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  1. Using Health Cover

Maximise your health insurance benefits

Get the most bang for your buck from your health cover.

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Your health insurance can be a valuable tool in managing your health and accessing quality healthcare services. But getting the most out of your cover means going beyond paying your premiums and lodging claims.  

At nib, we know that every healthcare dollar counts and we’re passionate about helping you get the most bang for your buck, no matter what type of cover you have. From paying less on your premiums to accessing free health tools and saving money on groceries, find out how to maximise your health insurance benefits at every stage of life. 

Make sure you’re taking advantage of health insurance discounts 

Who doesn’t love the feeling of scoring a great deal? We offer a range of discounts on our premiums, so you can get more for even less.  

Before you keep reading for ways to save and make the most of your health insurance, ensure you’re familiar with some commonly used health insurance terms, opens in a new tab

Reduce your out-of-pocket expenses 

Now you’re paying less on your premiums, find out where you can save on healthcare appointments and out-of-pocket expenses. Through our nationwide nib First Choice network, opens in a new tab3, you have access to thousands of leading healthcare professionals who provide agreed rates and other offers for nib members.  

This means that dentists, opens in a new tab, physios, opens in a new tab and optical , opens in a new tabproviders in the First Choice network generally charge fees lower than what they might charge other private health insurance patients, while still maintaining the same quality of care.

Want to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses altogether? Eligible members can access No Gap offers on dental, physio, and optical services. This means more money back in your pocket while still getting the essential health services you need.

  • Get 100% back on preventative dental check-ups with participating dentists. Visit the No Gap dental page for a full list of inclusions4

  • Visit an nib First Choice physio provider and get 100% back on your initial consultation5

  • Through our partnerships with well-known optical, opens in a new tab brands, you can get access exclusive No Gap and discounted optical packages6.

Read more about how the nib First Choice network can save you money., opens in a new tab 

How can I reduce my hospital expenses? 

We also have special agreements with many hospitals, to help you pay less out-of-pocket for certain procedures. These include: 

These services can be accessed if the procedure or treatment is included in your policy and you've served any waiting periods. You’ll still pay your hospital excess, opens in a new tab, if you have one. Read the full details in our article nib No Gap & Known Gap specialist partners for hospital procedures, opens in a new tab.

Head to our free Find a Provider tool, opens in a new tab to search for a healthcare professional near you.

Utilise free health and wellbeing tools 

With so much health information out there, it can be difficult to know where to turn and who to trust. Our exclusive suite of free tools for members helps you look after your health and wellbeing. 

For a comprehensive overview of your health, complete the online Health Check, opens in a new tab and receive personalised health insights and recommendations. You can also dig deeper into your skin health, check your risk of skin cancer and learn the correct way to do a skin check at home with the online Skin Assessment tool, opens in a new tab

Not feeling well? Check your symptoms with nib Symptom Checker, opens in a new tab and get guidance on when to seek medical attention based on the seriousness of your symptoms.

Find everything you need and more to stay your healthiest on the Healthy Living, opens in a new tab page. 

Manage your health for free 

To help you live your healthiest life, we’ve partnered with top-notch providers on a range of Health Management programs, opens in a new tab to help you manage heart health, weight, mental health concerns, diabetes and more. The best part? These are all available at no additional cost for eligible nib members8

Save on shopping with rewards 

Whether your health goal is to walk for 20 minutes a day or run a half-marathon, opens in a new tab, eat more protein or add more veggies, opens in a new tab to your plate, our member rewards will help you get there – and save you money along the way9

  • Enjoy up to 20% off when you shop at our retail partners. 

  • Enjoy up to 60% off movie tickets and other entertainment. 

  • Fuel your body with up to 15% off a range of offers for restaurants, cafes, food delivery and groceries. 

  • Save on gym visits, yoga, pilates and get great deals on running gear and active wear to help you look the part. 

Log into the Member Rewards section, opens in a new tab of your member account, opens in a new tab, or the nib App, opens in a new tab, for big discounts on activewear at New Balance and Amazon, or fitness trackers and wearables at Garmin and JB Hi-Fi. You’ll also find discounts on e-gift cards for supermarkets, so you can save as you load up your basket with fresh, healthy foods.

Related: “I only purchased things through nib rewards for a week, opens in a new tab.” 

Feel confident going to hospital 

A hospital stay can feel daunting but you don’t have to figure it all out on your own. Our Going to Hospital tool, opens in a new tab empowers you to feel more confident about the experience, from finding a specialist and choosing the right hospital, to learning the best questions to ask your specialist. 

We also help reduce or eliminate your ‘gap’ through our MediGap network, opens in a new tab. When our network of doctors, anaesthetists and specialists choose to participate in MediGap, they agree to charge either a No Gap or a Known Gap of up to $500, helping to reduce your out of pocket expenses and giving you more cost certainty.7 

Going to hospital? Here’s why you should contact nib first, opens in a new tab

Know you’re covered in an emergency 

While you can’t exactly plan for an accident or emergency, nib helps you feel prepared with Accidental Injury Benefit, opens in a new tab. If you have an accident and present for treatment within 72 hours, you’ll receive benefits in line with our top hospital cover for the following 90 days10.

Most of our health insurance covers, opens in a new tab include unlimited emergency ambulance, opens in a new tab11.

Make your health insurance work for you 

Health insurance should fit your changing health and lifestyle needs, so it’s important to review your health insurance cover, opens in a new tab regularly, to make sure it’s keeping up. And if your circumstances have changed – for example, you’re planning to start a family, or your healthcare needs have increased – a health insurance cover review is definitely worthwhile. 

At nib, we offer a range of options for hospital, extras and combined covers, as well as the opportunity to increase your insurance excess to help you save, opens in a new tab on your monthly premium. If you’re looking to get more bang for your buck on health insurance, staying on top of what you’re covered for is a great place to start.  

Unsure where to start? Log in to your member account or the nib App to check what you’re covered for, opens in a new tab.

1Eligible members must be aged 18-29 and not a dependant under the policy. Discount calculated at 2% for each year an eligible member is aged under 30, to a maximum of 10% for 18 to 25 year olds. Not available to dependents on the Policy. If you have a partner on the Policy, the total discount will be an average of your individual age-based discount. Discount applies until age 41, and reduces by 2% per year until removed. Visit the website for more detail.  

2The discount applies to the total nib travel insurance premium and is for customers that currently hold an Australian health insurance product, an Overseas Student Health Cover product or an Overseas Visitors Health Cover product with nib. Discounts do not apply to the rate of GST and stamp duty or any changes you make to the policy. nib has the discretion to withdraw or amend this discount offer at any time. This discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotional offer or discount.   

3nib First Choice providers (i.e. our network) offer competitive fees for many commonly claimed treatments and consultations. These fees are reviewed at least annually and are subject to change. Always check nib.com.au/health-services/find-a-provider before booking to see if your provider participates or simply ask your provider if they are part of nib’s network at the time of booking. Providers occasionally leave the nib First Choice network so it’s important to check before booking to avoid disappointment. Annual limits and T&Cs apply.  

4Payment by nib of dental benefits is subject to serving relevant waiting periods, annual limits and service limits. Check your cover by visiting your member account or call 13 16 42. The dental check-up covers an examination or consultation (011 to 015), diagnostics (022, 037) scale and clean (114, 115) or removal of plaque (111), fluoride treatment (121) as deemed necessary and appropriate in the clinical opinion of the dentist (dentures not included). The services provided will be deducted from your annual limits and/or service limits. The No Gap offer is not to be used in conjunction with any other offer or government scheme, nor substitutable or redeemable for cash and is only available with dentists who have a No Gap First Choice Network provider agreement with nib.    

5100% refers to 100% of the First Choice agreed rate. This No Gap offer is only available for an in-person initial consultation (item 500) which refers to the first session provided by the practitioner in respect of an injury, or the first session in a new episode of care for the same injury. This excludes follow-up consultations, long consultations, telehealth consultations and group classes. Payment by nib of physio benefits is subject to waiting periods, annual limits and service limits. nib Fund Rules and Policy booklet terms apply. Check your cover by visiting your member account or call 13 16 42. The services provided will be deducted from your annual limits and/or service limits. It cannot be substituted or redeemed for cash. 

6Claiming optical benefits is subject to your chosen level of Extras cover, relevant waiting periods being served, and sufficient annual limits remaining. Benefits only payable on prescription Optical Appliances. nib Fund Rules and Policy booklet terms apply. Stock and brands are subject to availability and may vary from store to store. Lens upgrades such as tinting, coating or hardening of lenses not included unless specified. Not available in conjunction with any other offer or discount, unless specified. Present your valid health fund card in store to redeem these offers. Offer available to eligible members of nib and health insurance brands underwritten by nib. Offers are not redeemable for cash.   

7When a specialist chooses to participate in MediGap for your procedure they agree either not to charge a gap fee (also known as an out-of-pocket expense), or charge a known gap fee, for their services. Cover depends on level of cover, policy exclusions, waiting periods, hospital excess and limits and whether you go to an nib Agreement Hospital, a non-agreement private hospital or a public hospital. Out-of-pocket expenses may apply.  Find out more information on the website, opens in a new tab.

8Available to eligible nib members who’ve held Hospital Cover for 12 months and served their relevant waiting periods. Additional criteria vary according to each program. Contact us, opens in a new tab for more information and to confirm your eligibility for a program.  

9T&Cs apply. Some offers may vary or be available for a limited time. Payments for eGift cards made by debit/credit card incur a 1% processing fee. nib Rewards are available to new members after 30 days of active membership, provided premium payments are up to date. For more information on member rewards, visit https://www.nib.com.au/member-benefits/rewards, opens in a new tab.  

10Includes admission to a private hospital, or as a private patient in a public hospital. Excludes consultations and treatments performed at an Emergency Department. T&Cs apply.   

111 day waiting period for new policies applies. Not available to: (i) QLD residents who have ambulance services provided by their State ambulance schemes; (ii) TAS residents who are covered under state ambulance schemes in TAS and when travelling in mainland Australia except NSW, SA or QLD; or (iii) pension and health care card holders who have ambulance services provided by State ambulance schemes (check entitlements with Centrelink if unsure); or (iv) DentalPass members.