<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Millions of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national" rel="" target="_blank" title="Aussies"><span>Aussies</span></a><span> have no idea they could lose thousands of dollars in benefits by December 31, a study claims.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The extras benefit limits of many health funds reset on New Year's Day, meaning any unclaimed health insurance extras such as dental, optical or physio will be wiped out.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This means 15 million Aussies with health insurance only have a month to use up these extras, and a survey by </span><a href="http://money.com.au"><span>Money.com.au</span></a><span> revealed up to 40 per cent of Aussies didn't even realise they have unclaimed extras that could disappear by the end of this month.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/little-bay-beach-search-arakoon-beach-missing-swimmer-sparks-search/60bfa479-32dc-4c31-a62a-b6464bf00798" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Search for missing teen who disappeared at popular beach</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Australians are effectively walking away from thousands of dollars in value every year," Chris Whitelaw from Money.com.au warned.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Many people don't realise those benefits vanish overnight on December 31. It's a classic 'use it or lose it' scenario."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Around 31 per cent of Aussies say they still have some benefits left unused on their plan, and 15 per cent admitted they have used none or very little of their extras.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/finance/australia-money-health-insurance-extras-disappear/cc141f2b-167e-41e9-bdef-bf99789672ee" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The survey found older Australians were more likely to be uncertain about whether they have unclaimed extras, with Whitelaw explaining attitudes may impact this trend," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This means they're less aware of their annual limits."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, younger Aussies are more likely not to use any of their extras benefits at all, costing them the most.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Around 19 per cent of Millennials say they have used none or a very small amount of their extras this year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><em><strong><span>Apple App Store</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>.</span></strong></em></div></div>