How to Get the Most of Private Healthcare Cover

Having a private healthcare plan comes with a lot of added benefits, but beware – those benefits have expiration dates and spending limits that you have to keep an eye on. To get the most out of your private healthcare plan, here are a few terms and tips you should know.

Understanding Deductibles and Maximums

In your health insurance plan, your deductible is the amount of money you have to spend out of pocket before your insurance starts paying a portion of your expenses. With some funds, once you reach your out-of-pocket maximum, your insurance plan covers 100% of your expenses for the remainder of the year. Some insurance plans, however, include a maximum which is the most that your insurance will pay toward your expenses in a given year. Pay attention to these numbers in your health plan so you know how much you can expect to pay out of pocket throughout the year.

Scheduling Appointments When You Max Out Your Deductible

Once you max out your deductible, you will pay significantly less out of pocket, and that’s the time to schedule check-ups and medical procedures at the lowest cost to you. Examples of appointments you should consider making include:

• Dental check-up and cleaning
• Teeth whitening
• Wisdom tooth removal
• Optical exam
• Skin check
• Remedial massage for work-related stress and tension

Understanding What Your Plan Covers

Different healthcare plans offer coverage for different types of services. They also include in-network providers that your insurance will cover for a much lower rate than those who are out-of-network. Keep your healthcare plan documents readily available to reference when you need a specialised procedure so you can know your costs and find the right provider.

Finding A Plan That Covers All Of Your Healthcare Needs

While your private healthcare plan may have a lower monthly rate or lower copay, you usually get what you pay for. Yes, you pay a lower amount each month, but you typically have a higher deductible and your insurance covers a lower percentage of your medical costs and fewer healthcare services.

If you want to make the most of your private healthcare plan, try to find one that includes coverage for dental and optical procedures in addition to standard medical procedures. Many people make the mistake of thinking they don’t need these additional coverages, and they end up paying way more out of pocket for dental or optical procedures they didn’t anticipate they would need.

Affordable Dental Care on the Gold Coast

If you need a dental procedure and your healthcare plan offers general dental coverage, talk to Dentists on the Gold Coast about our fees and flexible payment plans. We accept all health funds, and are preferred providers for Bupa, HCF, Medibank, NIB & CBHS, and we can tailor a payment plan to your specific needs through our finance provider, Denticare.

To learn more about dental care with your private health plan, contact Dentists on the Gold Coast on 07 5689 5460.