How private health insurance can help you age better

Published July 2025 | 5 min read
Words by Angela Tufvesson

We’re living longer than ever, but we’re not always living well. Life longevity and quality of life are interconnected. Here's how investing in your wellbeing with private health insurance can transform how you age.

Australians are living longer than ever. In the last 100 years, our life expectancy of Australians has increased by 20 years. A girl born today can expect to live on average to 85.1 years and a boy to 81.1 years. That’s about two years longer than the average life expectancy across the 38 countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

But healthy ageing isn’t just about clocking up years. Now more than ever, extending our ‘healthspan’ – the number of years we live in good health – is an important part of longevity.

The latest figures from the Australian Burden of Disease Study 2024 reveal males and females born in 2024 can expect to live 71.7 years and 73.8 years respectively in full health. This means that, while we’re living long lives, our later years aren’t necessarily lived healthily.

The five disease groups causing the greatest loss of healthy life are:

• cancer
• mental health conditions and substance-use disorders
• musculoskeletal conditions
• cardiovascular diseases
• neurological conditions.

The good news is that adopting a healthy lifestyle, especially for people with ‘genetic risk’, and proactively managing wellbeing can increase our healthspan. It’s never too late to start, but focusing on building healthy habits from a young age builds solid foundations, which can help you stay healthier and avoid chronic disease.

Supporting a long life and healthy ageing

In what began as a National Geographic expedition, a team led by American researcher Dan Buettner identified a series of places around the world with lower rates of chronic disease and longer life expectancy – upwards of 100 years old. Dubbed the ‘blue zones’, they include:

• Ikaria, Greece
• Loma Linda, California
• Okinawa, Japan
• Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
• Sardinia, Italy.

Despite their differences, these communities share certain behaviours and habits that support long, healthy lives – regular physical activity, plant-based diets, moderate alcohol consumption, stress management and strong social connections.

Likewise, researchers from Harvard University have identified five lifestyle factors that contribute to a longer, healthier life. Their studies found enjoying a healthy diet, doing regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking and moderate alcohol consumption could add 14 years to the average lifespan and increase the number of years you’re free of chronic disease.

A growing body of research also highlights that having a sense of purpose, building social connections, brain stimulation, quality sleep and intermittent fasting may all play a role in increasing our healthspan.

Use HCF private health cover to stay well

At HCF, we’re increasingly focused on preventive services that help our members live healthier for longer. Our health programs provide the support you need to stay well and manage risk factors for health conditions.

Regular health checks

Around 30% of people with type 2 diabetes also have cardiovascular disease. HCF offers eligible members 18 years and older a free HCF Heart and Diabetes Health Check, delivered by the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, at selected locations and dates^*. During the 10-minute check, you’ll get a blood pressure, total cholesterol and average blood sugar reading, plus healthy heart advice with follow-up recommendations.

Regular check-ups can also support early detection of other health issues. In 2022 to 2023, about 87,400 hospitalisations for dental conditions could potentially have been prevented with earlier treatment. Regular eye tests can pick up problems like cataracts and glaucoma. Conditions like diabetes and circulatory problems can be picked up by looking at the feet.

With HCF extras cover, you could visit our Dental or Eyecare Centres or see an extras provider in our No-Gap network to get 100% back^{^} on a dental check-up or first visit to a physio, chiro or osteo, depending on your level of cover.

Support with your diet, weight and exercise

We offer a range of programs to help you look after your diet and maintain an exercise routine.

• Eligible HCF members⁺ can access a no-gap experience through the GLA:D^® Member Feedback Program for knee osteoarthritis. In addition to taking part in the GLA:D^® Program for Osteoarthritis, the GLA:D^® Member Feedback Program involves sharing feedback about your experience through a pre- and post-program survey from HCF.
• The COACH Program^® is a four- to six-month phone-coaching support program provided at no extra cost for eligible members^# with heart conditions or diabetes that can help manage and improve your health.
• Now, eligible HCF members^** can access the Cardihab trial, a digital, home-based cardiac prevention program that helps you manage your health when you’re at risk of heart disease or heart conditions.
• If you need some support with your nutrition, eligible members can enjoy free or discounted access to the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet^{^^} for nutritional support. Plus, you may be able to claim for the cost of exercise classes and gym memberships if your doctor or allied health professional has recommended an exercise or gym program to treat a specific medical condition like arthritis, hypertension, obesity, asthma, diabetes or osteoporosis.

Access to mental health services

More than two in five Australians aged 18 to 65 have experienced a mental disorder at some time in their life.

We’re providing eligible members faster access to psychologists through a free HealthyMinds Check-in⁺⁺. These confidential telehealth sessions offer tailored support, with referrals to HCF health programs, government-supported pathways or your GP for a mental health treatment plan.

This Way Up also connects HCF members to more than 18 evidence-based online treatment programs designed to help you understand and improve mental challenges like stress, insomnia, anxiety, depression and chronic pain. Members with eligible extras cover can claim benefits to cover the cost of eligible programs (up to your annual limits)^##.

Changing your relationship with alcohol

If you’d like to improve your relationship with alcohol, Daybreak^*** is a free digital service available to Aussies through an app or the web. It gives you anonymous access to a supportive environment and community to help you set alcohol-related behaviour-change goals.

Stay on top of your health

Wherever you are on your health journey, access our health and wellbeing app, HCF Healthful, to help you take the next step. The HCF Healthful app gives you access to a personalised Health Score, evidence-based health programs, real-time health and wellbeing tracking, goal setting and a 24/7 digital coach^{^^^}.