How health cover could help when you start work

So you’ve joined the workforce! Congratulations! It’s likely there are a million things on your mind, from what you’ll spend your first pay check on, to navigating lunchroom etiquette.

One thing you probably haven’t considered is how your job may affect your health. Whether you’re going to be sitting at a desk all day, or doing regular heavy lifting, if these things are new to your daily routine it can be a big change for your body. Not to mention your diet and exercise habits.

Here’s how your health cover might be able to help you with the adjustment.

Put your back into it

Sitting at a desk all day, or constantly on your feet? Both can put   increased strain on your back. If you experience back pain and need to see a physiotherapist, chiropractor or osteopath, extras cover may be able to help with some of the costs.

Vision and focus

Do you wear glasses? Or maybe you’ve found yourself squinting, or getting headaches at the end of the day? Optometrists generally recommend you get an eye test every two years. So if you haven’t had one in a while, it may be worth going in for a check. If you need glasses, your extras cover may be able to help towards the cost. But remember, waiting periods and annual limits apply.

Healthy, easy lunch ideas

To perform your best (at work and after hours) you need to fuel your body with the right food. It can be easy to be tempted by pies, toasties and chocolate bars, but they can result in a post-food slump and lead to unwanted weight gain. Preparing healthy, filling lunches ahead of time can help you stay healthy and energised. And Medibank’s Live Better can help with the inspiration – check out our healthy lunch ideas or browse hundreds of delicious recipes.

Keep moving

Your new job may be taking up a lot of your time, but fitting some exercise into your day is key to staying healthy and keeping your energy levels up. It’s especially important if you are working in a sedentary job, like an office worker. If you’re a Medibank member, you can redeem a bunch of great offers to help you keep moving, like 15% off Goodlife Health Clubs’ Active Plus membership and 25% off selected TomTom sports products – to track your activity.

Avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge

Your cover might also be able to help with the health of your tax return. If your annual income* is over $97,000 as a single (or $194,000 as a couple/family) and you don’t have an appropriate level of hospital cover, you may need to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge. It starts at 1% and increases (to 1.5%) with income growth.

However, if you take out an appropriate level of hospital cover and hold it for a full tax year, you can avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge.

Use our Medicare Levy Surcharge Calculator to find out more