Better Prepared:
Understand health insurance with confidence

It’s for anyone who wants to feel more confident understanding health insurance. That could include individuals choosing cover for themselves or their family, employers making decisions for their workforce, or brokers and advisers supporting their clients.

No. Better Prepared is designed to explain common health insurance concepts in simple terms. It does not replace personalised advice or plan-specific information. You should always review the details of any plan carefully before making a decision.

Health insurance can sometimes feel complicated. We have created Better Prepared to make the basics easier to understand, helping people feel more informed, more confident and better prepared to make decisions about their health.

Cigna Healthcare is a global health service company that supports individuals, families and organisations with health insurance and well-being solutions. We focus on helping people access care, understand their options and feel supported throughout their journey.

Understanding how health insurance works can help you feel more confident when choosing cover, using your plan and accessing care. It can also help you ask the right questions and make more informed decisions for yourself, your family or your organisation.

Better Prepared can support employers, brokers and advisers by helping simplify complex topics for their people or clients, making conversations about health insurance clearer and more accessible from the start.

A deductible is the amount you agree to pay towards the cost of your care before your health insurance begins to contribute. For example, if your plan has a $300 deductible, you would pay the first $300 of any eligible medical costs each year, after which your insurer would cover the remaining costs according to your policy. Deductibles are one of the most commonly misunderstood elements of health cover, and choosing the right level can have a significant impact on your overall costs. Watch our Better Prepared episode on deductibles for a clear, step-by-step explanation.

A provider network is the group of hospitals, clinics, GPs, specialists and other healthcare professionals that have an agreement with your insurer to provide care at pre-agreed rates. When you access care within your network, the process is often more straightforward — your insurer may pay the provider directly, reducing paperwork and out-of-pocket costs for you. Going outside your network may still be possible depending on your plan, but it can involve higher costs or additional steps. Understanding your network before you need care is one of the most practical things you can do as a policyholder.

No – health insurance systems vary considerably around the world. Some countries operate primarily through government-funded public healthcare, while others rely more heavily on private insurance. Even within private health insurance markets, rules around what is covered, how claims are processed, and what terminology is used can differ significantly between countries and insurers. This is particularly relevant if you are moving abroad, managing a multinational workforce, or advising clients across different markets. Our Better Prepared series focuses on the concepts that apply broadly across international private health insurance, giving you a solid foundation whatever your situation.

If you are relocating or working internationally, a standard domestic health insurance policy will often not provide adequate cover outside your home country. International health insurance is designed specifically for people living or working abroad, offering access to medical care across multiple countries and often including benefits such as emergency evacuation, direct billing with international hospital networks, and support for chronic condition management. The right level of cover will depend on your destination, how long you will be away, whether your family will join you, and the healthcare standards available locally. Better Prepared can help you understand the key concepts before you explore your options.