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The article discusses the rising cost of private health insurance in Australia, with an average industry-wide price increase of 3.03%. However, some policyholders are paying significantly more than the average increase, especially for Gold policies. The article offers recommendations for the best value hospital and extras policies for different categories of individuals, such as healthy singles and couples, families, and seniors. It also provides advice on how to avoid overpaying for health insurance and includes tables comparing different policies and their premiums, as well as information on annual limits and waiting periods. This information can be helpful for library patrons researching private health insurance options, including seniors who are looking for the best hospital cover and extras. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the benefits and drawbacks of having Basic-level private health insurance in Australia. It explains that having private health insurance can help individuals avoid paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge, an additional tax for those who don't have private hospital cover. However, Basic-level policies provide very little coverage and are not recommended for health cover. The article also provides information on different levels of health cover, claiming the rebate at tax time, and the Lifetime Health Cover loading for individuals over the age of 31. It concludes by listing the cheapest Basic policies in each state and their premiums. [Extracted from the article]

We gave the pet insurance industry a Shonky award in 2019, but since then most insurers have engaged with CHOICE and made positive changes to their policies. "I changed pet insurers in the last 12 months due to my original insurer having significant premium increases", one pet owner told us. Pre-existing conditions Previously, if your pet had a particular illness before you took out a pet insurance policy, that illness might have been excluded from their cover - especially if they experience the same symptoms again. PEACE OF MIND Having pet insurance means that if an unexpected accident occurs or if your pet needs treatment, some or most of the financial burden will be lifted and you can focus on getting the best care for your pet. [Extracted from the article]

Gift cards are a popular and convenient present option, with Australians predicted to spend over $10 billion on them in 2023. However, there have been numerous complaints about gift cards, particularly regarding premature expiry. In 2019, new laws were introduced to address this issue, requiring gift cards to have a minimum 3-year expiry period and no fees charged after purchase. There are exceptions to these rules, and it is important to choose a card with a long expiry date, check the balance, be mindful of specialty purchases, and treat the card like cash to avoid any issues. If a business goes bankrupt, consumers may have limited options for recovering the value of their gift card. [Extracted from the article]

BUYING A STANDALONE POLICY If Ava has lower health cover needs, she could take out a standalone Medibank Bronze Everyday ($750 excess) and Essential Extras policy instead of joining the family policy. Given that a single policy usually costs about 50% of a family policy, it's smart to keep your kids on your family policy while there's no additional cost. Cost of family policy: $7979* Cost of extended family policy (including Ava): $10,010* Additional cost to include Ava: $2031 per year (without the health insurance rebate). [Extracted from the article]

This article from Choice magazine features a Q&A format where readers ask questions on various topics and experts provide answers. The first question is about finding health insurance policies that allow individuals to choose specific services they want coverage for. The expert recommends using a health insurance tool on the Choice website to find suitable policies. The second question is about soundbars for improving TV audio quality, specifically regarding the lip sync feature. The expert explains that lip sync depends on the TV's settings and suggests checking if the TV allows manual adjustment before considering a soundbar with lip sync. The third question is about cost-effective ways to warm a large open space for long periods of time. The expert suggests warming up the body with an electric heated throw or hot water bottle, making space adjustments, and using a reverse-cycle air conditioner as the most efficient option. [Extracted from the article]

The biggest health funds have some bad value policies, though we do rate highly some of their other policies in our online health insurance comparison. And it's no wonder, considering about 8 in 10 health insurance policies belong to the five biggest health funds - Bupa, HBF, HCF, Medibank and NIB. All three funds let you keep the discount if you switch cover or if you currently hold a discount with another fund and switch to them. [Extracted from the article]

Financial counsellors will help people struggling with BNPL debts and can even advocate on their behalf Getting help with BNPL debt If you find yourself struggling to keep up repayments to a BNPL service, there are concrete steps you can make to take control. 76% of BNPL users had struggled to make repayments THE SUMMER ISSUE Tackling BNPL debt When it comes to facing your finances, the first port of call is to address any debts. NEED TO KNOW £ As the cost of living rises, more and more people are succumbing to buy now, pay later (BNPL) debt. Start 2023 in control of your finances by dedicating some time to getting on top of any BNPL (buy now, pay later) debt, making sure your savings account is the best one for you, and giving your superannuation a health check. [Extracted from the article]

Portable contents insurance is a type of insurance that covers valuable items outside of the home, such as electronics, jewelry, musical instruments, and sporting equipment. There are two options for coverage: unspecified or unlisted, where items are treated as part of general contents, and specified or listed, where specific items are covered for a set amount. It is important to read the fine print, as there may be an excess fee for claims. Different insurers have different excess fees, so it is important to choose a policy that aligns with the value of your items. [Extracted from the article]

Although these policies are usually a little cheaper than the Gold policy from the same fund, they're sometimes more expensive than Gold policies from other insurers that give you more cover and cost less. There are four levels of hospital insurance: GOLD Gold is the best insurance if you want peace of mind. Lukes Gold Hospital750206ACT GOLD RESTRICTED MEMBERSHIPCBHS Comprehensive (Gold)750195Doctors' Prime Choice Gold750215Teachers Top Hospital (Gold)500207NSW GOLDMildura Five Star Gold - F4750202St. [Extracted from the article]

Health insurance premiums have increased by an average of 3.03% as of April 1st, with some individuals experiencing even higher increases. This is particularly true for those who recently upgraded to a top-cover Gold policy. Over the past three years, the price of Gold policies from major insurance providers has significantly risen. It is recommended to shop around for the best deal, as there are substantial differences in cost between policies offering the same coverage. Loyalty discounts are not offered by insurers, so staying with the same provider may result in higher costs. If your premiums have increased more than the average, you are encouraged to contact healthinsurance@choice.com.au and share your experience. [Extracted from the article]

So if you suspect your pet could have a preexisting condition and want to take out pet insurance for the first time or switch insurers, ask lots of questions and get the answers in writing. The biggest problem with pet insurance was that you were locked into your current policy if your pet developed a health condition. But insurers will now cover new customers for their pets' pre-existing conditions if those conditions are fully cured. [Extracted from the article]

SUPERANNUATION FUNDS Some superannuation funds offer members health insurance discounts, including Care Super (GMHBA, HCF and NIB) and Telstra Super (HCF). Three ways to get a discount There are three easy ways to get a discount on your health insurance: Corporate discounts: Provided by employers, super funds, associations, clubs and mutual banks. Private health insurance legislation allows health funds to give a discount of up to 12% off the cost of your premium. [Extracted from the article]

A CHOICE home heating and cooling expert Chris Barnes: As far as I am aware, there's no evidence that Wi-Fi devices have any effect on pacemakers. Q I have heard that it is illegal for health funds to charge me for health insurance when I am travelling overseas (because I can't use my cover). A CHOICE insurance expert Uta Mihm: Health insurers usually allow you to suspend your cover while travelling, but as you have noted, they normally have a minimum period such as four or eight weeks. [Extracted from the article]

Shopping around for home insurance can lead to significant savings, as nine out of 10 policyholders have experienced an increase in premiums. It is recommended to obtain quotes from at least three insurers, including an online quote from the current insurer. By analyzing quotes, it was found that there are large differences in prices between the cheapest and most expensive policies in each state, with potential savings of up to $4665 in NSW. A sample of 2000 online quotes collected in July 2023 was used for this analysis. For more information and price ratings on over 50 home insurance policies, visit choice.com.au/homeinsurance. [Extracted from the article]

Mental health conditions are disproportionately impacting young people (15-24 years old), according to a recent report from the private health insurance industry's peak representative body. The Private Healthcare Australia report shows that in 2022, one in three people under the age of 30 who had a private health insurance claim over $10,000 were hospitalised for mental health. [Extracted from the article]

A gap is simply the difference between what Medicare and your private health fund will pay towards your treatment, and what your doctor or hospital charges. Best health funds for gap cover We rate health funds on the percentage of services for which the member had no or a known (up to $500) gap cover. In looking to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses, you should take two basic steps: STEP 1: FIND A SURGEON WHO CHARGES REASONABLE FEES Call your health fund and ask for a list of their no-gap doctors and agreement hospitals. [Extracted from the article]

We explained to Amanda that under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), warranties are separate from consumer guarantees. These consumer guarantees are separate from the manufacturer's warranty, which means that even if the dishwasher is already out of warranty, you may still be protected. Under the consumer guarantees of the Australian Consumer Law, goods purchased come with automatic guarantees that they are of "acceptable quality", meaning they should be safe, durable and free from defects for a reasonable period of time. [Extracted from the article]

As always, health insurance premiums will go up on 1 April, so now is the perfect opportunity to review your health cover and lock in a cheaper premium for the next 12 months. The average health insurance premium increase announced for this year is 2.92%, which is the lowest since 2001, but most funds have increased premiums from 3% up to 5.63%. Our tool shows the full premium before any rebate, so get a quote on your health fund's website and select "no rebate" for the right premium to compare. Health funds may also offer single parents lower premiums for hospital cover but not extras cover. [Extracted from the article]

The article suggests best value policies and what to avoid in hospital cover. Topics include gold is the highest level of private hospital cover and if one wants health insurance that gives peace of mind for a hospital visit, a Gold policy is right, and considering Bronze if one is healthy and not planning a family but want back-up cover for broken bones and Basic hospital insurance policies stated to offer the lowest tier of cover at the lowest price point.

Travel money card tips Make sure the card allows the currencies you'll need, and also consider stopovers. TRAVEL MONEY OZ CURRENCY PASS (MASTERCARD) The Travel Money Group is owned by Flight Centre and is a foreign exchange retailer. Watch out for: fees to load the card - either a percentage of the total or a flat fee ATM withdrawal fees a cross currency fee or margin when you use the card in a currency you haven't preloaded further fees if you close the account or haven't used the card for a period of time. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses insurance for pets such as cats and dogs and insurance policies related to emergency treatments. Topics discussed include policies that cover hospitalization, medicines, and vaccinations, accident cover for injuries such as broken bones, and Trupanion, an American pet insurer, that has been launched in Australia.

The article examines the changes in health insurance products in Australia with reference to the reforms to be introduced by April 2019. Topics discussed include the Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Basic product tiers; impacts of the reforms on insurance beneficiaries; overview of the insurance coverage according to each policy; and discount offerings for young people.

Of the big insurers, two have already increased their premiums - HBF by an average of 4.49% on 1 April and Medibank/AHM by an average of 2.96% on 1 June, but the other three are delaying their increase until later this year: NIB will delay its 2.72% premium increase until 1 September 2023 (this includes Qantas Health). Due to COVID-19 and the fact that many people haven't been able to make full use of their health insurance policies, most private health funds are delaying their price increases until later in the year. [Extracted from the article]

Make sure your health fund has a contract with the day hospital, or talk to your specialist or their receptionist and ask if they can charge you under your fund's gap scheme. Day hospitals are increasingly popular for a range of medical procedures, but there are some things to know if you want to maximise your benefit from private health insurance if you need to visit one. Alternatively, you can switch to a fund that has a contract with your day hospital up to the day before the surgery. [Extracted from the article]

A CHOICE mattress expert Peter Zaluzny: We haven't tested bases, just mattresses, so we can't point to a particular brand or definitively say if slats or an ensemble base are better. A CHOICE air conditioner expert Chris Barnes: I can't recommend the best brand of air conditioner with regard to mould. It is excellent, but the paddle gets so deeply embedded in the bread I destroy the first two inches of the bread cutting it out, and the bread falls apart when slicing it. [Extracted from the article]

Credit card processing fees are usually higher, costing businesses about 1 to 1.5% of the transaction value for Visa and MasterCard, and 1.5 to 2% for an American Express card. Q I bought tickets for an activity using my Visa credit card and was charged a 5% credit card surcharge. We'll be looking at how well it compares to a 1.2V rechargeable battery and to the current batch of NiMH rechargeable batteries, when used in devices that require more than a few AA batteries to operate. [Extracted from the article]

Retailers also apply a daily supply charge, irrespective of your level of energy use, and there may also be a discount applied to the bill. Some retailers won't honour discounts on their last bill if you switch away from them before the end of the contract period Many retailers will offer you an extra discount for doing this, but it pays to check if their underlying rates are actually competitive. Retailers claim it's necessary because their costs can go up during the duration of the contract, and so far regulators have sided with the retailers on the premise that ending unilateral variation would lead to higher prices for consumers. [Extracted from the article]

Some health insurers offer their members rewards programs that let you earn points and rewards for meeting exercise goals and answering online questionnaires. Five percent discount on your health insurance premium (MyOwn, RACQ and GMHBA) We review health fund rewards programs offered by Medibank, Qantas (NIB), GMHBA, RACQ and MyOwn to see what they offer, and whether they're worth it. There's a good choice of rewards including benefits or discounts from your health insurance policy and gift cards from a small group of retailers. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the reforms to private health insurance to find the best value for money in Australia in 2018. It cites on the aim of the changes by reducing costs by getting a cheaper premium, reduce confusion and mental health coverage. The article also discusses the levels of cover including budget cover, accident cover and top cover with excess.

The article discusses the cost of being a private patient in Australian hospitals. These include out-of-pocket costs for physician's consultations in hospital, procedures that the patient is not covered for in insurance, and pathology costs. The types of gap payment that private patients should consider and on how the gap schemes work are also mentioned.