Should I take out health insurance while I’m young?

The media gives young people a bad rap, with articles citing us as lazy and social media-addicted – we’ve even been accused of killing off entire industries (RIP the paper napkin).

But, behind all these myths, is a generation that is exercising more, eating smarter and smoking less than our elders. For young people, good health is far more than ‘not getting sick’, it’s our most important asset.

Which is why it’s so important to protect it.

At nib, we consider ourselves your health partner – helping you stay at your healthiest and being there to guide you through the often confusing health system when you need us.

So, to help you decide whether health cover is the right option for you, we’ve put together seven reasons you should consider taking out private health insurance while you’re young.

The Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading is a government initiative to encourage young people to take up private hospital cover earlier on in life, so if you’re under the age of 31, there’s no better time to sign up.

If you don’t take out private hospital cover by 1 July following your 31st birthday, you’ll be charged a 2% loading for every year you're over the age of 30 when you do take out a hospital policy. With the LHC loading lasting for 10 years and at a maximum of 70%, it’s definitely a good idea to take out a hospital policy sooner rather than later.

If you’re preparing to blow out 31 candles, our Lifetime Health Cover article has more information on the topic.

If you’re under 30, you’re in luck. Not only is your creativity at a peak, but when it comes to nib private Hospital insurance, you’ll automatically receive discounts of up to 10%.

It’s called an age-based discount and it’s automatically applied to every nib hospital insurance product taken up by members who are under 30. Eligible nib members receive a 2% discount for every year that they’re aged less than 30, up to a maximum of 10% for those aged 18-25. And, the best part is if you remain on an age-based discount policy, you’ll retain that discounted rate until you turn 41, when it will then be gradually phased out at a rate of 2% per year.^1

If you're earning over $97,000 as a single or over $194,000 as a couple, family or single-parent family, you could be affected by the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) if you don't hold private hospital cover for the full financial year. If this sounds like you, you could be up for $900 or more in extra tax if you don’t have the right level of Hospital cover. Visit the Australian Tax Office website for specific rules for calculating income for MLS purposes.²

When it comes to accidents, we assume it’ll never happen to us. But, unfortunately that’s not always the case. Last financial year, nib funded over 300,000 hospital admissions with the average paid per admission equalling $3,358, and nib covered almost 3.5 million Extras visits for our members.*

On the majority of our hospital covers, nib offers extra protection against the unexpected with the Accidental Injury Benefit. If you’re a nib member and you present for treatment within 72 hours of an accident at a hospital emergency department or with a medical practitioner like a GP, you’ll receive benefits in line with our best level of hospital cover for the following 90 days if you are then admitted to hospital.³

Without the right cover, wait times in the public system can be weeks or even months. And if you choose to go to a private hospital without the right cover, your treatment won’t come cheap.

Private hospital cover helps our members avoid public hospital waiting lists, pays benefits toward the cost of private treatment and also allows members to (subject to availability):

• Choose the doctors and specialists who treat you (subject to your condition, the size of the hospital and whether the doctor or specialist has practising rights at the hospital)

• Attend the nib Agreement Private Hospital or day facility of your choice

• Decide when you’ll be treated with your doctor

• Stay in a private room

We believe health insurance should be good value, which is why we aim to provide a range of benefits, services and inclusions that make being an nib member worthwhile, regardless of the level of cover you take out.

Through nib Rewards, you’ll be able to access a range of exclusive offers from retailers⁴. So, whether you’re looking for some new workout gear or you’re simply trying to eat healthier, nib Rewards can help you save some serious cash.

Need to find a new physio, dental or optical provider? By using the nib First Choice network, you’ll be able to search our community of selected health professionals who have agreed to provide nib members with quality healthcare, great customer service and value for money.

You’ll also have access to our Going to Hospital tool, which is filled with helpful information on health insurance, how to minimise your out-of-pocket expenses and the best questions to ask your specialist.

If you require an ambulance, most our covers give you access to unlimited emergency Ambulance cover⁵ – and we don’t have any caps on the number of times you use that cover. The average ambulance claim for nib members in the 2022 financial year was $987⁶ so, if you don’t have private health insurance, you might have to pay a hefty fee. Find out how much you can expect to pay for an ambulance in every state and territory across Australia.

nib members have options when it comes to protecting their health and we encourage you to take a look around and make sure you find the cover that’s right for you. Getting a quote online with nib is simple and takes just a few minutes.

Not ready for the commitment of private health insurance, but still want to access a range of services, discounts and health checks? nib GreenPass could be the answer. GreenPass gives you access to a range of online health checks, a health tracking app and healthy living rewards for free!

For more information on cover reviews, check out our article, Everything you need to know about reviewing your cover or call 13 14 63 to speak with one of our health insurance experts.

The information shared in this article is general and not meant to guide specific financial choices. Always consult with a professional who understands your personal situation before making any financial decisions.

¹Eligible members must be aged 18-29 and not a dependant under the policy. Discount calculated at 2% for each year an eligible member is aged under 30, to a maximum of 10% for 18 to 25 year olds. Not available to dependents on the Policy. If you have a partner on the Policy, the total discount will be an average of your individual age-based discount. Discount applies until age 41, and reduces by 2% per year until removed. Learn more.

²If your income is over $97,000 for singles ($194,000 for couples/families) and you take out and maintain Hospital cover for the full financial year, you could avoid paying an extra 1% to 1.5% in tax via the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS).  Visit the Australian Tax Office website for specific rules for calculating income for MLS purposes. This information is accurate as of 1 July 2024. See the ATO website for changes that may be made to income tiers from time to time.

³Excludes consult at an Emergency Department. Accidental Injury Benefit criteria must be met for approval.

⁴T&Cs apply. Some offers may vary or be available for a limited time. Payments for eGift cards made by debit/credit card incur a 1% processing fee. nib Rewards are available to new members after 30 days of active membership, provided premium payments are up to date. For more information on member rewards, visit nib Rewards. 

⁵1 day waiting period applies. Not available to QLD or TAS residents when covered by their State Ambulance Schemes or pension, concession and health care card holders who have ambulance services provided by State Ambulance Schemes (check entitlements with Centrelink if unsure).

⁶Figures are general claims statistics taken for the full financial year July 1 2021 - June 30 2022 for nib Health Insurance, excluding nib Overseas Student Health Cover, nib International Workers Health Insurance, nib Corporate Private Health Insurance, Real Health Insurance, Seniors Health Insurance, GU Health Insurance, Qantas Health Insurance, AAMI Health Insurance, APIA Health Insurance, Suncorp Health Insurance, Priceline Health Insurance, ING Health Insurance. Excluding QLD and TAS residents.