Southern Cross trims benefits

The insurer will no longer provide a $30 per night public hospital cash allowance, sterilisation treatment, sleep apnoea treatment uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and $600 funeral allowances on almost all policies, as well as either cutting obstetrics allowances altogether, or reducing them.

Some policies have also removed chiropractor and osteopath treatments, while there are instances of excesses for specific treatments increasing.

The changes take effect in December.

MoneyHub analysis showed the RegularCare Budget policy will see its excess increase from $100 per claim to a minimum of $500 per claims year.