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Rise in insurance premiums set to devastate Aussies

<p>Australians struggling with the cost of living are set to be hit with another blow to their wallets as health insurance premiums rise. </p> <p>Coming into effect on April 1st, private health insurance premiums are set to rise by more than 3 per cent, in the biggest increase in five years.</p> <p>The federal government has approved an average industry premium rise of 3.03 per cent, which will impact 14 million Australians paying for private health cover. </p> <p>The 2024 increase is slightly higher than a rise of 2.9 per cent in 2023, and 2.7 per cent in 2022 and 2021.</p> <p>In 2019, premiums rose by 3.3 per cent, making the 2024 rise the biggest in five years. </p> <p>Health Minister Mark Butler said the rise was smaller than the increase in wages, the age pension and inflation.</p> <p>“I wasn’t prepared to just tick and flick the claims of health insurers, as the opposition asked me to do,” Butler said.</p> <p>“I asked insurers to go back and sharpen their pencils and put forward a more reasonable offer for the 15 million Australians with private health insurance.”</p> <p>“Private health insurers must ensure their members are getting value for money,” Butler said.</p> <p>“When costs rise, Australians want to know that higher premiums are contributing to system-wide improvements like higher wages for nurses and other health workers and ensuring that affordable services are available.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

Money & Banking

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What does your health fund know about living costs? Because health cover premiums are on the rise this year too!

<p>Have you noticed more scary headlines about ballooning inflation and climbing interest rates out there lately? While the media love their dramatic headlines, there’s more truth than usual in their scary stats.</p> <p>It’s no secret that a lot of us are feeling squeezed financially at the moment. The cost of living has shot up in recent months - from interest rates, to groceries, and new energy and fuel price hikes, it’s getting harder to make ends meet. </p> <p>Health cover is no exception.</p> <p>In fact, in 2023, health insurance premiums are set to rise by an average of 2.9%...</p> <p><strong>…but did you know that your fund can put your premium up by a lot more than that?</strong></p> <p>It’s true. </p> <p>Don't be fooled by any ‘average’ messaging. An ‘average increase’ is just that - an average. Your premium may be going up by a lot more.</p> <p><strong>OverSixty has partnered with </strong><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"><strong>Compare Club,</strong> </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Australia’s most trusted team of health insurance experts,* who spend every day talking to Aussie families – and they’ve recently shared with us two examples:</span></p> <p>1. Kevin's policy has gone up by <strong>20% in 2 years</strong> - that’s a LOT more than the current rate of inflation it’s being blamed on.</p> <p>2. Cassie's family combined cover policy is <strong>going up by 13.67%</strong> or $33.60 a month - that’s over $400 a year on top of her current premium.</p> <p>We know how much households are hurting right now, so Compare Club talked to us about three smart ways to keep your health insurance premiums in check - without compromising your cover:</p> <p><strong>1.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Downsize your policy - only pay for what you need:<br /></strong>Are you on a top tier policy you’re not fully using? You might find you can get a Silver Plus or Bronze Plus tier policy with a lower premium, and stay covered for what you need. </p> <p><strong>2.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Split policies - health funds’ best kept secret: <br /></strong>If you and your partner have different health needs, splitting your cover across two different policies - or even two different funds - could save your family several hundred dollars in annual premiums. </p> <p><strong>3.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pay in advance - before your premium rises:<br /></strong>You may have noticed that a lot of health funds have delayed their premium increase this year. If yours is one of these, and you can afford to pay your full annual premium before the date of increase, you’ll lock in a full year’s worth of savings for yourself.</p> <p><strong>Know your options:</strong></p> <p><em>“Health funds are a competitive bunch, so you don’t have to take what your fund dishes out. If you've not reviewed your health cover recently, you could be paying an average of $785^ more than you need.” <strong>– Compare Club CEO, Andrew Davis.</strong></em></p> <p><strong>OverSixty has partnered with Compare Club’s experts</strong> who have saved over 136,500 customers an average of $300 on health cover premiums over the last five years^. </p> <p>We’re quite sure you have better things to do with your money than overpaying for health cover.</p> <p>Compare Club have been helping Aussies switch and save on health cover since 2010<sup>#</sup>, so get in touch and see how much their experts could save you.</p> <h4 style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; line-height: 1.2; color: #212529; font-size: 1.5rem; background-color: #ffffff;">Call 1300 863 204 now, or visit <a style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #258440; text-decoration-line: none; background-color: transparent; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;" href="https://lp.compareclub.com.au/over60/?utm_medium=partner&amp;utm_source=over60&amp;utm_campaign=raterise&amp;utm_content=nativearticle&amp;category=health" target="_blank" rel="noopener">compare.oversixty.com.au</a> to save today!</h4> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"> </p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"> </p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"> </p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"><em><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">*Based on Trustpilot reviews, correct as of 04/01/23<br /></span>^Savings based on 136,746 customers between 1 Jan 2018 - 23 December 2022.</em><br /><em>#Compare Club compares selected products from a panel of trusted insurers. We do not compare all products in the market.</em></p>

Caring

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Be prepared: There’s a premium increase coming

<p>Health insurance premiums are going up every year and in 2022, are rising at an average of 2.70%*.</p> <p>Although 2.70%* might not seem a lot, <a href="https://compareclub.com.au/health-insurance/quote/cover-type-location/?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=raterise&utm_content=article&utm_term=getaquote&utm_category=health" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Compare Club</a>'s data suggests that Australian couples aged 65 could see an average increase in premiums ranging from at least $155^, depending on your policy.</p> <p>So how do you keep your health insurance affordable while still making sure you’re covered for everything you need?</p> <p>It’s simple: compare with <a href="https://compareclub.com.au/health-insurance/quote/cover-type-location/?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=raterise&utm_content=article&utm_term=getaquote&utm_category=health" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Compare Club</a> today and if you get a better deal, switch to a better value policy in minutes.</p> <p><strong>How much does loyalty to your health insurer cost you?</strong></p> <p>Staying loyal to the same health fund could really cost you, especially if you’ve put switching policies at the bottom of your to-do list.</p> <p>Compare Club's experts have crunched the numbers for you, and if you haven’t changed your cover in the last five years, <strong>premiums on average have gone up by 15.56%^.</strong></p> <p>If that number isn’t shocking enough, Compare Club's internal data shows that if you’ve got a couples policy, you’ve paid, on average, around $794^^^ more for the same cover.</p> <p><strong>It’s easy to get a better deal with the help of Compare Club's experts</strong></p> <p>It’s easier than you think to miss the letter from your health insurer and end up paying hundreds of dollars more.</p> <p>Compare Club’s CEO Andrew Davis says that there’s some demographics who are sometimes hit harder than others: “We’ve found that older Australians are especially vulnerable to falling victim to the common health insurance traps like staying on an outdated policy, being talked into a higher level of cover, and fund loyalty incentives.”</p> <p>Fortunately, thousands of Australians have seen significant savings in their pocket once they’ve spoken to Compare Club's experts#.</p> <p>Over the last 5 years, Compare Club has saved their customers an average of $320** on their annual health insurance cost when they switched policies through them.</p> <p>So what are you waiting for? Make sure you’re saving on your health cover today and speak to <a href="https://compareclub.com.au/health-insurance/quote/cover-type-location/?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=raterise&utm_content=article&utm_term=getaquote&utm_category=health" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Compare Club</a>'s experts now.</p> <p><em>This article is opinion only and should not be taken as medical or financial advice. Check with a financial professional before making any decisions.</em></p> <p><em>*<a href="https://www.health.gov.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Health.gov.au</a>, <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/12/average-annual-price-changes-in-private-health-insurance-premiums-list-of-historical-premium-price-changes-by-insurer-for-2022_0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">List of historical premium price changes by insurer - 1997 to 2022</a>, accessed 30th August, 2021.</em></p> <p><em>**Based on 111,658 policies sold Jan 2017 - Nov 2021</em></p> <p><em>^2.70% premium increase applied to the average premium of policies purchased through Health Insurance Comparison by singles and couples aged 65+ years in 2021</em></p> <p><em>^^^5 years of average premium increases applied to the average premium of policies purchased through Health Insurance Comparison by couples in 2018.</em></p> <p><em>#Compare Club compares selected products from a panel of trusted insurers. We do not compare all products in the market.</em></p> <p><em>This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with <a href="https://compareclub.com.au/health-insurance/quote/cover-type-location/?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=raterise&utm_content=article&utm_term=getaquote&utm_category=health" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Compare Club</a>.</em></p>

Money & Banking

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With cost of living skyrocketing, is it time to find cheaper health cover?

<p>When was the last time you checked your health cover? If it’s been a while since you last checked your policy, you could be paying more than you need to. Despite the rising cost of living, there are still big savings to be made if you know where to look.</p> <p><a href="https://compareclub.com.au/health-insurance/quote/cover-type-location/?utm_source=impact&utm_medium=affiliate&tm_campaign=raterise&utm_content=article&utm_term=getaquote&category=health" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Compare Club</a>’s experts can help you compare health policies from a panel of leading insurers<sup>#</sup> and take care of the switching process – possibly saving you hundreds in just a few minutes.</p> <p>Over the last five years, Compare Club has saved customers an average of $320* on their annual health insurance costs when they switched policies through them. Their experts will help you squeeze out every last cent of savings and value from your policy.</p> <p><strong>Rising cost of premiums<br /></strong>Most health funds in Australia raise their premiums every year. While this helps the funds offset any rising healthcare costs, it can also add hundreds onto the cost of health insurance for many policyholders.</p> <p>The average premium increase this year will be 2.70%. Based on federal government estimates, this means that the average policyholder could see an increase of $125.84 if you’re on a family or couples policy, or $58.24 for singles policy holders.</p> <p>So if you normally pay $100 a month for private health insurance, a 2.70% rate rise would see your monthly premium increase to $102.70.</p> <p>That might not sound like much, but when you add up the costs over the course of a year, it can make a huge difference to how much of your income you're spending on health insurance.</p> <p><strong>Why do health insurance premiums increase each year?<br /></strong>The most common reasons why private health insurance funds increase their premiums annually include:</p> <ul> <li>More people accessing health services each year.</li> <li>An ageing population and higher rates of conditions like cancer or heart attacks places a bigger strain on health services.</li> <li>Improved treatments are often more expensive for our healthcare system.</li> </ul> <p>These factors help explain why health funds increase their premiums – and the cost of providing insurance to you gets more expensive each year. They don't always pass on the additional costs to you, their customers, but this is generally why you can expect your premiums to go up.</p> <p><strong>Can you avoid the impact of health insurance premium increases in 2022?<br /></strong>The short answer is yes, if you switch to a different, lower cost fund. The experts at <a href="https://compareclub.com.au/health-insurance/quote/cover-type-location/?utm_source=impact&utm_medium=affiliate&tm_campaign=raterise&utm_content=article&utm_term=getaquote&category=health" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Compare Club</a> can help with this. They can compare policies and provide you with options that fit within your budget, saving you time jumping from insurer to insurer and comparing policies yourself.</p> <p><strong>Will you have to serve new waiting periods if you switch policies?<br /></strong>Not necessarily. You can switch to an equivalent or lower level of cover without serving new <a href="https://compareclub.com.au/health-insurance/waiting-periods/?utm_source=impact&utm_medium=affiliate&tm_campaign=raterise&utm_content=article&utm_term=getaquote&category=health" target="_blank" rel="noopener">waiting periods</a> on your health insurance. You’ll only need to serve new waiting periods if you have upgraded to a higher level of cover. Also, remember that any unserved waiting periods will transfer to your new health fund. So if you end up switching health insurance to an equivalent cover, you may need to finish these unserved waiting periods before you can make a claim.</p> <p><strong>How do you know if I’m getting value for money from my health fund?<br /></strong>If you haven't changed funds or policies in a few years, there’s a good chance you could be getting better value for money elsewhere. And if you’ve moved to a different state or out to regional Australia, your current health fund may not have agreements with your local hospital or dentist. One of the fastest and easiest ways to see how your current premiums stack up – and how much you could save by switching – is to <a href="https://compareclub.com.au/health-insurance/quote/cover-type-location/?utm_source=impact&utm_medium=affiliate&tm_campaign=raterise&utm_content=article&utm_term=getaquote&category=health" target="_blank" rel="noopener">compare health insurance quotes</a>.</p> <p><strong>Why trust Compare Club?<br /></strong>Here’s why you should compare health insurance with Compare Club:</p> <ol> <li><strong>They’re independently owned:</strong> Unlike some of their competitors, Compare Club isn’t owned by any insurers (or vice versa).</li> <li><strong>They make switching easy:</strong> Compare Club has been helping Aussies save on their health insurance for over 10 years.</li> <li><strong>They are 100% Australian owned:</strong> Compare Club’s entire health insurance team is based in Australia and comprehensively trained.</li> </ol> <p><em>* Based on 111,658 policies sold Jan 2017–Nov 2021<br /></em><em># Compare Club compares selected products from a panel of trusted insurers. They do not compare all products in the market.</em></p> <p><em>This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with <a href="https://compareclub.com.au/health-insurance/quote/cover-type-location/?utm_source=impact&utm_medium=affiliate&tm_campaign=raterise&utm_content=article&utm_term=getaquote&category=health" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Compare Club</a>.</em></p> <p><a id="1191393" href="https://compareclub.sjv.io/c/3546413/1191393/14962"> . </a><img style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" src="https://imp.pxf.io/i/3546413/1191393/14962" width="0" height="0" border="0" /></p>

Caring

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Woolworths reveals "premium" features of new supermarket

<p>Woolworths has opened a new "premium" supermarket in Erskineville which allows customers to slice their own bread or purchase pizza or pasta made right in store.</p> <p>The new Woolworths Metro opens this week and is stocked with products from local Sydney producers, offering a more handmade and organic range of products.</p> <div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>Woolworths said in a statement that the store was an Australian-first and includes a bakehouse managed by the Bread and Butter Project. This is an initiative offering training programs and employment pathways for refugees seeking asylum who want to become bakers.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838661/woolies-hero.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/5d057e364ad64dedb36549e33b1fa1bb" /></p> <p>“We are incredibly excited to be opening our first concession store with Woolworths Metro, as it gives us the opportunity to bring our delicious bread to a wider audience, starting in Erskineville,” Bread and Butter Project chairperson Cindy Carpenter said.</p> <p>“Our trained bakers will carry out on-site mixing, proving, shaping and baking, ensuring every product will be made fresh from scratch to provide the people of Erskineville and inner Sydney with the freshest sourdough breads at regular intervals throughout the day.</p> <p>“In addition, having a presence in Woolworths Metro offers our trainees vital future retail training and employment opportunities, at a time when alternative work options are in short supply.”</p> <p>Woolworths Metro general Manager Justin Nolan said taht the supermarket giant wanted to offer a more convenient experience for customers.</p> <p>“Whether it’s the speed and ease of Scan&amp;Go shopping or the extensive range of ‘meal to go’ solutions on offer, it’s all about giving local customers time back in their busy lives,” Mr Nolan said.</p> <p>“We've focused on creating a food store that is locally relevant to the Erskineville community and we can’t wait to welcome customers into our store.”</p> <p>Scan&amp;Go technology allows customers to scan products on their phones as they walk through the store and pay on an app.</p> <p><em>Photo credits: </em><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/woolworths-reveals-premium-features-new-supermarket-061057600.html" target="_blank" class="editor-rtflink">Yahoo News</a></em></p> </div> </div> </div>

Food & Wine

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5 reasons premium economy is worth it

<p>There are few purchases in the travel industry that are as hotly debated as a premium economy airfare. Some travellers swear by it and wouldn’t consider taking any type of trip without that extra added bit of leg room. Others take a dimmer view, arguing the extra costs aren’t quite justified by the perks you receive onboard.</p> <p>Instead of spending hours umming and ahing, we’ve decided to outline five reasons that we think premium economy is worth it. To see them all, scroll through the gallery above.</p> <p>What are your thoughts? Do you think premium economy is worth the added expense? Let us know in the comments section below, we’d love to hear your thoughts.</p>

Travel Tips

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Why private health insurance is in jeopardy in Australia

<p>Health fund members could soon have to pay hundreds more in premiums if they wish to remain covered for heart attacks, joint replacements, dialysis and cataract surgery under government health reforms.</p> <p>These health issues would only be covered by Gold or top cover policies under plans to reform private health insurance into new policy bands Gold, Silver, Bronze and Basic.</p> <p>The reforms are expected to roll out from April 1, 2019.</p> <p><a href="http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/DC3D39C6FEE1AEBCCA25802000050FD2/$File/20171218%20WEBSITE%20Issues%20paper%20Gold%20Silver%20Bronze%20Basic%20implementation.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>A Health Department issues paper</strong></span></a> published online revealed that under Silver cover, health funds will be able to exclude cover for 12 of the 32 treatment areas, reported the <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifestyle/health/the-value-of-australian-private-health-insurance-in-jeopardy-with-reforms-being-discussed/news-story/8ddef8fc656f8a71820c86e4d2936e62?utm_source=Daily%20Telegraph&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=editorial" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Daily Telegraph</span></strong></a>.</p> <p>Heart conditions, vascular conditions, eye conditions, cataract surgery, pregnancy, IVF, joint replacements, kidney dialysis, hearing loss surgery, weight loss surgery, insulin pumps and sleep studies could all be excluded from Silver.</p> <p>If patients wanted to be covered for these conditions, they would have to talk out the top cover which would cost them an extra $300-$500 a year, even though they are currently already covered in the existing system.</p> <p>For Aussies who are hoping to pay less for their private health insurance they could opt for Bronze, but they won’t be covered for 22 of the 32 hospital treatment categories.</p> <p>Bronze policies would only cover rehabilitation, mental health, drug and alcohol services, palliative care, brain procedures, broken bones, ear nose and throat, colonoscopies and chemotherapy and radiotherapy for cancer.</p> <p>As the reforms are fleshed out, health funds have already started to introduce major exclusions, but the new system would allow even more restrictions.</p> <p>BUPA, Australia’s largest health fund, has <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/2018/03/doctors-outrage-over-health-insurer-policy-change/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>recently added new exclusions</strong> </span></a>to around 720,000 of its policies to deny cover for hip and knee replacements, pregnancy, IVF, cataract procedures, obesity and some plastic surgery while premiums continue to increase.</p> <p>Australian Medical Association president Dr Michael Gannon said a system that requires people to take out Gold level care to access heart services was “clawing away at the value of health insurance”.</p> <p>“This is not even close to the model the AMA wants,” he said.</p> <p>The AMA said it wants all hospital services covered in Silver policies with premiums kept lower by larger excess payments instead.</p> <p>CEO of the Medical Technology Association, Ian Burgess, said he was concerned the proposed reforms will reduce patients access to medical technology, as many procedures will be limited to Gold.</p> <p>“These services already have extensive waiting lists in the public system and limiting them to Gold will only exacerbate this problem,” he said.</p> <p>A spokesman for Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government’s reforms had delivered the lowest annual premium change in 17 years – at 3.95 per cent.</p> <p>“No final decision has been taken on what services will be included in each category. There is no change or addition to the previously announced category types of gold/silver/bronze/basic,” the spokesman said.</p> <p>Private health insurance is in decline as premiums continue to become too expensive for Aussie families.</p> <p><a href="https://www.finder.com.au/health-insurance" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>A finder.com survey</strong></span></a> of 1200 health fund members found one in six Australians with private health cover bought the most basic policy to save money.</p> <p>It also found that in the last 12 months, nearly one in five Australians had downgraded their cover. </p> <p>Are you concerned about the new private health insurance reforms? Will you be changing health funds? Tell us in the comments below. </p>

Retirement Income

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Good news for Allianz and Suncorp customers – $62.8 million to be refunded

<p><span>Allianz Australia and Suncorp will refund customers a combined value of $62.8 million for selling add-on insurance premiums that had little to no value.</span></p> <p><span>Allianz will pay back $45.6 million to 68,000 customers, while Suncorp (providing policy by MTA Insurance) will refund $17.2 million to 41,428 customers.</span></p> <p><span>The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) started an investigation due to concerns with Allianz Insurance add-ons being sold through car dealerships between December 1, 2010 and November 30, 2017.</span></p> <p><span>ASIC found that four Allianz add-on products were unbeneficial to customers: Motor Equity Insurance (MEI), Loan Protection Insurance (LPI), Tyre and Rim Insurance (TRI) and Warranty Insurance products.</span></p> <p><span>Suncorp’s sale of its MTA Guaranteed Asset Protection or GAP insurance between 2009 and 2017 were found to have duplicated cover provided by a driver’s comprehensive car insurance and sold at a price deemed too expensive.</span></p> <p><span>ASIC’s Acting Chair Peter Knell said the refunds are a warning to insurers to make sure their products add value to customers.</span></p> <p><span>"The refunds offered by Allianz, together with those from other insurers, make up one of the largest compensation programs achieved by ASIC, with over $120 million in refunds to consumers as a result of ASIC shining a spotlight on these poor consumer outcomes," said Knell.</span></p> <p><span>"Add-on insurance has been under the spotlight for some time now. Insurers should be taking active steps to ensure their customers are not being sold products that provide little or no value."</span></p> <p><span>Allianz and Suncorp follow Virginia Survey, QBE and Swann Insurance who have been caught by ASIC’s investigation into add-on insurance rip offs.</span></p> <p><span>In June, Virginia Survey was forced to refund $330,000, in August, QBE was ordered to refund $15.9 million and in December, Swann Insurance was told to refund $39 million.</span></p> <p><span>Allianz and MTA Insurance have started writing to affected customers. </span></p>

Insurance

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Outrage as shoppers charged premium for larger sizes

<p>Shopping online is undeniably convenient, especially if you don’t want to face the instore crowds, but the catch is you have to remain vigilant and wary.</p> <p>One UK shopper found this out the the hard way this week.</p> <p>Twitter user @BeckyBedbug was about to purchase a dress from online retailer ASOS, when she checked her cart and noticed something didn’t quite add up.</p> <p>Double checking the statement, Becky realised that she had been charged an additional $15 by the retailer, just for ordering a plus size dress.</p> <p>Becky wasn’t having any of it, and immediately took to Twitter to express her fury.</p> <p><img width="498" height="425" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/24669/twitter_498x425.jpg" alt="Twitter (2)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>The response has been mixed, with some users pointing out more material is required for bigger sizes, but others arguing smaller sizes should be cheaper.</p> <p>ASOS did respond to Becky’s Tweet, but noted that because they did not manufacture the dress in question they had no sway in the individual charges.  </p> <p>What’s your take on the situation? Do you think Becky is right to complain about being charged more for a bigger dress? Or are the retailers in the right?</p> <p>Share your thoughts in the comments below. </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/entertainment/technology/2014/06/how-to-be-safe-online/"><strong>How to be safe online</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/entertainment/tv/2016/07/how-to-avoid-tv-shopping-traps/"><strong>How to avoid TV shopping traps</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/entertainment/technology/2015/04/online-scams/"><strong>Online scams you need to know about</strong></a></em></span></p>

News

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Is a premium economy ticket ever worth it?

<p>When it comes to air travel not all economy seats were created equal. Over the last few years a number of airlines have offered passengers a “premium economy” option.</p> <p>As the name implies, premium economy offers passengers a level of service that is a step up from normal economy class, but with fewer features than you’d expect if you were seated in business. And, as you probably would imagine, you have to pay more.</p> <p>But is it worth the additional expense? We’re going to take a look at what you can expect from the premium economy service, so you can figure out if it’s worth your while. </p> <p><strong>What can I expect from premium economy flights?</strong></p> <p>Premium economy class offers a range of features that differentiate it from standard economy, but it’s important to understand that these features vary from airline to airline.</p> <ul> <li><strong>Expect to pay more</strong> – As with most things in life, if you want an upgrade it’s going to cost you. Premium economy is sold at a different fare class and can set you back anywhere from 10 to 85 per cent more than standard economy tickets.</li> <li><strong>You may be seated in a separate cabin</strong> – Generally, you will find premium economy seats behind business class and a few rows in front of the standard economy cabin. Sometimes the classes are separated by a wall, partition or curtain.</li> <li><strong>Your seat will be more comfortable</strong> – This is one of the key selling points for premium economy, particularly on long haul flights. Premium economy seats have more legroom than standard economy, allow you to recline further and offer passengers more elbow space. It’s also not uncommon for premium economy seats to have lumbar support, a footrest and an adjustable headrest as well.</li> <li><strong>Other features you might find</strong> – Other features offered as part of the premium economy service include priority boarding, more frequent flyer miles, better food, upgraded amenity kits and a bigger TV screen than standard economy. </li> </ul> <p>In the end of the day it comes down to a matter of personal preference.</p> <p>If the luxuries described above sound like they’re worth the additional cost then there’s no reason not to upgrade to premium economy, but if you’re happy enough with the standard level of service there’s no real urgent need to do so.</p> <p><a href="http://www.seatguru.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">SeatGuru</span></strong></a> provides a useful <a href="http://www.seatguru.com/charts/longhaul_economy.php" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">online comparison tool</span></strong></a> if you’re still on the fence.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/international-travel/2016/02/a-look-inside-first-class-cabins/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Inside 8 first class cabins that will amaze you</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/international-travel/2016/02/most-photographed-locations-in-london/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>London’s 8 most photographed locations</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/international-travel/2016/02/holiday-ideas-for-animal-lovers/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>8 holiday ideas every animal lover needs to experience</strong></em></span></a></p>

Travel Tips

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Car insurance premiums could rise

<p>With Australian consumers already feeling the pinch, a survey from JP Morgan and a consultancy firm Taylor Fry suggests that car owners are set to feel the pinch in the coming months with premiums predicted to rise considerably.</p> <p>The study suggest high claims payouts and stiff competition in the car insurance market, as well as a lack of returns on the investment front will lead the major car insurers to seek to increase their bottom line by charging higher premiums.</p> <p>Premiums for insurance in 2015 were relatively stable as insurers sought customers, but this is expected to change considerably in the coming year as they seek to increase the bottom line.</p> <p>"The last two years in motor were pretty soft. A big part of it is competition," Siddharth Parameswaran, senior insurance analyst, at JP Morgan, told the Sydney Morning Herald when talking about the slated rise in premium prices. "These rate reductions in 2015 I think were in response to try and solidify market share, and prices have come back a fair way."</p> <p>"Given the tough profit trends in 2015, we're seeing consistency in the key concerns from underwriters, with the top issues remaining the same as last year – competition, rates and capacity," Taylor Fry principal Kevin Gomes said. "In addition to the pressure from events, profitability has also been impacted by rate pressures, particularly in commercial classes but we're looking at positive developments in both domestic and commercial classes for the coming year."</p> <p>An increase in car insurance premiums would provide significant hurt for consumers who already have to cope with the prospect of a <a href="/finance/insurance/2016/03/private-health-insurance-premium-rise/" target="_blank"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">5.59 per cent increase in private health insurance premiums</span></em></strong></a> from April 1 this year.</p> <p>It’s increasingly important for consumers to be wary when choosing their policy.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/finance/insurance/2016/03/how-to-avoid-hidden-costs-at-the-hospital/">How to avoid hidden costs at the hospital</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/finance/insurance/2016/03/private-health-insurance-premium-rise/">Private health insurance premiums to rise</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/finance/insurance/2016/02/natural-therapies-stripped-of-benefits/">Natural therapies stripped of benefits</a></strong></em></span></p>

Insurance

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What insurance extras are worth it?

<p>When it comes to insurance a lot of people are buying products that are not worth it. Everybody is entitled to want extras, but if you don’t actually need them you’re just wasting time and money.</p> <p>We’ve put together a simple buying guide to buying insurance extras and which ones are actually worth your while. This way you can ensure that you’re in a better position to decide whether or not the extras offered by a particular policy are worth your while when it comes time to renew it.</p> <p><strong>Is my current extras policy worth it?</strong></p> <p>The fact is most people are paying more in additional premiums than they are getting back in terms of the added services that come with additional extras in an insurance policy. So it’s important to weigh up whether or not it’s actually worth your while getting this additional service. Here are some things you can do to figure out whether or not you’re getting your bang for your buck:</p> <ul> <li>Request an annual claims statement which shows the benefits you received.</li> <li>Compare the total benefit with your annual premium.</li> <li>Compare your benefits to that of other policies.</li> <li>Consider switching to a less expensive policy or cancelling extras if it’s not adding up.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Do I need basic, medium or top cover?</strong></p> <p>Generally health insurers will offer three levels of cover – basic, which is suited to healthy singles and couples, medium which caters for families with young children and average health care needs and top which is designed for families with school-aged children, mature singles and couples that have higher health care needs.</p> <p>The biggest difference among insurers is for dental cover in terms of the range of services and maximum benefits that are offered, but there are also variables in terms of glasses, therapies and other therapies and medical devices that you may requires at some point in your life.</p> <p><strong>What can I do from here?</strong></p> <p>Well, the good thing about insurance being a consumer product is that you have the power to choose which policy is best for you. We recommend trying the following tactics.</p> <ul> <li>Look for percentage benefits.</li> <li>Look for funds with provider schemes that are near you.</li> <li>Check if your fund offers loyalty bonuses.</li> <li>Figure out if you’re using your lifestyle cover.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/insurance/2016/01/unnecessary-types-of-insurance/">The types of insurance that aren’t worth your while</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/insurance/2015/12/factors-affecting-your-life-insurance-premium/">What factors are affecting my life insurance premium?</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/insurance/2016/01/insuring-your-home-for-a-natural-disaster/">Insuring your home for a natural disaster</a></em></strong></span></p>

Insurance

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Private health insurance premiums to rise

<p>Private health insurance premiums are set to increase an average of 5.59 per cent.</p> <p>The changes will come into effect from April 1 this year, with the increase in premiums just below the 6.2 per cent rise demanded by insurers last year.</p> <p>After Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley had asked insurers to justify the slated 6.2 per cent rise, 20 Australian funds lowered the figure in their request.</p> <p>“Overall, consumers will be $125 million better off as a direct result of our request for insurers to resubmit lower premiums, saving an average family with combined hospital and general health cover as much as $166 per year,” Mr Ley said.</p> <p>In an interview on ABC Radio, Labor health spokeswoman Catherine King said it was good the government had gone back to the insurers, but stressed, “Frankly these are still very high price premium increases. Here is the government increasing the private health insurance premiums by more than three times the inflation rate.”</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/finance/insurance/2016/01/insuring-your-home-for-a-natural-disaster/">Insuring your home for a natural disaster</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/finance/insurance/2016/02/how-to-avoid-extra-hospital-costs/"><strong>How to avoid paying extra hospital costs</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/finance/insurance/2016/02/doctors-calling-for-a-health-insurance-clean-up/"><strong>Doctors calling for a health insurance clean up</strong></a></em></span></p>

Insurance

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What factors are affecting my life insurance premium?

<p>While it’s a topic none of us want to broach that often, life insurance is one of the most important purchases we make for our family. That being said, you don’t want to be paying any more than you have to. We’ve taken a look at the main factors that are affecting your life insurance premium.</p> <p><strong>Age</strong></p> <p>This one probably goes without saying, but all other things being equal you can expect the younger you are, the lower your rate. Insurers generally encourage customers who are shopping around for policies to purchase them as soon as possible because the younger you are the cheaper the rate. </p> <p><strong>Gender</strong></p> <p>Interestingly, you can also expect your gender to have a bearing on the size of the premium you will be paying your insurer. As a general rule women tend to have longer life spans than men and as a result they can expect to pay lower rates for their life insurance when applying for a policy.</p> <p><strong>The type of policy you’re applying for</strong></p> <p>Expect the type of policy you’re applying for to also have a bearing on the amount of premium you’re paying to the insurer, as the risk of you passing away during the policy is higher if you’re covered for longer periods of time. It’s terrible to think about, but that’s the nature of the industry.</p> <p><strong>General lifestyle habits</strong></p> <p>The manner in which you’ve lived your life will also have a bearing on the amount of premium you can expect to pay to your insurer as part of your life insurance policy, including the following:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Smoking –</strong> If you’re a smoker expect to pay an entirely different premium to non-smokers. Smoking increases your chances of contracting a number of diseases which can mean you end up paying almost double the cost of your non-smoking counterparts.</li> <li><strong>Obesity –</strong> If you happen to be severely overweight you can expect that to affect your premiums. However if you happen to be carrying a couple of extra pounds exclusions generally won’t be triggered unless they’re couple with a few other ailments.</li> <li><strong>Drinking –</strong> We all like to indulge in the occasional drink (or five), you can expect drinking to only effect your premium if it’s a serious situation. That being said if it is it’s not entirely uncommon to expect to pay much more or have your policy refused altogether.</li> <li><strong>Hobbies –</strong> Sure, your weekly sky dive might keep you feeling young, but if you’re an adrenaline junky that’s definitely going to have an effect on your premium. Naturally, the more dangerous the activity, the more expensive your policy is going to end up being.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Finding the right life insurance policy for you</strong></p> <p>There’s no such thing as “one size fits all” in insurance and there are a lot of variables when it comes to a life insurance policy. When you are determining which coverage is right for you, make sure you do your research and shop around. Don’t be afraid to get a variety of quotes from different insurance companies and don’t let an agent talk you getting into more coverage than you need.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/finance/insurance/2015/11/computer-hackers-tell-tale-signs/">11 signs you’ve been exposed to hackers</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/finance/insurance/2015/10/changing-your-health-insurance-plan/">Is it worth shopping around for a health insurance plan?</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/finance/insurance/2015/10/habits-that-make-you-unhappy/">8 little habits that are making you unhappy</a></strong></em></span></p>

Insurance

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Keep health costs down now!

<p>Health insurance is one of those things we all need to factor into the budget but with premiums continuing to rise, is there a way to stay on top of the costs?</p><p>The recent changes to the way in which the government’s private health insurance rebate is calculated coupled with rising insurance premiums is forcing many people to re-evaluate whether or not they can afford health cover.</p><p>With changes to the age pension indexation and a proposed increase to the pension eligibility age, household budgets are tightening with people having to reassess what’s a necessary expense and what can be removed. When times are tough financially, it provides an opportunity to review your health cover and check if better value options are available.</p><p>Together with rising premiums and income concerns, a change in life stage also requires a different type of health cover to keep you living life at your best. It becomes increasingly important to find cover which is specifically tailored to the needs of over 60s.</p><p>Here’s a few easy tips for managing private health insurance costs.</p><p><strong>Remember to claim</strong></p><p>The cost of your private health insurance overall is a balance between the premium and your potential returns through claims. You should always claim to ensure your return on investment, especially with extras policies. When making a booking with your healthcare provider, check to see if they have HICAPS, which allows you to claim automatically at your health service provider.</p><p><strong>Know your policy</strong></p><p>A common mistake among many people is that they forget what they’re insured for and what amount they can claim back. In this case, the cost of private healthcare becomes a liability, not a benefit. When reviewing a policy, take a look at the services you claimed for in the last 12 months, how often you claimed, your spend on health services, which you didn’t or couldn’t claim for, and any new services you might want to claim for in the following year.</p><p><strong>Be smart with extras</strong></p><p>When assessing your existing health insurance policy or shopping around for a new one, make sure you look at the services the policy provides, especially the extras. While some people have been content to buy a comprehensive policy which gave them a few added ‘luxury’ services, many are now taking a closer look at the extras they’re paying for and reassessing whether they actually need them. &nbsp;</p>

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