inLog · 2026-10-27
What to check when your health insurance renews
When the renewal notice arrives, most of us only look at how much the premium went up. The real difference often hides in small changes to the cover table. Private health insurance is renewed every year, and at renewal the insurer can update some conditions along with the premium. This article walks you through what to check before you renew.
First, look at what changed
Put the renewal offer next to last year's policy. Apart from the premium, is there a difference in the annual limit, outpatient contribution, maternity and check-up cover, or medication and test limits? Even if the premium stays the same, one cover line dropping can be a real increase for you.
1. Have limits or cover dropped?
Inpatient and outpatient limits, surgery and intensive-care cover and the overall annual limit are reset every year. If a limit has fallen or a line has become "limited", the renewal paperwork may mention it only in a small footnote. Check against your own history whether the services you used last year are still covered under the new limit.
2. Has the hospital and doctor network changed?
Are the hospitals and doctors you visit still in the network? Insurers sometimes update their contracted hospital list. If your child's doctor, the centre you use for chronic follow-up or the hospital near your home has dropped off, that can matter more than the premium increase.
3. Have deductibles or co-payments gone up?
A deductible (you pay the first part of a claim) and a co-payment (you pay a share on each treatment) are tools used to lower the premium. If the premium did not rise but the co-payment did, what you pay out of pocket during the year can grow. Multiply the new rates by your own usage.
Why does the premium rise?
General growth in healthcare costs, your changing age group and the claims history of the policy are the main factors. Even if you never claim, the general cost increase can show up in premiums. So the answer to "why did it go up" is often not specific to one insurer; the real question is how different prices are in the market for the same cover.
Does switching insurer make sense?
Getting quotes from other insurers is the healthiest check you can do before renewal. But switching has points to watch: the new insurer may exclude your existing conditions, waiting periods may restart and a new health declaration may be required. So the decision should rest on cover and continuity terms, not just on price.
Pre-renewal checklist
- Put last year's and this year's cover tables side by side.
- Confirm that the hospitals and doctors you use are in the network.
- Check deductible and co-payment rates.
- Get quotes from at least two other insurers.
- If you plan to switch, ask about waiting periods and existing-condition terms.
When should you start?
Starting at least 30 days before the policy end date gives you enough time to compare quotes and decide if needed. Left to the last day, there is usually no option but to accept the current offer.
Send us your current policy and we will put the cover and the alternatives on the market side by side in a simple table before you renew. The decision is yours, the groundwork is ours.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to accept the health insurance renewal offer?
No. A renewal is an offer; you have every right to compare the cover and get quotes from other insurers before accepting. We suggest starting at least 30 days before the policy end date.
If I switch insurer at renewal, do waiting periods restart?
Often the new insurer applies its own terms; waiting periods may restart and existing conditions may be excluded. Get these terms in writing before you switch.
I never claimed, so why did my premium go up?
The premium is not set only by your personal claims. General growth in healthcare costs and your changing age group also affect it.
Can my cover be reduced at renewal?
The insurer may update limits and conditions at renewal. That is why you should put the new offer next to last year's cover table and check it.
What happens if there is even a one-day gap when my policy ends?
If a gap occurs, there is no cover on those days and waiting periods may apply again on the new policy. So complete the renewal before the end date.