Search

The benefits of keeping your health insurance close to home

It seems like every day a new health insurance policy gets introduced into the market, which means that Australians are confronted with tens of thousands of different options when searching for a policy.

Take the confusion our of private health insurance

While choice is undoubtedly a good thing, it does have it its drawbacks particularly in the case of private health insurance when you are confronted with a plethora of inclusions, exclusions, restrictions, excesses, extras and optional extras possibilities.

These terms are confusing, the small-print indecipherable and the process ultimately exhausting when all you are really looking for is a policy that will cover you and your family properly in times of medical need­ with minimal out of pocket expense.

This is a simple need and one that is shared by most Australians, but particularly those who work in the physically and mentally demanding emergency services industry.

The only insurance for the emergency services community

Because these individuals put their bodies on the line day-in-day-out, it is vital they avoid “cheap junk policies” that reap them no meaningful benefits and can see them having exclusions and restrictions of hospital procedures, or paying hundreds of dollars in out of pocket expenses for common treatments such as physiotherapy.

The “Big Brand” health funds offer an abundance of options, but often some of these insurers just sell on price and may not be reviewing and increasing benefits under some policies to reflect the increased cost of treatments and services the health provider (resulting in larger out of pocket cost over time). The results being that it can be difficult to decipher the difference between junk policies and the suitable policies unless you do hours of research.

This is less problematic when some of these insurers are servicing an individual who is just looking for a cheap policy to help them avoid tax penalties such as the Medicare Levy Surcharge or Lifetime Health Cover Loading. However, in the case of emergency services workers in nursing, fire departments or paramedic services who have specific and real health cover needs, this can be a big issue.

A not-for-profit health fund that's made for you and your family

Emergency Services workers, volunteers have unique health needs which must be put first, above profits, above share prices and above fancy marketing campaigns… in short, they require a provider who can provide them with simple, comprehensive and value for money health cover from people who understand them best.

It is for this reason that an exclusive, not-for-profit and Member Own health funds such as Emergency Services Health are becoming more and more important. They are taking customer-centric views of the health industry and create policies that suit their industry members.

Freedom to choose

When you put your body under stress or in danger your needs are in equal measures simple and important. You need access to your preferred provider or choice of doctors, and the comfort of knowing you have a comprehensive policy, not just what you think you may need. As someone that is part of the emergency services community, you know too well that life as you know it can drastically change in a second.

Unlike major health insurers, restricted access (exclusive community based) funds also have the advantage of being able to provide their membership with exclusive benefits suited to the industry such as the ability to rollover unused extras annual limits from one year to the next with Emergency Services Health.

They're operating for profit

Invariably it’s a matter of priorities of care, with private for-profit health funds there is an underlying focus with their share-price and profit margins than selling suitable policies to customers. Whereas not-for-profit, Members Own health insurers take the words “health care and wellbeing of its members” to heart and focus on ensuring the health of their members while caring for their needs and families.

You can’t put a price on your health.

Get the cover worthy of the sacrifices you make in protecting the community. Call us on 1300 703 703, Emergency Services Health, today to learn more about our fund.

To find out more about our cover, click here.

The sweats. The recall. The insomnia. That accident. As an emergency services worker or volunteer, you're first on the scene of tragedies. You see the most horrific accidents, so severe, you can't block out the memory. 

This often appears in your sleep, in the form of flashbacks and nightmares. The constant, emotionally-charged reminders can lead to sleep disturbances, anxiety problems, and depression. 

‘Rewriting’ the trauma

Normal things trigger these intrusive responses – like watching a car accident on television or hearing a song that was playing on that day. While you don’t want to relive these moments in your mind, it’s also important not to block them out. After the flashback is over, try to understand it. Your triggers will be unique to you.

Human memory isn’t a computer memory, where things are straightforward and in a line. It’s interwoven with emotion, thoughts and experiences.

It’s natural for humans to avoid terror, fear and grief, but you need to in order to let go. From there, you can explore the trauma, and re-examine your feelings and beliefs about the memory. In time, the memory will no longer trigger you.

Here are 10 ways to let go:

1. Share with others and accept support. Other people can help to positively change how you perceive the memory.
2. Write down the flashback and nightmare. Keep a journal of your memories and link the trigger. 
3. Use art, music, poetry, theatre, or dance to express yourself.
4. Creative visualisation and positive self-talk to help you keep calm. Tell yourself you’re safe.
5. Soft exercise followed by a few minutes of meditation
6. Massage & body work to relieve physical tension
7. Explore your spirituality to give your problems over to a higher power and also learn how to forgive – both others and yourself.
8. Establish a bed time routine and avoid all distractions 30 minutes prior to going to your bedroom.
9. Take deep breaths from the diaphragm. Lie down and watch your tummy move up and down to practice these deep breaths. Breathing into a paper bag may also be useful if you're hyperventilating. It helps the breathing to return to a normal depth and pace. Try to stay focused on your breathing by counting the breaths or just thinking "breath in, breath out". 
10. Use herbal remedies such as lavender essential oil. Avoid relying on drugs or unhealthy, temporary ways to feel good.

Most importantly, don’t put pressure on yourself to deal with it ‘right now.’ Give yourself permission to feel down and remind yourself how unique life in emergency services is.

It pays to look beyond the big brands in insurance!

When it comes to health insurance, there’s so much choice. It’s easy to go with one of the big insurance brands, simply because you know them. But can these big-name brands really offer you the kind of cover and service that a Members Own not-for-profit, restricted access private health fund can?

Follow the money, are your premiums going towards benefiting shareholders or overseas owners?

Restricted health funds: The benefits

Because Members Own health funds focus on members, premiums are used to benefit members not shareholders.

Most restricted funds are open to family members, mainly the immediate family. Previous employment in an industry can mean you’re also eligible to join restricted funds. Belonging to a restricted fund is more than just the health insurance, you contributing back to that same community. 

The only insurance for the emergency services community

Emergency Services Health is the only not-for-profit private health insurer exclusively for the emergency services’ community in Australia. This includes past and present employees and volunteers in the emergency services community including firefighters, paramedics, nurses, doctors, general medical and health practitioners, hospital staff, state emergency services, air rescue, triple zero operators and surf lifesavers.

We go further than just supporting your health – but inject it back into the emergency services community. We rally for you and help support the community by investing back into events and activities that benefit you. Community is a big part of what we do and we believe it’s important that you feel connected to the people who live the life you do.

By being a member of Emergency Services Health, you know your money is going straight back into something that’ll help you and your colleagues. Forget shareholders or overseas owners. Our products are designed to work for you, without any third-party influences.

Use unused benefits

Most funds just allocate a yearly annual limit for each of their Extra benefits. But we understand that life isn’t as structured as this. Meaning, one year you might not use physiotherapy services, and then you have back issues the next. You may even see some health providers like optometrists telling you to “use your optical benefits at the end of year before losing them”. This is why we’ve designed our Rollover Benefits. Many unused annual maximum limits in Extras that are not claimed during one calendar year can be transferred to the following year (on most Extras).

Forget price. Invest in your health.

When choosing your private health insurance, price shouldn’t be the only consideration. Base your decision on total value for money, your policy benefits should be an important part of your decision. For the majority of our Extras services, we can pay up to a generous 80% of the cost (subject to annual limits and waiting periods, this is where our Rollover Benefit comes in handy, and if you are transferring from another health insurer we offer continuity of cover).

To us, insurance value is everything. Avoid cheap, confusing policies and invest a little extra into health insurance that you can actually use.

Remember when you’re reviewing your current private health insurance needs and the many policies out in the market, it’s more than a conversation about price. There’s the benefit amounts, how much you’re covered for, and how long you’ve got to use those benefits.

While the big funds may serve the general public, our restricted health insurance is designed for you, the emergency services community. We want to reward you for the amazing work that you do, we do this by providing comprehensive private health insurance that will have your back through all stages of your life.

You can’t put a price on your health.

Get the cover worthy of the sacrifices you make in protecting the community. Call us on 1300 703 703, Emergency Services Health, today to learn more about our fund.

For people, not profit. 

To find out more about our products, click here.

Paramedics face unique mental health challenges, like no other job. While the line of work can be extremely rewarding, the psychological strain is high.

Paramedics are among one of the professions with the highest suicide rates, second only to veterinarians. Trauma, isolation, long hours, and stress contribute to high mortality rates. Paramedics are often the first on the scene of major accidents, often involving gruesome deaths. People’s lives depend on their quick reaction and care. Add to this the physical stress of the job, and it’s not hard to see why paramedics need to be proactive about their own health, mental and physical.
 
What we know so far…

• Paramedics face higher levels of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and fatigue.
• Workers experience higher levels of organisational stress in comparison to other occupations, due to shift work, long hours, repeated exposure to death, difficult interactions, and high levels of responsibility.
• In Victoria alone, the average annual suicide rate for paramedics is 35.6 per 100,000 workers – more than three and a half times higher than police, firefighters, and other emergency workers.

Coping with the stress of a life and death workplace takes a proactive approach. Here are five tips to implement into your daily life:

1. Talk it out

Have a group of people, both in and out of work, who you can speak to. It’s helpful to have friends who ‘get it’, as well as people to talk about everything but work.

2. Live a balanced life

While it can be tough for shift workers, do whatever you can to create balance in your life. This includes work, time with friends and family, sport, relaxation, and holidays. Make time for all the things that bring you happiness.

3. Sweat it out

Exercise is a great way to clear your mind, get those happy hormones flowing, and to generally live a healthier life.

4. Keep a journal

Writing is a great therapy. Get those thoughts out on paper and let your mind process it. Have a journal and pen on you at all times. Make it a daily habit.

5. Ask for help

Don’t be afraid to seek professional help, if you’re feeling a little too out of control. You should be proud if you can recognise this and seek assistance. Never look at it as a flaw. 
 
All emergency service workers struggle after exposure to violence and death, often on a daily basis. But for paramedics who are first on the scene, extra attention to mental health strategies is critical.
 
You’ve got to look after yourself before you can help others.