-disclosure for more information and Disclosure information