The Short Version
- Preventative care reduces your long-term healthcare costs by catching and managing health risks early on.
- Many private health insurance policies include preventative services like screenings, check-ups, vaccinations and other relevant health programs.
- Using your private insurance for preventative care can mean better health outcomes and fewer hospital visits for decades to come.
Preventative care and private health insurance go hand-in-hand
Preventative care is the foundation of a healthier, longer life. Instead of waiting until an illness strikes, proactive health management can help you avoid chronic conditions from developing. How? By detecting diseases early on and improving your overall health and wellbeing. With around 60% of Australians living with a long-term health condition like heart disease, diabetes or cancer, investing in preventative healthcare is a no-brainer.
So how does private health insurance play a part in supporting preventative care? Many policies include cover for routine screenings, immunisations, lifestyle programs and allied health services, which makes it easier for everyday Australians to stay ahead of potential health risks. The problem is that many policyholders underuse their preventative benefits, which means you could be missing out on opportunities to reduce your future healthcare costs and improve your quality of life.
What is preventative care?
Preventative care is all about reducing the likelihood of developing serious health conditions by spotting risks early and encouraging healthier lifestyles. It includes:
1. Regular health screenings
Routine screenings are able to detect conditions before they become severe. Some of the most common preventative screenings include:
- Cancer screenings (e.g. mammograms, cervical screening tests, bowel-cancer tests).
- Heart health checks, including cholesterol and blood-pressure tests.
- Diabetes risk assessments and blood-sugar monitoring.
- Eye and ear exams to detect early signs of vision or hearing decline.
Many private health insurers cover these screenings so that their members can catch potential health problems before they are exacerbated.
2. Vaccinations and immunisations
Preventative healthcare isn’t just about screenings but also about protection. Immunisations defend the body against serious infectious diseases like influenza, pneumonia, HPV and coronavirus. Some private health insurance policies cover:
- Annual flu vaccinations.
- HPV vaccinations for cervical-cancer prevention.
- Travel vaccines for illnesses/diseases that are prevalent in other countries.
3. Dental and optical preventative care
Dental and vision health are easy to overlook until real problems start to arise. But taking the time to have regular check-ups can avoid expensive procedures down the line. Most extras policies cover:
- Routine dental cleanings, fluoride treatments and check-ups to spot cavities and gum disease.
- Eye tests and optical benefits to monitor how your vision changes over time.
Beware of skipping these check-ups, as it could mean you end up having higher long-term healthcare expenses. In other words, it’s more beneficial for you to take advantage of these services while they’re still covered.
4. Allied health and lifestyle programs
Many health funds include cover for preventative programs that support your long-term health improvements. These might include:
- Exercise physiology sessions to help manage chronic conditions like arthritis.
- Dietitian consultations to support healthier eating habits.
- Smoking programs to help smokers quit.
- Mental health support, including counselling and psychology services.
How private health insurance supports preventative care
While Medicare has some cover for preventative healthcare, private health insurance fills in the gaps and gives you access to a much broader selection of preventative services. Private insurers have benefits for routine check-ups, vaccinations and allied health services that Medicare doesn’t fully cover.
Another big advantage of having private health insurance is that you get to see specialists early and bypass the extensive wait times of our public healthcare system. In other words, private patients can get screenings for serious conditions (e.g. cancer, heart disease, diabetes) before symptoms worsen, and with earlier diagnoses they can hopefully get better treatment outcomes. There’s also the fact that some policies include extra support through health coaching, chronic disease management programs and lifestyle perks like gym memberships and weight-loss support.
Having private health insurance also means you’ll pay less out-of-pocket for preventative care. While some tests and screenings are partially covered by Medicare, private insurance will bridge the gap for you.
Portability
Don’t re-serve waiting periods when you switch to a new health fund or policy
“John was immediately covered for a hip replacement in private hospital because he had already served his waiting periods for joint replacements on his old policy”
The long-term financial benefits of preventative care
Studies have shown that for every $1 spent on preventative care it saves a whopping $14.50 in future healthcare costs. Chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity-related complications put a huge burden on Australia’s healthcare spending, with many of those hospitalisations being preventable – and expensive.
Early detection of common conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and early-stage cancers can prevent the need for more intensive interventions (e.g. surgeries, prolonged hospital stays, expensive medications). Managing pre-diabetes through lifestyle changes and routine check-ups, for example, can thwart the onset of full-blown diabetes, which can cost individuals up to more than $16,000 every year in healthcare costs.
For families, preventative care also means your children will get their routine vaccinations, dental check-ups and eye screenings covered, which can catch issues early and mean less spent on healthcare as they get older.
5 tips for making the most of your insurance for preventative care
1. Check your policy benefits
While a large portion of private health insurance policies include preventative health benefits, many of them go unused. Speak to your insurer or check your policy details to see exactly what’s covered:
- Free or subsidised dental and optical check-ups.
- Health coaching programs to manage chronic diseases.
- Preventative screenings that can detect illnesses early on.
2. Book in annual check-ups
Take the time to book routine check-ups with your GP or specialist so you can stay on top of your health and catch early warning signs of disease.
3. Take advantage of allied health services
Your policy might cover extras like physiotherapy, chiropractic care, dietitian services, mental health support and more. Make sure you’re using these benefits to improve your long-term health.
4. Stay up to date with your vaccinations
If your policy covers flu shots, HPV vaccines and travel immunisations, take advantage of them to avoid illness – and expensive medical bills.
5. Use health and wellness programs
Some insurers include discounted gym memberships, weight-loss programs and other perks in their coverage. They will not only help you stay healthy but also prevent chronic conditions from going untreated.
To conclude...
Preventative care is one of the easiest ways to protect your health and minimise your long-term medical costs. It also contributes to your overall wellbeing. Private health insurance plays a big part in making preventative healthcare more accessible, especially in terms of covering screenings, vaccinations, visits to the dentist and allied health services.
If you’re not sure whether your current policy covers preventative healthcare services, now is the time to review your options and compare with Fair Health Care Alliance. We’ll make sure you’re getting the most value out of your insurance.
FAQ's
Screenings, vaccinations, dental check-ups, physiotherapy, mental health services and consultations with dietitians.
Preventative care means you won’t need more expensive treatments and longer hospital stays because it can catch illnesses early and manage other risk factors – ultimately saving you money in the long run.
Yes, most extras and hospital policies include cover for annual flu vaccinations. Just make sure you read your policy details to make sure.
It’s recommended that you get yearly check-ups with your GP, along with regular screenings for cancer, heart disease and diabetes (based on your age and other risk factors).
