Compare Health Insurance Offers and Deals

Generally waiting period waivers are offers to reduce or waive waiting periods that you would have otherwise had to serve before making an Extras claim. When you sign up for a new Extras policy that includes a waiting period waiver, and you meet all the required terms and conditions, you may be exempt from serving some of your extras cover waiting periods. This means you may be able to claim right away for select out-of-hospital health care services.

Depending on your health fund and their offer, you may have to take out a combined hospital and extras policy, or a certain level of cover, to be eligible for these deals. These waivers typically only apply to extras cover services with a 2-6 month wait. Services like physios and general dental check-ups usually fit within this range, while services with longer waits like orthodontics, are often not included.

Free cover periods are another common type of offer made by some health funds if you meet eligibility criteria. This type of offer typically involves an offer of a period of free health cover for a new policy.   Returning members may also be eligible depending on the terms of the offer. This free period of cover could potentially apply to private hospital cover, extras cover, or both if you take out a combined cover policy. Free cover offers do not generally impact waiting periods and annual limits – these will usually will still apply during the free cover period.

This free cover period is usually applied to eligible products by extending the paid-up-to date in line with the duration of the free cover period. You may need to hold your cover for a set amount of time before receiving this benefit. This discourages customers from signing up and cancelling before they’ve paid any premiums.

Sometimes a health fund may offer a cash back or e-gift card for eligible members. Usually with this type of promotion, you will have to hold cover for what’s known as a qualifying period. After this period, you will typically receive your cash back amount by direct debit, or a promo code for your gift card.

To receive this type of promotional benefit, you’ll typically need to be up to date on your premium payments and not suspend or cancel your cover during the qualification period. Other T&Cs may also apply, so make sure you fully understand the eligibility criteria before signing up.

Offers of discounts on additional products are another common member benefit offered by insurers. They way these generally work is if you’re a member of a health insurance company that offers other types of insurance cover, you may be able to get a discount on these products. For example, you may be able to buy a life insurance product alongside your health insurance and pay less than you would if you purchased the life insurance policy separately.

However, just because you may get a discount, doesn’t mean it’s the best policy for you. Before you sign up for a different insurance product with the same provider, consider comparing all the products in the market to see if there is something available that better suits your needs.

Many health funds partner with health service providers and retailers to give their members access to special offers or discounts. While these products and services are often health-related, you may be surprised by the range of discounts available.

Some of the commonly discounted products and services include:

• Gym memberships
• Sunglasses
• Restaurants
• Movie tickets
• Spa and wellness appointments
• Flights.

Some health funds also offer free or discounted programs to improve member health and wellbeing. If you join a health fund that offers these sorts of programs, you may be eligible to participate in these. Examples might include coaching to quit smoking or mental health support. Not only does this benefit you, but it’s also in your health fund’s best interests if you stay healthier and therefore claim on your policy less.

In some instances, you can get rewards like discounted premiums or free gift cards for taking better care of your health through your fund’s health programs.