Health Insurance

Connect with specialist insurance brokers for health insurance

Health insurance in Australia helps cover the cost of medical care and treatments. It's typically divided into Hospital cover (for in-hospital treatments and surgeries) and Extras cover (for out-of-hospital services like dental, optical, physio). While Medicare provides free public healthcare, private health insurance gives you faster access to elective treatments, choice of doctors, and coverage for services Medicare doesn't cover. It can also help you avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge and Lifetime Health Cover loading if you maintain hospital cover.

Key Benefits

Private Hospital Access

Allows you to be treated in private hospitals with your choice of doctor and potentially shorter waiting times for elective surgery compared to the public system.

Extras Coverage

Covers additional healthcare costs that Medicare doesn't – like dental, optical (glasses), physiotherapy, and more – helping you manage routine health expenses.

Tax and Lifetime Cover Benefits

Having private hospital cover can save you money at tax time by avoiding the Medicare Levy Surcharge if you're a higher income earner. It also prevents Lifetime Health Cover loading by maintaining cover before turning 31.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it's not mandatory. Australia's Medicare system provides public healthcare for everyone. However, private health insurance is encouraged for those who want extra cover and to avoid certain tax surcharges. High-income earners without hospital cover may pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge.

Hospital cover helps pay for treatments if you're admitted to a hospital – including accommodation, surgery, and in-hospital doctor's fees. Extras cover (also known as general treatment cover) helps with costs of services like dental, optometry, physiotherapy, and other day-to-day health services not covered by Medicare.

Yes, when you first take out health insurance (or upgrade your cover), you'll need to serve waiting periods before you can claim certain benefits. For example, there might be a 12-month wait for pre-existing conditions or obstetrics, and 2 months for most other services. You cannot claim for treatments during the waiting period.

Yes. Besides avoiding the Medicare Levy Surcharge, the government offers a private health insurance rebate (a percentage of your premium back) for many Australians, depending on income and age. Also, taking hospital cover by age 31 avoids additional loading (Lifetime Health Cover) on premiums later in life.