Maximising Your Health Insurance for 2025

The new year is a great time for a health reset. As we slide into 2025, you’ve probably got the usual resolutions all lined up. You know… Get fit, eat more veggies, and meditate (most of which will be forgotten by February). But before you devote all your spare time to goat yoga or counting kale leaves, the new year is also a great time to take a long, hard look at your health insurance policy. Here are four simple steps to make sure you're getting the most from yours.

Step 1: Review your policy 

Life changes, and so should your health insurance. Just don’t wait until it’s too late. Set a date to reassess your policy each year to ensure your policy is still serving your needs. Is it still working for you, or have you outgrown it? Do you need more extras or a different level of hospital cover? Are you getting value for money? A little bit of time spent reading the fine print and making the necessary comparisons to alternatives could save you thousands of dollars and countless headaches

Step 2: Don't forget the extras

Think of your health insurance like a health buffet. You’re paying for it, so make sure you’re not just taking the salad and ignoring the caviar. Extras like dental and optical check-ups are there to be used. Sure, getting your teeth cleaned sounds about as fun as watching paint dry, but your future self will thank you when you don’t need to fork out thousands for dentures. And how long has it been since you updated your glasses prescription? You can get new glasses for just a few bucks with the right insurance plan and optical care combination.

Step 3: Leverage preventive care

We live in a time where it’s not just about fixing things when they break but preventing them from breaking in the first place. Many health funds offer free or subsidised programs for things like gym memberships, health scans, and natural therapies, but are you using them? These services might be tucked away in the fine print, but they're gold. Book in for your annual check-up, get that skin scan, or take advantage of nutrition advice - because prevention is always better than the alternative.

Step 4: Claim, claim, claim

It is your money, so go get it! Start claiming everything you’re entitled to. Most insurers have apps now where you can submit claims while you’re on the go. Just make sure you're submitting claims for every eligible treatment. Check with your insurer about what’s included – it might even stretch to psychology sessions, alternative therapies, remedial massage, or even yoga, so it's worth looking into it as your potential claims might be more extensive than you realise.