Shake-up for private health benefits youth
SAM Robinson didn’t know the rules around health insurance were changing when he took out his first policy this week – but he’s glad he did.
The music teacher and his partner Laura Johnson yesterday welcomed the Federal Government’s overhaul of private health insurance, which will encourage people under 30 to take out policies.
Under the changes, young people who take out a policy for the first time will be entitled to a two per cent discount every year for five years until they hit 30.
Mr Robinson, who has needed treatment for issues with his eyes, teeth, feet and back this year, said he wanted to take out insurance earlier, but found it too expensive.
“I just took out a claim (on Thursday) night, not because of this update but because I needed to,” he said.
“I have glasses, I need to go to the dentist and when I was looking at it at the start of the year, it was all $20-$30 more (than Laura’s).
“I hurt my back at the start of the year quite badly, and at that time I couldn’t afford physio and I had to just let it be.”
On top of the discount for young people, health insurance products will now be split into gold, silver, bronze and basic categories to help people understand the level of cover.
While he welcomed any reforms that made health insurance more affordable, Mr Robinson admitted he was unsure how effective the changes would be.
Patients who enter a hospital with a mental illness will also be offered an immediate upgrade of their policy with no waiting period.
❝back
I hurt my
at the start of the year quite badly, and I had to just let it be.
— Sam Robinson