Aussies rush to finish the year on a healthy note

With the end of 2024 fast approaching, Aussies are rushing to book in medical appointments before the silly season and make the most out of their Extras with optical, dental, myotherapy and physiotherapy appointments surging in last-minute bookings.

According to the Bupa Pulse Check, a national survey of 2,000 Aussies, more than a third of people are struggling to maintain their health routines due to time or work commitments with 45 per cent of parents mentioning cost as a barrier.

Bupa Health Services Clinical Director Dr Tony MacDermott said busy Australians were looking to get more value out of their healthcare appointments even if they were leaving it until the last minute.

“In recent times we have worked hard to address cost of living concerns, with eligible Bupa Health Insurance customers getting 100% back on simple dental fillings when visiting Bupa Members First Ultimate practices. This has saved members around $14 million in out-of-pocket savings this year alone.”

“We’ve also boosted our offerings within our optical stores which are now equipped with Artificial Intelligence enabled eye tests that can now detect signs of heart disease, diabetes and a range of other select conditions… thus providing a more holistic healthcare experience from a standard eye test,” Dr MacDermott said.

Dental and Optical are the most common claims in December with people booking eye tests, purchasing new glasses and sunglasses or getting their yearly dental check-ups ticked off. Data from Bupa Optical suggest sales spike 54 per cent compared to other months.

“Along with booking in summer holidays and end-of-year parties, December is a timely reminder to book in those appointments you might have missed or delayed during the year,”

”It’s also a good time to review your health insurance policy to ensure it’s still relevant to your current health and wellbeing needs,” Dr MacDermott said.