Past severe injuries and illnesses can affect what health insurance covers.
Typically, any major medical event in the last three years may result in an exclusion from a health insurer. Significant events like surgery, cancer, or heart attacks may lead to permanent exclusions.
Some exclusions can be lifted after a certain period if the insured remains symptom-free and treatment-free. The review time depends on the severity of the medical issue. For instance, a minor back strain might only require a 12-month symptom-free period for review. At the same time, a past breast cancer diagnosis resulting in an exclusion may render one ineligible for review.
Fortunately, there are two insurers offering coverage for existing or past health issues:
Nib Easy Health
This is ideal if your medical conditions don’t fall under one of these specific categories:
- Cardiovascular conditions
- Cancer
- Hip or knee conditions
- Back conditions
- Transplant surgery
- Reconstructive or reparative procedures or surgery
Southern Cross UltraCare
Unlike Nib’s Easy Health, this covers any pre-existing medical condition after three years. However, it initially comes with a higher-than-average cost. After three years, the policy owner can switch to the more affordable Wellbeing One or Two plan. While this would be considered a product downgrade, the life assured would still have coverage for their pre-existing conditions.
Having placed hundreds of health insurance policies over the last decade, we’re well-versed in identifying the most suitable insurance product for each scenario, including considering the plans mentioned earlier. We also provide a start-to-finish claim support service.
The links to the key product brochures can be found below:
Please send us a few details here if you’re currently exploring your health insurance and would like some obligation-free professional guidance.
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. It is always recommended to consult with a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions based on your individual circumstances.
