Get $ 600 of dental care, physio + more for 13 dollars

Finder’s insurance expert Gary Hunter loves to lead by example. Find out how our editor saved hundreds of health care dollars in less than a week.

I just got over $ 600 in extra benefits in 5 days with my AhM Lifestyle Extras policy – and it only cost me $ 13.

It’s not a hack or loophole that the health insurer doesn’t want you to know about, and it didn’t take a lot of time or effort.

Here is how I did it in 2 easy steps:

Step 1 – I have purchased an extras policy with no waiting period

Ahm Lifestyle Extras doesn’t have a 2- or 6-month waiting period with a bunch of its added benefits. This includes routine extra-hospital services such as:

• Routine dental
• Optics (frames, corrective lenses and contact lenses included)
• Physio, chiro, osteo
• Restorative massage
• Psychology
• Pharmacy

Step 2 – I started to claim (over and over again)

Here are the 5 ways I saved money in so many days:

• $ 174 for dental benefits. I purchased a Monday policy and booked a gap-free dental exam with one of Ahm’s participating providers, Pacific Smiles. The meeting was for Wednesday. The check-up cost me nothing.
• $ 200 to optical. On Tuesday I went to Specsavers after work and bought a new pair of prescription glasses for $ 200. This was fully covered by my extras policy.
• $ 31 towards a restorative massage. Wednesday, I went for a massage. It cost me $ 75 in total but $ 31 was covered by ahm.
• $ 126 towards physio, chiro and osteo. It took a bit of planning, but I managed to have physiotherapy, chiropractic and osteo in a week. The consultations cost around $ 130 each and Ahm paid $ 126 in total.
• $ 71 for a psychology consultation. Like many insurers, Ahm covers psychology, counseling and hypnotherapy. This is something that I have always believed to be beneficial, but have never been completely comfortable doing it through the public system, as you usually need a referral from your GP. The consultation cost me $ 250, but $ 71 was covered by extras.

In total, I have $ 602 worth of benefits in just under a week.

I could have saved even more because the policy also covers non-PBS drugstore items, health improvement classes like quit smoking classes and weight loss classes; but I didn’t need any. In 12 months, I will also be covered for complex and major dental care.