Private health insurance for heart patients

Overview

The heart is one of the most important organs in the human body.

It is responsible for so many functions and so many processes that go on inside us.

If something happens to interrupt its normal working conditions, that could lead to serious health problems.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death among Australians, even more than all cancers combined.

Because of this, it's only sensible to do all we can to make sure that our hearts stay in good working condition, and to take precautions in case anything should happen to it.

Private health insurance for your heart is one of the steps a person can take to protect themselves against the potential financial impact of their health care needs.

Private health cover and cardiac care

It is important to remember that Medicare covers expenses for many injuries, diseases or illnesses that you might incur.

These include examinations, treatments, medical procedures, recovery time in the hospital, medications and in cases, even after-care should you need it.

But the problem with cardiac care is that in most cases, you must see a specialist (a heart surgeon) to diagnose and treat your condition.

Medicare then only covers 85% of the costs of seeing a specialist.

Since most cardiac care is expensive and the costs can add up very quickly, it is wise to look at private cover to pay for the difference.

If you have to stay in the hospital, take heart medication, or have other expensive treatments, you may find private health cover useful.

Furthermore, Medicare doesn't allow you to choose your doctor.

So while you will get the emergency care you need, for ongoing care, you may decide to look into private health insurance to ensure that you can have the specialist you want looking after your heart.

The good thing is that no matter what, you are protected at a basic level for emergency care.

You can get tests done, can get your basic hospital stay (if needed) covered, and more.

The bad news is that paying for ongoing care to see a specialist may be left to you.

As such, either make sure that you are able to afford the out of pocket expenses, or consider private health cover to help you pay.

What to look out for when comparing health cover

If you have an existing heart condition, or if you have a family history of heart disease, it may be wise for you to compare private health insurance before making a choice.

This way you can choose potential policies based on what cover you'll get and what premium you'll pay for your heart care. Look out for information about:

• Cardiac surgeries

• Cardiac treatments

• Cardiologist consultations

• Heart related medications

• Any other specific health care you might require

The heart is the most hard-working part of our body.

We should take care of it as best as we can, not just through health insurance but also through lifestyle changes such as healthy eating habits, regular exercise, and avoiding unhealthy environments.

This way, we can help our hearts and hope to live longer as well as saving money on health care costs.

This guide is opinion only and should not be taken as medical or financial advice. Check with a financial professional before making any decisions.  Compare Club does not compare all products in the market. The availability of products compared may change from time to time. Not all products available from our partners are compared and not all products are available to all customers.