Mastering health insurance: how to get the most out of your cover

At a time when everyday costs continue soar, it makes sense to look for ways to save. Unsubscribing from some of our many, many streaming subscriptions. Taking the train rather than catching an Uber. Meal prepping and eating at home. These are all ways to put more money back in our budget.

But what about private health insurance? If we’re lucky enough to be fit and healthy, it can sometimes feel like an extra expense. 

Beyond the basics of hospital cover, however, private health insurance offers a range of benefits that can make a big difference to our health and real wellbeing – it’s just a matter of making the most of it. 

We spoke to Debbie Stewart, Senior Manager of Product at Australian Unity, to discover the unexpected bonuses of health insurance and her top tips to unlock your cover’s full potential.

A sense of control

When Debbie was in her early 20s, she received a shock diagnosis: she had a congenital heart disease and needed surgery. 

“I was asked if I had private health insurance, and was told that if I didn’t, I’d be put on a public waiting list,” she recalls. “But because my mum’s policy still covered me, I was able to book the surgery within the next two or three months.” 

Even though the surgery wasn’t urgent, this gave Debbie peace of mind and a greater sense of control. 

It’s something that can make a big difference in life’s unexpected moments – indeed, according to Private Healthcare Australia, two in three elective surgeries and 57% of all joint repairs are funded by private health insurance.

Incentives to take better care of yourself 

Hospital and extras cover provides rebates on a whole range of preventative healthcare services not covered by Medicare – including a few things you might not know about. These services can help you keep your health on track and catch issues before they become bigger problems. 

“Having private health insurance encourages you to look after yourself,” says Debbie. “Depending on your cover, you can access no-gap dental, get 100% back on optical up to a yearly limit, and claim for things like physiotherapy, myotherapy and even mental health support.” 

It seems that people are making good use of these services, with 55% of all hospital admissions for mental health care and half of all dental services claimed through a health fund. 

Nationwide ambulance cover 

Did you know Medicare doesn’t cover ambulance services, and that there are different fees and services all over the country? 

“Ambulance cover is something you don’t think about until you need it,” says Debbie. “But the last thing you want when you’re in an emergency is to worry about how much an ambulance will cost.” 

With an Australian Unity health insurance policy, you don’t have to, since all policies come with national ambulance cover. 

Beat the price rise 

Looking for health insurance that’s keeping a lid on prices? At Australian Unity, corporate health insurance base premiums are staying right where they are in 2026*. 

NSA has partnered with Australian Unity health insurance to help you find the right cover to suit your needs and your budget.  

Join today and enjoy an exclusive 10% ongoing NSA member discount¹ plus 6 weeks free². 

Get a quick quote online today or call 1800 224 244.

Terms and conditions  

*Corporate products only excluding Corporate Priority Gold. Provided there are no changes to any discounts and the member remains on the same type and level of cover. Changes to the Australian Government Rebate on private health insurance will be applied to the members’ premium effective 1 April 2026. 

1. 10% discount includes all retail discounts and is available only when paying by direct debit. The discount is not available through brokers or comparators, and excludes Overseas Visitor Cover.  

2. New members on new memberships only. Ends 31 March 2026. T&C’s apply at australianunity.com.au/health-insurance/corporate-affiliate/tcs