Here’s what HBF members in their 70s claim for the most on hospital and extras insurance.
In your 70s, you’ve well and truly earned the right to relax and enjoy life.
To help you keep doing that, it’s important to take good care of your health and wellbeing.
Private health insurance can help by giving you more choice and flexibility for managing some health issues that might come up.
In this article
Your health in your 70s
In your 70s and beyond, health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, kidney disease, osteoporosis and dementia become more common.1
For some real-life examples of how private health insurance could help, take a look at what HBF members in their 70s claim for.
Popular hospital claims
For HBF members in their 70s, some of the most common hospital cover claims include:2
- Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy for cancer. Your risk of cancer increases with age, and it’s estimated that by the age of 85, one in two Australians will be diagnosed with some form of it.3
- Heart and vascular system. One in six Australians is affected by heart disease, and risk increases with age.4 This category also includes things like varicose vein treatments.
- Bone, joint and muscle. This includes treatment for musculoskeletal injuries and conditions, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and fractures. Falls are more common for those aged 65 and older, so this may be a handy one to have covered.5
- Cataracts. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, which can be treated with surgery to replace the lens with an artificial one.6 Cataracts affect around 50% of people over the age of 50, and by age 80 almost all of us will develop them.6
- Eye (not cataracts). This includes hospital treatment for other eye conditions, such as glaucoma – a common ageing eye disease and one of the world’s leading causes of blindness.7
- Digestive system. This category covers investigation and treatment of conditions affecting the digestive system, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gall stones and haemorrhoids.
- Joint replacements. 1 in 3 Australians over the age of 75 has osteoarthritis, the most common reason for a knee or hip replacement.8
Other benefits of private hospital cover
Public hospitals can also be a good option for these treatments. However, there are a few benefits private hospitals can offer you. For example:
- You can avoid long public hospital waiting lists. In a private hospital, you can often get treated more quickly.
- You can choose your doctors and specialists. Having a little more choice and control over your treatment can bring you some reassurance.
- You can get a private room, if one’s available.* This can often make a hospital stay a bit more comfortable.
Having private hospital cover can also mean you avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge.
This is a tax applied to high income earners (over $93,000 or $186,000 for couples and families) who don’t have an appropriate level of private hospital cover.
It’s important to know that not all levels of hospital cover 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.
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Disclaimer:
This article contains general information only and does not take into account the health, personal situation or needs of any person. In conjunction with your GP or treating health care professional, please consider whether the information is suitable for you and your personal circumstances.
*For the treatment of included services at Member Plus hospitals only.