Saving on income tax, and additional lifetime charges is often a compelling enough reason to to purchase health insurance, but what else should you consider?

Without health insurance, you may not be able to afford expensive medical services when you need them. Do you really want to be out of pocket when you are sick?

Here are some of the top reasons people get Health Cover.

Health insurance can pay for "lifestyle" services that you use often - many people do not realise that you can claim your gym membership, massage, and sports equipment on some policies.

You can save $$ on income tax and effectively get your cover for free! For singles earning over $50,000 (more for families) the government will charge an extra 1% in income tax. This is called Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) and occurs if you don't have qualifying health insurance. Many people simply buy a policy that is cheaper than the 1% surcharge, the government will then waive the MLS fee, and you could walk away with free health insurance and money in your pocket!

Can you afford to “self” insure? — Many studies show that in most cases insurance is a much cheaper option in the long run. For example - Self funded knee surgery could set you back up to $13,000 - to save this money before the surgery would be impossible for some.

How long do you want to wait to be treated? Are you prepared to stay on waiting lists for long periods to be treated in the public system?

With private hospital insurance you have a much greater chance of having your choice of doctor. If you’re admitted as a public patient, the hospital assigns a doctor to you. Another benefit is that private patients typically have shorter waiting periods for elective surgery. ‘Elective surgery’ refers to conditions that aren't life-threatening, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a painful condition or that it is unnecessary surgery. For example, if you need a knee operation or kidney stones removed…neither condition is usually considered life-threatening but the shorter the wait the better!

You are buying peace of mind Choosing the right Private Health Insurance will put you at ease so that any unexpected eventuality is covered - your family will have access to high quality medical services when they're required, and without a huge financial burden.

Government penalties for not covering you and your family You could end up paying more for life if you don't purchase before you're 30. If you join after your 31st birthday you pay a 2% surcharge per year up to a maximum surcharge of 70%. So, for example, if you join at 45 you pay 30% more than someone who joined at 30.

For the fit and healthy If you’re young and healthy and your concerns are accidents or emergencies, you’re unlikely to have a significant wait for any hospital treatment, regardless of whether you have health insurance or not. People approaching an age where illness is considered more likely, or those who think they might need elective treatment, may decide private health insurance is valuable for them.

Hospital luxuries Some consider the “comfort factor” in private hospitals and the need for “extra” health services and the ability to stay at a hospital of your choice. They may also offer ‘luxuries’ such as single rooms, private bathrooms and TVs.

Extras cover If you have regular trips to the dentist or physiotherapist, or you need glasses, ( now or potentially in the future) you may want to consider extras cover, which you can buy with or without hospital cover. You can also get extras cover that pays a benefit for natural therapies like acupuncture or naturopathy. Remember extras cover is the one area where you can actually get something back and reduce your day to day out of pocket expenses - such as glasses, dental, chiropractic, massage and more.