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Are you looking to squeeze the most benefits from your private health insurance, including a gym membership? There are many great deals available from health funds these days, including numerous wellbeing benefits such as subsidised memberships or yoga or pilates classes.
Compare a range of extras health insurance policies that may include positive health and wellness benefits through Savvy. Our panel of trusted insurers have a vast range of health insurance policies to suit a diverse range of individuals and families, which you can compare online right here today through Savvy.
What health insurance options are there which may cover gym membership?
With such fierce competition between health funds in Australia, health insurers are keen to attract new customers. One way they can do this is by offering special deals on their extras cover health insurance policies. These offers can provide many additional benefits to policyholders on top of the cover you would expect from extras cover, such as help with the cost of optical and dental services.
Hospital cover is highly regulated in Australia, with the Australian Government determining which health services must be provided with each tier of cover (basic, bronze, silver or gold). However, this isn’t the case with extras policies, allowing health funds more room to get creative and offer customers packages which can include gym memberships, subsidised yoga or pilates classes, gift cards and plenty more. The limitations are that under the Private Health Insurance Act, a benefit can only be paid if it’s part of a program designed to treat an existing health issue.
These additional benefits are generally only available with more expensive extras policies or combined extras and hospital cover policies. If you pay for the cheapest, most basic extras cover, you can expect to have some coverage for areas such as optical services (glasses and contact lenses),general dental, physio and chiropractor visits. However, more expensive extras policies can offer more bells and whistles, which may include the following:
- Free or discounted gym membership for eligible members
- No-gap glasses (from selected private optometrists who are members of a particular provider network)
- Free dental check-ups (from selected private dental clinics who are part of a provider network)
- Free 24/7 health phone hotlines – so you can speak to a qualified nurse at any time to get online health advice
- Rewards programs with discounts on movie tickets, gift cards and shopping
- Free healthy living programs – such as programs to assist those living with diabetes to make healthy lifestyle choices
- Weight-loss programs – or subsidies to popular weight-reduction eating programs, such as Weight Watchers or the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet
- Free skincare check-ups – to check for early signs of skin cancer
- Free quit-smoking programs
- Free mental health care programs or online support groups
Because special offers that come with extras policies vary to such an extent, it’s important to compare health insurance policies often to find out what special offers are available. You can do that through Savvy and get a range of free quotes to compare from a panel of leading insurers today.
How should I compare health insurance policies which include gym membership offers?
When comparing extras policies, there are several key elements to consider, including:
- Cost – extras policies range from basic to comprehensive, with the cost of the policy increasing with the level of benefits on offer
- Coverage – compare the areas that are covered by different policies. They should be listed under different healthcare types, for example optical, dental and physiotherapy. Cheaper basic policies may not offer benefits for lifestyle or wellness programs which include approved pilates classes or gym membership, while more comprehensive policies may offer these benefits
- Policy limits – this is the amount you can claim back on any one particular area of health care. There may be annual and lifetime limits on a policy
- Waiting periods – check if there are rules around how long you have to be a fund member before you can enjoy the extra benefits on offer
- Exclusions – compare the rules and limitations that come with the policy. There may be exclusions and rules that may limit or restrict who your healthcare providers are, or which gym memberships are accepted by your health fund
- Gym membership – is it offered free, or at a discounted rate? Does it apply to any gym chain or only to those affiliated with that particular health fund?
What are the potential limitations of gym memberships through private health insurance?
While there’s a wide range of benefits when it comes to taking out health insurance, it’s important to keep in mind the following factors relating to gym memberships when considering your options:
Certificate needed from your GP
Not all health providers offer additional benefits such as free or discounted gym memberships. Additionally, they’re often granted only after you’ve shown a certificate from your GP or a healthcare professional stating that you require treatment for a specific health condition that can only be provided by gym equipment, for example. This statement is known as a Declaration of Condition form and will usually be available from your health fund’s website.
Must be a fund member for some time
Many such additional extras benefits are only available to members who have been with the same health fund for a set period. For example, you may have to have been a member for at least six months to claim the cost of gym membership. Some health funds increase the benefits according to how long you’ve been with the health fund.
May be out-of-pocket expenses
Health funds usually won’t cover 100% of the cost of extras benefits. For example, you may be able to claim up to a certain dollar amount towards your gym membership, or you may be able to claim the membership fees for a weight loss program, but you’ll have to pay for the food yourself.
