Laine Gordon

Private health cover; the incentives explained

You may have noticed the advertisements on television; health funds urging Australians to sign up to cash in on government incentives or to avoid paying surcharges or lifetime loading. But what’s it all about?

The health system: public versus private

Have you ever wondered what happens when you get sick or need medical treatment? In Australia, we have a health system that has two parts; the public side run by the government through Medicare, and the private health sector.

How much cover is enough?

Under-insurance is a big problem in Australia and it has infiltrated every area of the insurance market. It’s often the home and contents insurance horror stories we hear about in the media. For instance, many of those whose homes were destroyed in floods or by Cyclone Yasi can’t afford to rebuild because they did not have sufficient cover, others had no cover at all.

Health cover and your kids

Consumers are typically advised to approach impossibly cheap deals, bargain-basement discounts and freebies with caution, because what seems too good to be true usually is. But when it comes to health insurance and your children, there is such a thing as a freeride.

Three ways to find better health cover

Finding the best health insurance policy to suit your lifestyle can be confusing, what with excess, extras, rebates, levies and fees to factor into your research. Here are some tips to guide you in the right direction and make finding the right hospital and extras cover as straight forward as possible.

Lay-by your next holiday

You can buy a pair of jeans, a designer watch, and even a flat-screen TV on lay-by. In fact, there are not many large purchases you can't put on a payment plan these days.

Can renting make you wealthy?

Australia is a nation of home buyers; around 70 percent of households own their own home, the Bureau of Statistics says. But on the road to financial freedom, is the ball-and-chain mortgage really the best strategy or can renting make you rich?

What should you do with the rate cut?

It's the rate relief news many Australians have been waiting for, as the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cut interest rates by 50 basis points on Tuesday. But it will count for little if the banks fail to pass the cut on, and now millions of Australians are waiting to see what they will do.

Save $100K by switching home loans

If given a chance to get a better rate, eight out of 10 Australians say they would consider switching banks for their home loans, so why don't more of us do it?

Five cars that held their value best in 2012

Most cars are depreciating assets, losing 14 percent per year on average in the first three years, then up to 8 percent after that, says consumer watchdog Choice.