Are you on basic cover? 7 signs it’s time to upgrade

A good hairdresser, quality running shoes and your significant other’s birthday pressie; there are a few things in life you don’t want to skimp on.

And, it should be the same when it comes to your health insurance.

When it comes to protecting your most valuable asset (you!), it’s important to make sure your health insurance covers everything you might need – and these needs can change as your lifestyle changes.

At nib, we’re known as the trusted health partner for more than 1.6 million Australians and New Zealanders and we’re passionate about enabling you to make the right choices when it comes to health cover; that’s why we’ve put together seven signs it might be time to upgrade your current policy to something more comprehensive.

If you haven’t looked at your policy since you purchased it (which was when the Discman was a thing) or you aren’t sure what you’re covered for, it’s time to get a cover review; the last thing you want is to be paying for a policy that doesn’t suit your needs.

You can check out all the important details of your policy through your member account or the nib App.

We encourage nib members to use their Extras benefits as regularly as they need to keep healthy. If you’re finding you’ve reached your annual limits mid-way through the year, it’s probably a sign it’s time to upgrade. The best thing to do is contact us – our team can help you find a cover that is more suitable for you, with extra benefits such as higher annual limits on some popular treatments.

Considering reigniting your professional footy career? Thinking about joining the local boxing gym? Weighing up whether to start surfing again?

It’s important to live life to the fullest, so if you’re going to be taking up a new physical challenge, make sure you’re choosing a health cover that can keep up with your lifestyle. This could mean upgrading to a Hospital policy that offers benefits for musculoskeletal injuries like fractures and surgeries or adding on an Extras policy that covers physio, chiro and osteo.

Are the pitter-patter of little feet getting closer? If you’re considering starting (or expanding) your family, make sure you do a cover review to ensure you’re on a policy that will suit your needs. Whether you opt to go through the public system, or you choose to give birth through a private hospital, nib can help guide you through this exciting new stage of your life.

At nib, we have a range of covers to suit you and your family. Plus, on most family policies you won’t need to pay an excess if one of your kids (up to 21 years of age) has to go to hospital.

You’ve made it through the tumultuous teens (congrats!) and your kids have well and truly turned into young adults. The good news is that your nib family health insurance can cover your grown-up unmarried kids until they’re 30 for no extra charge if they’re in full-time study and they're already on your family health cover.

If your kids are over 21 and not studying full-time, you can still keep them on your cover until they’re 30 by paying an additional fee.

When you’re ready for them to leave the nest (or your private health cover), give us a call on 13 16 42 and we can make the changes for you over the phone.

If you are reaching your annual limits mid-way through the year, it’s time to upgrade

Being diagnosed with a health condition can be overwhelming, but regardless of whether you’re covered on your current cover, it’s important to give nib a call to discuss your options. We might recommend that you upgrade your policy, so even if you aren’t covered for your procedure immediately, you may receive benefits for future procedures.

Your nib consultant can also help guide you through the hospital system, help you find a specialist through nib's First Choice network and give you information about our range of health management programs.

The greys are becoming more noticeable, your joints are sore and you’ve started a sentence with ‘Back when I was a kid’; they’re all signs that you're getting older.

And, although we can’t help fix the greys, the good news is that nib can help you make sure you’re on the right policy to suit your changing needs. Whether it’s opting for a policy that covers hip replacements and cataracts, or making sure you’re getting the most out of your Extras, our nib consultants can talk you through your options.

At nib, we’re committed to being here to help regardless of your life stage and we understand that sometimes it’s easiest to get personalised advice from an expert when it comes to your health insurance. You can call nib on 13 16 42 or contact us online for assistance with your cover. Alternatively, for some ways to get even more value from your nib health insurance, check out our article Basic or Gold: Things you get with nib regardless of product tier.

Please note: The tips throughout this article serve as broad information and should not replace any advice you have been given by professional financial advisor.