Health cover for couples is more than double the price of singles. Can someone explain why?

mintysaurus on 18/11/2015 - 15:24

Hi,

So I'm looking at health cover that includes knee & joint replacement as my partner has a pre-existing condition.
Both under 30.

I've looked at iselect and individually through health funds. I'm with medibank at the moment so I played with their site and made my own package - Top Hospital Essentials & Basic Extras. $115.20 month. That doesn't seem too awful for peace of mind if his knee acts up.

But when I look at the same cover as a couple, it jumps to $260.10 per month!
It's more than double the price. And it seems to be that way with every fund I've looked at!

I don't need his level of cover anyway, but I was wondering is there a downside to taking out 2 different plans when you're living with a partner/spouse?
Am I missing something?

Health & Beauty

Comments

  • 01011010 on 18/11/2015 - 15:31

    Does it have anything to do with pregnancy related services?

    • mintysaurus on 18/11/2015 - 15:32

      Obstetrics-related services (eg. pregnancy)
      Fertility treatment (eg. IVF & GIFT programs)
      Both not included under the couples quote.

  • Paul Atreides on 18/11/2015 - 16:21
    +1

    maybe driving each other insane, you are more likely to need/use the extra cover such as massage therapy or something along these lines

  • Sheila Dealer on 18/11/2015 - 16:34

    Wow, you are so right. I was thinking of taking out two singles policies next year as my husband will be over 65 and entitled to a larger government rebate. Anyway I went to my insurer's website and got a quote for a singles policy using our current information and it was easily less than half the price of a "couples" policy. If you are a couple go to your insurer's website and give it a go.

  • airzone on 18/11/2015 - 17:02

    I guess the couples cover includes kids coverage too… ??

  • mintysaurus on 18/11/2015 - 17:08

    Edit: as Sheila says, it only mentions children being covered if it's a family plan.

    Looks like it's the same price for couples as for families though, which seems strange to me.

  • Sheila Dealer on 18/11/2015 - 17:19

    No. A family plan is different but is usually the same cost as a couple plan.

  • wretchd on 18/11/2015 - 20:25
    +1

    Don't forget iSelect only advertises/promotes health cover where they get a large cut of the sign up. They won't promote health funds that don't allow this gouging.

    • mintysaurus on 18/11/2015 - 20:27

      Yep, but I looked specifically at medibank's site cos I'm with them, and HBF's site because he's with them. Both are more than double for couples.

      Going to go talk to Medibank tomorrow and see if there's any perks to signing up as a couple

  • [Deactivated] on 18/11/2015 - 21:36

    Weird. It never used to be that way.

    We hold our extras cover as singles as they don't allow couples membership for our cheap-arse level of cover.

    Only disadvantage I could see to it years ago when I looked into it was that you couldn't add kids to your policy for free (as you could do with a couples policy) and you can't share limits. Some memberships at that time were offering joint limits in some things I think, so if one of you was a heavy claimer and the other wasn't then you might end up getting back more overall.

    Am just about to do a big review and change it all up now that the kids are getting older and more likely to need extras cover as the years go by.

  • xsacha on 24/12/2015 - 16:25

    TUH says $61/fn for single and $122/fn for couple. All their prices look exactly 2x.

  • chumlee on 24/12/2015 - 16:34

    Maybe when you are single and on the market you look after yourself but once you find a partner you can stop sucking your tummy in and reach for the cake

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