Blog article

Do you need private health insurance in your 70s?

By HBF
4 minutes
1 July 2024
An elderly woman laughing with her adult daughter over a cup of tea outdoors
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 diabetesheart 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

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:

Having private hospital cover can also mean you avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge.

This is a tax applied to high income earners (over $101,000 or $202,000 for couples and families) who don’t have an appropriate level of private hospital cover.

Popular extras claims

The other part of private health insurance is extras cover. This can give you benefits towards some out-of-hospital health services, like dentist visits, prescription glasses, hearing aids, podiatry and physio appointments.

Some of the most common extras claims among HBF members in their 70s include:2

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.


Please note: This blog was originally published on 10 January 2022 and has been updated to include the latest information.


HealthDirect – Manage your health in your 70s and older

HBF claims data, 2019-2020

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – Cancer in Australia: In brief (2019)

Heart Foundation – Key statistics: cardiovascular disease 

HealthDirect – Falls and the elderly (2020)

Centre for Eye Research Australia – Cataracts (2020)

Centre for Eye Research Australia – Glaucoma (2020)

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – Osteoarthritis (2020)

Optometry Australia – Presbyopia (2020)

10 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – Back problems (2020)

* For the treatment of included services at Member Plus hospitals only.



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.