When you take out health insurance you are purchasing a product (a health insurance policy) from a private health insurance organisation (a fund). The extent of insurance cover you obtain depends upon the health insurance product you choose. The money you pay to purchase this insurance cover is called a health insurance premium or contribution. The money the fund pays for treatment you receive is called ‘benefits’.
Types of insurance
There are two types of private health insurance cover available:
- Hospital cover; and
- Ancillary (or Extras) cover
Hospital cover
Hospital insurance covers all or some of the costs of hospital treatment as a private patient including doctor’s charges and hospital accommodation. The level of insurance cover you receive depends upon the product you choose.
Ancillary (Extras) cover
Ancillary cover helps with the cost of services such as physiotherapy, dental and optical treatment that are not covered by Medicare, nor associated with a hospital admission.
Private patient in a public hospital
Being a private patient in a public hospital gives you choice of doctor. Depending on your illness or condition and your needs, this may or may not be the same doctor you would have been allocated by the hospital as a public patient.
Private patient in a private hospital
Being a private patient in a private hospital or day hospital facility gives you a choice of doctor and hospital, as well as access to hospital services at a time that may better suit your needs.
More information
For more detailed information about your private health insurance, please contact our Member relations team on 1800 249 966 or corporate@guhealth.com.au