Written by Joshua Malin
Reviewed by Lana Hambilton
Last updated 13/10/2023
A singles private health insurance policy is a great way to ensure you’re covered for a range of health services both in and out of hospital. Singles policies aren’t just for single people; even if you’re in a relationship, you might find it more beneficial to take out two separate singles policies. Here are some key things to remember about singles health insurance policies:
Private health insurance for singles explained by Dr Ginni Mansberg.
If you’re unsure if a singles health insurance policy is right for you, there are a few things you should consider:
If you want to take out singles health insurance, a great way to find a good deal on premiums and benefits is to shop around and compare your options. When looking for a singles health insurance policy, it’s essential to consider things like:
Our health insurance expert, Lana Hambilton, has some tips on how to find a singles health insurance policy that works for you.
When deciding whether private health insurance is right for you, ask yourself the following: how long would you be willing to wait in the public system for surgery, and could delaying elective surgery cause increased pain or a reduced quality of life? Continue to do your research and consider speaking to one of our trained private health insurance specialists; they can help find a policy that suits your needs.
Before you take out a policy, consider your current health status and your medical history to make sure you get the right policy to suit your needs. This will help you to know which healthcare services you need and which ones you could omit.
If you get married or plan on starting a family, that can be a great time to reassess the benefits of your policy and whether you need to compare and switch.
Instead of having multiple people on one policy, singles health insurance will cover just one person instead. Singles health cover can be more tailored to the policyholder, as they may not need the same or as many benefits as couples or family policies have.
Private health insurance is split into two products: hospital and extras cover. You can purchase either of these products on their own or combine them into one policy. Hospital policies pay for your treatment as a private patient in a hospital, while extras policies cover out-of-hospital treatments like general dental, chiropractic and physiotherapy.
When you’re young, you likely want just the basics! That probably means taking out a low level of hospital cover (just in case the unexpected arises) and maybe an extras policy for a few key out-of-hospital services.
When you’re older, your priorities change, and you may want the peace of mind that comes with broader coverage. No one is a spring chicken forever, so the health services you want coverage for may be quite different than what you needed when you were younger.
For example, you may have a few elective surgeries on the horizon that require a higher level of hospital cover. Or you could find that the extras services you’re covered for no longer match your lifestyle. You might want to prioritise general dental for check-ups over orthodontics, or physio and chiro over cover for gym memberships. Ultimately, the right cover for you will depend on your personal health needs.
Keep in mind that when you upgrade to a higher level of cover, you’ll be required to serve any relevant waiting periods for services that were not previously included on your policy. If you’re yet to complete any waiting periods on your previous policy, you will also need to serve the remaining time.
Because health insurance is community rated, your base premium will never increase because of your age. However, it’s not quite that simple; here are a few ways your age could impact what you pay in premiums:
The cost of private health insurance for singles depends on the following factors:
Typically, no. However, depending on your eligibility, you and your partner may be able to receive a larger rebate from the government. It might also be easier to manage one policy.
You may choose to switch to a couples policy when you begin a relationship and then to a family policy if you choose to have children. Be aware that pregnancy and birth-related services have a 12-month waiting period for coverage, so be sure to plan ahead! Policies for single parent families are also available.
Unlike other types of insurance (like life or car), health insurance doesn’t take your sex into account when setting your premiums. In fact, the only difference based on sex that you might find in health insurance is policy benefits, since men and women have different health care needs and seek different cover options.
Getting the chance to avoid public hospital waiting lists is one of the more compelling reasons why singles can enjoy private health insurance. You can avoid public hospital waiting lists for specific elective procedures too with a singles health insurance policy.
Another plus is that you’ll get a private room (if it’s available) while waiting for and recovering from your elective surgery, and you’ll generally have a choice of doctor.
Depending on your state, private hospital cover can pay for emergency ambulance transportation. In some states, you can subscribe directly to the state’s ambulance service or choose to cover it with private health cover. QLD and TAS residents and Department of Veterans’ Affairs cardholders typically don’t need to pay for ambulance trips.
That’s completely fine. Health insurance is community-rated, which means providers cannot charge you a higher base premium based on your age, occupation, gender or health conditions.
You can still include eligible extras and hospital benefits in your cover that relate to your pre-existing conditions at no extra premium, though you’ll typically have to wait 12 months before you can claim on relevant hospital services.
As Head of Health Insurance, Income Protection Insurance and Life Insurance for Compare the Market, Lana Hambilton is committed to helping Australians avoid large out-of-pocket expenses by helping the system work for them. When it’s just you paying the bills, having a health insurance policy in place, can help you get back on your feet quicker after an unexpected accident.
Lana has 15 years’ experience in the health insurance and insurance comparison industries. She’s also a Board Member of the Private Health Insurance Intermediaries Association.
