Best private health insurance for single parents

Getting private health insurance is one of the most common ways to manage your healthcare expenses, but this is even more important for single parents who might need to be more financially savvy. Given the tight budgets and the myriad of responsibilities they face, single parents need to make sure they have the best possible cover for themselves and their kids.

Let’s explore the different types of policies available, how they work, what to look for, how much they cost, as well as any potential government rebates that can help reduce your premiums.

Yes, do a little online research and you’ll find that most private health insurers have dedicated single parent health insurance policies. They are created to help give single parents the best cover for one adult and their dependent children. Unlike traditional family policies, single parent policies often come with reduced premiums since they only need to cover one adult.

In terms of the policies you can choose from, you’ll get all the standards – although many single parent health insurance will include the option of hospital cover and extras cover. So while hospital cover helps with the expenses of hospital stays, extras cover will take care of all the non-hospital costs like dental, optical, physiotherapy and more.

One of the main benefits of health insurance for single parents is the potential to avoid long waiting times for elective surgeries that are common in the public healthcare system. With private health insurance, you can also choose your preferred doctor or surgeon while also getting to stay in a private hospital room.

Finally, there’s the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of single parent policies, which can be especially helpful if your kids are likely to need ongoing medical treatments. Many insurers offer big rebates on children’s dental and optical, for example, which can reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Some may also allow you to have no excess or co-payments for children’s hospital stays, and extended cover for full-time dependent students up to age 25.

It works just the same as other types of health insurance, but with a few extra benefits designed to provide the best health cover for your family.

Hospital cover on a single parent health insurance policy will usually include benefits like:

• Your choice of doctor: You can choose your doctor or surgeon to help with continuity of care and more comfortable hospital stays for your kids.
• Private rooms: Depending on your policy, you might be able to get a private room for hospital stays.
• Reduced waiting times: Private hospital cover can greatly reduce any waiting times for elective surgeries. Public hospital waiting lists in Australia can be quite lengthy, but private cover means you’ll get much faster access to what you need.
• Coverage levels: Hospital cover is divided into tiers – Gold, Silver, Bronze and Basic. Gold cover is the most comprehensive cover, while Basic cover includes just the essentials.

Common treatments covered under extras policies for single parents include:

• Dental and orthodontics: Regular check-ups, fillings and common orthodontic treatments for kids like braces.
• Optical services: Costs for glasses and contact lenses.
• Physiotherapy and chiropractic care: Treatments for musculoskeletal issues.
• Podiatry and speech therapy: Services for foot care and speech development, which can be very useful for developing children.
• Non-PBS pharmaceuticals: Medications not covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
• Diet and nutrition services: Professional dietary advice and nutrition planning.

Bear in mind that many single parent health insurance policies will give you the option to combine both hospital and extras cover.

Make sure you take into account your family’s specific healthcare needs when choosing a policy. For example, if your kids are likely to need braces or glasses, check that the policy includes extras cover for orthodontics and optical. Also, some policies include a 100% back guarantee on certain extras for children, such as dental check-ups, which can be a great benefit for single parents on a budget.

• Coverage for kids: Make sure the policy covers all the treatments and services you think you’ll need for your little ones. Look for policies that have higher annual limits on extras like dental, optical and orthodontics.
• No excess or co-payments for children: Some policies will waive excess or co-payments for kids during their hospital stays, which can minimise any out-of-pocket costs for you.
• Choice of doctor/specialist and hospital: With certain levels of hospital cover, you will be able to pick your preferred doctor or surgeon, even if you or your kid is being treated in a public hospital as a private patient.
• Private rooms: Depending on the policy, you might be able to request a private room if you or your child needs to stay in the hospital.
• Waiting periods: Be aware of any waiting periods, which can range from a few months to a year. If you expect you’ll need a specific treatment soon, it’s better to get insured sooner rather than later.
• Rebates and discounts: Check if the policy offers any discounts on premiums, especially if you are eligible for government rebates. Some insurers also have discounts for single parents, which can help reduce the cost of premiums.
• Reviewing policy details: Regularly review your health insurance policy to ensure it is still meeting your family’s needs. As your kids grow up, their healthcare needs will likely change.
• Special benefits for kids: Look for policies that include special benefits for children, such as 100% back on selected extras like dental check-ups and extended cover for full-time dependent students up to age 25.
• Flexibility and additional children: See if the policy allows for adding extra children without additional costs, and that it covers them up to a reasonable age (e.g. 21).
• Cost and value: While it might be tempting to choose the cheapest policy on offer, think about the actual value and level of cover you’re getting. Sometimes paying a bit more can save you big on out-of-pocket expenses, especially if the policy has comprehensive cover and higher annual limits.

It really can vary widely depending on the level of cover (i.e. Basic is cheaper than Gold hospital cover), whether you take out extras cover, your preferred insurer, as well as if you are eligible for any government rebates.

On average, single parent health insurance policies can range from a few hundred to several thousands of dollars annually, depending mostly on the tier you choose. In order to find the best policy in your budget, compare premiums and tiers from multiple insurers. Using an online comparison tool will streamline the entire process while giving you a bird’s eye view of all the different options available to you.

Single parents with private health insurance may be eligible for government rebates that can help reduce the cost of premiums. These rebates are designed to make private health cover more affordable and are based on your income and age.

The most common rebate is the private health insurance rebate, which is a rebate on the cost of your private health insurance premiums. The rebate is income-tested, meaning the amount you receive will be tied to your income and age. Just be aware of the following:

• Family income threshold: The threshold increases by $1,500 for each dependent child after your first. This can make more single-parent families eligible for higher rebate percentages.
• Eligibility: You must have already taken out a private health insurance policy, be an Australian resident for tax purposes and have a Medicare card.
• Additional support: In addition to the rebate, you might also be eligible for other forms of government support, such as Medicare Safety Nets, which can give you more Medicare benefits once the annual out-of-pocket costs threshold has been reached.

Choosing the best health insurance for single parents can be tricky if you don’t know where to start, so make sure you do your due diligence and compare a few different policies before settling on one. With all the relevant information at hand, you’ll be able to find a level of cover that afford you the best value and protection for your family.

Also make sure to regularly review your private health insurance to make sure it’s still meeting your – and your little ones’ – needs.