So I signed up with Qantas Health Insurance and thought I would do a little review.
I’d been putting off getting Health Insurance for a while. I just think it was worth it. For a young(ish) guy who won’t be having kids (because he’s gay) the numbers didn’t really seem to make sense. It is true that for many young people, basic hospital cover is only there to avoid paying extra on your tax. The government has signalled they want to change this, but right now it’s not a “must have”.
But with a growing pandemic and a few minor health niggles I thought it was something I should look into.
The Wellbeing App
My first introduction to Qantas health insurance was through their Wellbeing App. Basically they give you qantas frequent flyer points in return for exercising. It’s based on step count or cycling kms. It also links with your Apple Watch and you earn bonus points for closing your rings.
You don’t need to be a Health Insurance customer to get points. But the amount of points is limited. You get way more if you take out an insurance policy.
I’d been earning free frequent flyer points for over a year through the app. It’s a great way to earn points in the background and keep your points balance from expiring! You can put it on your phone and forget about it. If you have a frequent flyer account – you should have the app.
Comparing my Options
I used a couple of comparison sites to compare different policies. I realised that every policy from every provider was slightly different. Each one covers slightly different things. You can’t do a like for like comparison and just go with the cheapest option. You really need to figure out what will work best for you.
I found the price of my policy at Qantas to be on par with other providers. Maybe a couple of dollars extra. I ended up taking out a combined hospital and extras package. I know I’ll be needing dental work in the future as well as glasses at some point. So it made sense to get the extras.
Is it a Good Deal?
This year I’m definitely going to get my moneys worth. I went to the dentist a week after getting my card. Before now I’d paid out of pocket and honestly had put off going to the dentist until I really needed to (not good!). Because the waiting period was waived, I was able to get back 60% off my bill. And I booked into the dentist again. So this year I’ll definitely be saving money.
Claims
I was able to make a claim through the Wellbeing app. If you have your card, most providers will also be able to just deduct the claim amount from the bill. But the process through the app was quick and painless and my claim was paid out within a couple of days.
Is it worth it for the points?
Here is what you get points for:
- Reaching your daily step or cycling goal
- Reaching a weekly step or cycling goal
- Sleeping! If you put your phone down before bed and don’t pick it up until morning you’ll get points.
- Completing your Rings on Apple Watch
- Every $1 you spend on your insurance.
The amount of points you get depends on your goal. The higher you set your goals, the more points you’ll get. While I’m in lockdown during Coronavirus, I’m definitely looking at my watch more to make sure I keep active. So it’s a nice little motivator.
I don’t think it’s really worth it just for the points. I see it as a nice little bonus. But if your policy is similar in price to other providers, then it definitely sweetens the deal.
At the moment I earn around 230 points a week. That’s actually quite a lot! And it really adds up.
In Conclusion
I’m really happy with my policy so far. I love that I’m earning a few Qantas Frequent Flyer points everyday (and night). I’ve found the wellness app to be really well designed and easy to use. And I’ve been able to successfully make a claim through the app. It was super quick.
I’m definitely feeling more adultish with my health cover and look forward to being a bit more mindful about my health going forward.