Real Health Insurance

While we don’t tend to think about it when everything’s going well, your health is a critical factor when it comes to enjoying a good life. It’s important to consider how you would cover the cost of medical treatment if you or your family were to become sick or injured. Not all medical bills are covered by Medicare, so private health insurance can be an option to help reduce your out-of-pocket expenses2.

Real Health Insurance is smart cover designed with you in mind. Whether you’re single, a couple or a family, there’s a cover option to suit your lifestyle. With five levels of Hospital cover and four Extras covers to choose from, you have the flexibility to pick a health insurance solution that suits your needs at every stage of life.

Get Real Health Insurance and start enjoying the peace of mind that comes with health cover today.

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Features & Benefits

  • Join a new Hospital and Extras policy by 31 March and get up to $600 off1
  • Apply online and get covered in less than 10 minutes
  • Find a cover type that suits your needs and budget
  • Choose from five levels of Hospital cover and four Extras covers
  • Get up to 70% back from recognised providers3
  • Choose between $500 and $750 Hospital excess options4
  • Enjoy no-gap optical offers with nib's First Choice network, including partners like Specsavers5
  • Simple online claims process

Proudly backed by nib

We’re committed to providing you with exceptional trusted service and that’s why we’ve partnered with nib who have over 70 years of experience supporting the health of 1.7 million customers.

Cover for every stage of life

At Real Insurance, we know your health insurance needs can change over time. That’s why we offer a range of products to suit every stage of life, whether you’re enjoying being single, exploring the world as a couple, or raising a family. We also make it easy to switch your level of cover as your circumstances change, so you can be confident knowing you’re protected.

  • Single

    Single

    Whether you want additional protection against unexpected surprises, help cover the costs of routine treatments or just want extra peace of mind when it comes to your health, we have Hospital and Extras options to suit your needs.

  • Couple

    Couple

    Sharing is caring, so why not ensure that both you and your loved one have additional protection against out-of-pocket health expenses? Find cover to suit your lifestyle with our range of options.

  • Family

    Family

    Whether you have a growing family, are patiently waiting for the kids to move out or anything in between, we’ve got a range of Hospital and Extras plans to suit your circumstances.

  • Single Parent Family

    Single Parent Family

    We know parenting on your own can be tough. While we can’t change nappies, pack school lunches, or pick your teenager up from the school dance, we can help you find some peace of mind with health cover for your family.

Types of Real Health Insurance Cover

Hospital cover

You can’t always predict becoming sick or injured. That’s why Real Health Insurance gives you the choice of five levels of Hospital cover, so you can rest easy knowing you have additional protection against unexpected medical bills. Whether you only need the basics or a more comprehensive plan, we’re confident you’ll find cover to suit you.

Extras cover

Real Health Insurance offers four Extras covers, so you can choose the inclusions that suit your lifestyle. Whether it’s something routine like a check-up at your dentist, a new pair of glasses or regular treatment by your physio or more specialised health services, Extras covers are designed to help reduce out-of-pocket expenses for health services that aren’t covered by Medicare.

Emergency Ambulance cover

Emergency Ambulance cover

The last thing you want to worry about in the middle of an emergency is how much it’s going to cost to get to hospital. Ambulance bills can be in the hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and it’s a service we don’t often consider until it’s needed.

Help prepare for the unexpected and get the peace of mind you deserve with unlimited emergency ambulance cover6. This is part of all Hospital and Extras covers and includes:

  • One-day waiting period from when you take out cover
  • Emergency ambulance transport to hospital provided by a state or territory ambulance service (paid at 100% of the cost)
  • Emergency ambulance call out fees (where the member is treated at the scene by paramedics, and it is determined that transport to hospital is not required)
  • Transport between hospitals when transfer is medically necessary (due to the existing hospital not specialising in the treatment needed)
  • No Hospital excess is applicable for this service
Get a Quick Quote Now

It’s easy to make the switch today

Do you feel like your health insurance could be better suited to your needs? If you feel the need for a change, make the switch to Real Health Insurance today.

  1. Choose a level of cover that suits your needs

    Get health insurance to suit your lifestyle by choosing from our range of Hospital and Extras covers. Rest easy knowing you can update your plan at any time if your circumstances change.

  2. Let us do the hard work

    When we say we’ll make switching easy, we mean it. Once you make the change to Real Health Insurance, we’ll do the hard work and get in touch with your previous insurer to request a Transfer Certificate and ensure a seamless transition.

  3. No need to re-serve waiting periods

    We recognise any waiting periods you’ve already served, so you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with your new cover as soon as possible7.

Get up to $600 off when you join a new Hospital and Extras policy by 31 March1

 

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Commonly Asked Questions

What is private health insurance?

Private health insurance helps reduce out-of-pocket expenses for some medical treatments and hospital stays that aren't covered by Medicare. There are two types of cover – Hospital and Extras – that can be taken out individually or combined. Hospital cover helps pay for some of the costs of treatment as a private patient, and gives you more freedom in choosing who treats you and where you're treated. Extras cover helps pay for a range of everyday non-hospital services that aren’t covered by Medicare, including dental, physiotherapy, optical and chiropractic.

Why should I get private health insurance?

There are many benefits to having private health insurance. While Medicare doesn’t cover the cost of everything you might need to maintain good health, private health insurance helps cover some of the out-of-pocket expenses for a range of health services and hospital expenses.

Depending on your income, having a level of Hospital cover may also have tax-related benefits. If your income is over $93,000 for singles ($186,000 for couples/families) and you take out and maintain private hospital cover for the full financial year, you could avoid paying an extra 1% to 1.5% in tax via the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS). Visit the Australian Tax Office website for specific rules for calculating income for MLS purposes.

How does Extras cover work?

Real Health Insurance offers four types of Extras cover so you can choose a level of protection that suits your needs and budget, without paying for the services you may not need. Depending on which level you choose, Extras cover can help you manage the cost of treatments such as osteopathy, optical, physiotherapy, dental, podiatry, chiropractic and more. You can claim up to 70% of out-of-pocket expenses (annual limits, waiting periods and T&Cs apply).

Do I have to re-serve waiting periods if I switch funds?

If you've served all waiting periods with your current insurer, you won't need to re-serve these. However, if you transfer before completing the waiting periods, you'll need to serve the remaining balance before you can claim. Additional waiting periods and higher annual limits may apply for services that aren't covered by your previous policy, if you've chosen a lower excess or if you wait more than 59 days after leaving your former insurer before taking out a new policy.

Waiting periods will apply for services not currently covered, services with higher benefits or where waiting periods haven’t been fully served. Where the excess on the new product is lower than the excess on the previous cover, the excess on the previous cover will apply until the unexpired waiting period has been served. Any benefit limits already used with your current fund will apply to your Real Health Insurance policy.

How do I choose the right health cover for me?

Everyone has different needs when it comes to their health. When choosing the most suitable health insurance for your needs and budget, the first step is to consider whether you need cover as a single, couple or family. Next, decide what treatments and services you’d like to be covered for, then settle on your level of excess (if applicable) and monthly premium payments. With Real Health Insurance you can take out cover online in less than 10 minutes or call us on 1300 953 162 for more information.

Get up to $600 off when you join a new Hospital and Extras policy by 31 March1

1. This Offer is only available to new members who join a combined Real Health Insurance Hospital and Extras policy by 11:59pm (AEST) 31 March 2024. Not available to existing Real Health Insurance policyholders, other health insurance policies issued by nib, or to previous policyholders who have held health insurance with any of nib partner brands and cancelled their policy 6 months before or during the Offer Period. 

The Offer consists of adjusting the “paid to” date on the qualifying policy to reflect the reduction off the premium payable for an amount equating to a maximum of AUD $300 (inclusive of GST) for single policies and a maximum of AUD $600 (inclusive of GST) for couples, families and single-parent families policies. The Eligible Member must maintain the Eligible Product up to the date of the Offer being applied to the active policy, being 30 April 2024 for policies purchased between 01 February 2024 and 29 February 2024 and 29 May 2024 for policies purchased between 01 March 2024 and 31 March 2024. The Offer will be forfeited if the Eligible Member is not an active policyholder on these dates. See full terms and conditions.

2. Coverage may differ depending on your level of cover and policy exclusions, waiting periods, hospital excess and limits and whether you go to an nib Agreement Hospital, a non-agreement private hospital or a public hospital. Out-of-pocket expenses may apply.

3. Annual limits, waiting periods and T&Cs apply. Benefits are only paid for services from nib recognised providers. A recognised provider is someone who provides a health service, like a dentist, optometrist, remedial massage therapist or physiotherapist who meet the following criteria: (i) They must work in a private practice; and (ii) They must have professional qualifications recognised by nib. To find a provider in nib’s network of healthcare professionals nib.com.au/find-a-provide

4. Gold Hospital is only available with $750 excess.

5. Claiming optical benefits is subject to your chosen level of Extras cover, relevant waiting periods being served, and sufficient annual limits remaining. Benefits only payable on prescription Optical Appliances. nib Fund Rules and Policy Booklet terms apply.

6. Not available to: (i) QLD residents who have ambulance services provided by their State ambulance schemes; (ii) TAS residents who are covered under state ambulance schemes in TAS and when travelling in mainland Australia except NSW, SA or QLD; or (iii) pension and health care card holders who have ambulance services provided by State ambulance schemes (check entitlements with Centrelink if unsure).

7. Applies where there is a break in cover of 59 days or less. Waiting periods will apply for services not currently covered, services with higher benefits or where waiting periods haven’t been fully served. Where the excess on the new product is lower than the excess on the previous cover, the excess on the previous cover will apply until the unexpired waiting period has been served. Any benefit limits already used with your current fund will apply to your Real Health Insurance policy.