Ringing up Current Health Insurance to Ask for a Better Price

craigmate on 17/08/2025 - 13:22

I’ve been on a bit of a mission lately to save some money.
I’ve cancelled my Foxtel and managed to get a better rate on my home loans.

One of the biggest expenses, of course, is health insurance. I’ve been with my current provider (Bupa) for over 12 years. I have Silver Hospital and Basic Extras, which costs around $400 a month (2 adults, 1 primary school child).

Has anyone called their current provider to ask for a better price, or do they just try to get you to reduce your cover? I see a lot of health insurance deals offering things like six weeks free, but that seems to be about it — most have a similar monthly fee.

Would I be better off finding a cheaper provider or one which offers a few weeks free and then seeing if my current one will match it?

Also, if I do change providers, do I need to call my old one to cancel, or does the new provider just take over when the next payment is due?

Health & Beauty Health Insurance Insurance

Comments

  • MS Paint on 17/08/2025 - 13:52
    -1

    I've made this call many times with great success.

    I'm with HCF and I wait for another provider to have 6 weeks free (or similar deal) and call HCF and ask to be patched through to the retention team.

    Every year they match the deal and my direct debits stop for 6 weeks ( or whatever the deal is) and then resume as per normal.

    I've been with HCF for 20+ years and have family gold hospital cover but not sure if my history with them makes a difference. A 10 minute phone call every year has saved me thousands.

    tl;dr - I don't think they will give you a better price but there's a very good chance they will match a competitors promotional offer.

    • YesPleaseThankYou on 17/08/2025 - 19:48

      I'm with HCF and I wait for another provider to have 6 weeks free (or similar deal) and call HCF and ask to be patched through to the retention team.

      I have been churning for years. Let me tell you, there is always a '6 weeks free' offer.

      I've been with HCF for 20+ years and have family gold hospital cover

      As I mention below, loyalty does not pay. You are certainly overpaying, which is fine if you can't be bothered to churn.

      • MS Paint on 17/08/2025 - 21:31
        -1

        Family member has complex needs. I still save money by making an annual phone call. When I need the services of HCF it's no questions asked due established history.

        You are certainly overpaying

        I've claimed way more than I've ever paid in premiums so I'm not overpaying.

        Not everyone uses PHI as a tax reduction some actually use it as (shock horror) legit health insurance.

        • YesPleaseThankYou on 18/08/2025 - 07:42

          When I need the services of HCF it's no questions asked due established history.

          The fund is paying your claims not because of 'established history' but because this is a highly regulated industry and it has a legal obligation to pay your claims.

          I've claimed way more than I've ever paid in premiums so I'm not overpaying.

          I think you're aware that I am referring to overpaying for premiums, which is what the thread is about (it is not about comparing premiums paid with amounts claimed).

          Not everyone uses PHI as a tax reduction

          If you are inferring that I am using 'PHI as a tax reduction', you are wrong.

          • Muppet Detector on 18/08/2025 - 08:48

            @YesPleaseThankYou: Mmm, not sure if "established history" is the reason but I do no that some funds only allow a set number of days per procedure/hospital stay before they start to get antsy or push back on doctors.

            Eg:

            -if scheduled surgery at 6am, some prefer to go in hospital the night before but their health fund won't let them.

            • might be health fund says can stay 5 days after a c-section, for example. Maybe mum is medically ok to leave, but not emotionally ready or confident just yet so wants to stay longer => some health funds push back quite hard.

            • might be they say "2 weeks rehab after knee replacement is enough" but patient wants longer. Some health funds definitely push back.

            I have come across quite a few scenarios where heath fund seems to make it hard for member at a time they are most vulnerable. Causes unnecessary distress at a time they're not feeling their best.

            • YesPleaseThankYou on 18/08/2025 - 21:14

              @Muppet Detector: And I'm saying that staying with the fund will do little to nothing to avoid the pushback you describe.

              • Muppet Detector on 18/08/2025 - 22:31

                @YesPleaseThankYou: My fund is awesome. They've never given me any drama. Just hearing the experience of others makes me appreciate them too much to chance trying a different fund.

                I ask, they say "yes".

                Besides, this one lets my adult children stay on my cover until they're 32 (even if not living at home) for just a bit extra.

    • CrypticM on 22/08/2025 - 13:01

      Just curious, you do this once a year or as and when possible???

      • YesPleaseThankYou on 22/08/2025 - 13:03
        +1

        You can call daily if you like but 12% per annum is the maximum discount that can be offered by law. See clause 6 in Private Health Insurance (Complying Product) Rules 2015:

        (1) For subparagraph 66‑5(1)(c)(ii) of the Act, the maximum percentage discount allowed is 12% per annum.

        You are better off churning as it saves much more.

        • CrypticM on 22/08/2025 - 13:35

          In that case, we can try getting 2x6 weeks, one try matching with existing provider and second with new provider at any given financial year.

          Am I missing something?

          • YesPleaseThankYou on 22/08/2025 - 14:43
            +2

            @CrypticM:

            You are better off churning as it saves much more

            Yes, this is what I mean by "churning" and is what I do, eg:

            • Join Fund A for 'pay 1 month, get 6 weeks free' then
            • Join Fund B for 'pay 1 month, get 6 weeks free' then
            • Join Fund C for 'pay 1 month, get 6 weeks free'
            • And so on

            Just keep all your transfer certificates so you can provide them to the funds.

  • chickenchipsgravy on 17/08/2025 - 14:17

    Will also depend if you’re on a retail plan or corporate, suspect discount more likely on the former rather than latter.

    • craigmate on 17/08/2025 - 15:16

      I pay for it myself. I did sign up when I was working at my (former) employer. I do recall that when I called a few years ago to ask about my extras, the agent on the phone said I was getting a "5% discount cause of former employer, which I had a laugh at, since they had made me redundant a few years earlier.

    • YesPleaseThankYou on 17/08/2025 - 19:48
      +1

      Corporate plans offer a pittance in discount.

      • Craze on 17/08/2025 - 21:13
        +2

        Yes agreed, I bought into the "corporate discount" only to find that their regular retail offer >> corporate discount.

  • skid on 17/08/2025 - 14:36
    +2

    You do not have to cancel your old one. The new provider does that for you.

  • craigmate on 17/08/2025 - 15:49

    So I have done some more looking, My policy has most things included, but things like "miscarriage & male reproductive system" can probably be gone as there isnt any change of more children. Also checking Bupa have a "get 8 weeks free" but it appears to be over 2 years, whilst some of the others like GMHBA have 6 weeks free. So yeah, I might use that as leverage.

  • Downvoter on 17/08/2025 - 17:22

    You can do it through online chat but they take about 20 mins between each reply…

  • YesPleaseThankYou on 17/08/2025 - 17:33

    You'll get a one-off, or at best once-annually, 6 weeks free by approaching your fund.

    The best way to save, if that's your primary aim, is to churn through the very common 'pay 1 month, get 6 weeks free' offers. This results in savings of approximately 58%.

    Loyalty does not pay.

    See https://www.ozbargain.com.au/tag/health-insurance?noexpired=… for offers.

    See https://www.privatehealth.gov.au/ for all funds and available policies.

    • tenpercent on 22/08/2025 - 13:14

      This results in savings of approximately 58%.

      Does this work with extras only policies?

      • YesPleaseThankYou on 22/08/2025 - 14:41

        The promotions typically (but not always) require hospital and extras to be held.

  • adam on 17/08/2025 - 21:10

    I'm with Medibank, I've never called and asked their retention team to ask for a discount as I know I am a net loss to them (I claim way more than my premiums). Do you think someone they'd still try to retain someone that is a net-loss to them?

    • MS Paint on 17/08/2025 - 21:34

      Works for me so definitely make that phone call.

    • adam on 18/08/2025 - 10:22
      +1

      fI called Medibank private, quoted prices from other providers along with the 6 week free offers.

      They offered to reduce my premiums for 12% for 12 months or 6 weeks free. Success! TY!

      • MS Paint on 18/08/2025 - 12:20

        Great job.

      • YesPleaseThankYou on 18/08/2025 - 21:11
        +2

        12% is the maximum that can be offered by law. See clause 6 in Private Health Insurance (Complying Product) Rules 2015:

        (1) For subparagraph 66‑5(1)(c)(ii) of the Act, the maximum percentage discount allowed is 12% per annum.

        I hope you took the 6 weeks free then churn to another provider immediately after that.

  • craigmate on 23/08/2025 - 10:16

    So I just spoke to Bupa, they asked if I was with my (former) employer, which I said no, (wasnt sure if I should have lied)
    So they said they would remove the 5%, but give me an 8% discount, which only reduced it by about $14 a month. I asked if they could do the 6 weeks free, and they agreed, but couldn't apply the 8%, so my premiums will increase by about $23 once the next payment is due. I figured 6 weeks free is better than a small discount, and of course, I can always transfer when my next payment is due.

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