Do you need private health insurance in your 20s?

Popular hospital claims

For HBF members in their 20s, some of the most common hospital cover claims include:²

• Hospital psychiatric services. Nearly one in two Australians will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime.³ HBF members in their 20s and 30s claim for hospital psychiatric treatment – which includes treatment for mental illnesses, eating disorders or addictions – significantly more than any other age group.²
• Bone, joint and muscle. With accidents and injuries among the top health risks for young Australians, this category – which includes hospital treatment for injuries and conditions of the musculoskeletal system – may be worth considering. 
• Pregnancy and birth. Thinking about a little bundle of joy? If you’re planning a baby and want to give birth as a private hospital patient, it’s important to know that you will need to be covered for this for 12 months before your due date.
• Digestive system. This category includes hospital investigation and treatment of conditions that affect the digestive system – for example, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which affects around three in 10 people.⁴
• Gastrointestinal endoscopy. Similarly, this covers investigation and treatment of the inner parts of the digestive system using an endoscope (a long, thin tube with a tiny camera attached – fun!).
• Ear, nose and throat. This category includes things like sinus surgery and surgery to fix a deviated septum.

Other benefits of private hospital cover

Of course, you can access these treatments in a public hospital too, and for many people in their 20s this can be a good option.

However, there are a few perks of being treated in a private hospital. For example:

• You can choose your doctor or specialist. In the public hospital system, you don’t have this choice.
• You can often get treated more quickly. Public hospital waiting lists for some procedures can be lengthy, which in some cases may mean living with discomfort or stress for longer while you wait for treatment.
• You can get a private room, if one’s available.* Having a room to yourself can make your hospital experience that little bit more comfortable.

Plus, depending on your income, having private hospital cover can mean you avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge.

This is a tax applied to high income earners (over $93,000 for individuals or $186,000 for couples and families) who don’t have an appropriate level of private hospital cover.

Popular extras claims

The other big part of private health insurance is extras cover.

This can give you benefits towards some out-of-hospital health services that Medicare generally doesn’t cover.

For HBF members in their 20s, some of the most used extras services include: ²

• Dental (Preventative and Restorative). Keep your smile bright with benefits for regular check-ups and cleans, plus things like fillings and extractions (including wisdom teeth removal in the dentist’s chair – which can often cost up to $400 per tooth.⁵)
• Optical. See clearly and look great with benefits towards prescription glasses and contact lenses – which can be handy if you’re among the one in two Australians who needs them.⁶ 
• Physiotherapy. If you experience aches and pains or mobility issues, physio can help keep you moving and feeling well.
• Chiropractic. Many people like to see a chiropractor for help with health problems related to the skeletal or muscular system – for example, back or neck pain.
• Remedial massage. This can help aid recovery from exercise, injuries or illness through soft tissue manipulation.

It’s important to know that not all levels of hospital and extras cover include the treatments and services described in this article. To find out more about levels of cover, check out HBF cover options.