Private Health Insurance: What to Check

Comparing health insurance requires looking beyond monthly or annual premiums.

Overview

Review hospitals, specialists, outpatient treatment, mental health provisions, diagnostics, exclusions, excesses and claims procedures.

What should you check?

• Read the policy definitions, limits and exclusions.
• Check the excess and any waiting or notification requirements.
• Understand what evidence may be required for a claim.
• Compare equivalent levels of cover rather than comparing price alone.

Why policy wording matters

Insurance is a contract and the precise terms determine when a claim can be accepted. Marketing summaries can be useful for orientation, but the policy documents should be treated as the authoritative source for the coverage you are considering.

Common questions