Going to hospital? Here’s why you should contact nib first

Being told that you need to go to hospital can be daunting and it can often feel like you’re left trying to navigate the system on your own – all while trying to keep a brave face in front of friends and family.

The good news is that if you’re an nib member, you can rest assured that not only do we cover private health insurance, but we also see it as our job to guide you through the journey – from diagnosis to rehabilitation, head to our Going to Hospital page as well as checking out the article below.

Having someone help you get back to your normal healthy self as quickly as possible is how health insurance should be; so whether you’re going to hospital soon, or you just want to be prepared for the future, here are six reasons why you should contact nib straight away.

The first thing we’ll do is check out the type of private health insurance you have with nib and confirm exactly what you are covered for. We can also look at your waiting periods so that you don’t have to wait longer than necessary to book in for your hospital stay.

We understand that the last thing you want after your hospital stay is a surprise bill, so we can look at the data around your procedure and let you know how much the average Australian has to pay. We can also provide you tips on how to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.

We have agreements with hospitals and specialists all around the country which means our members can access their services at a lower rate – and for some we’ve negotiated that you won’t be charged any out-of-pockets for your procedure. When you give us a call, we can provide you with a list of nib MediGap specialists and nib Agreement Hospitals that are close to you.

Invasive procedures come with risks and sometimes surgery isn’t the only option. Surgeons have spoken out previously about their concerns with some procedures that have a lack of clinical evidence. So, it’s important that you go into hospital confident that you’ve made the right decision and have exhausted all other options.

Sometimes a procedure can be avoided by making some lifestyle changes like weight-loss, diet and exercise. At nib, we offer a number of health management programs free to eligible members to help ensure you don’t undertake unnecessary hospital procedures. By contacting nib, we can let you know whether you are eligible and guide you on an appropriate program for you.

No one likes a surprise hospital bill, so we can let you know the average cost for your procedure.

When you’re visiting your specialist, it can be hard to know what to ask; so, we’ve done the hard yards and can guide you on some of the important questions to take to your next appointment – from treatment options and risks to costs and after-care. That way, you can be confident you have all the information you need before being admitted into hospital.

And, our guidance doesn’t stop after you’ve had your procedure. We want you to get back to health as soon as possible, so we have a range of post-hospitalisation recovery programs that can help you through the recovery process. These programs might give you the option of recovering from home with support.

If you’re an nib member going to hospital, it’s important to get in touch with one of our experts to help you navigate through any out-of-pockets, waiting periods and annual limits. Call nib on 13 16 42 and head to our Going to Hospital page so we can support you through the journey.