How much does extras health insurance cost?
First up, let’s talk about how much extras cover can set you back. On average, Aussies could pay anywhere from around $15 to $150 per month for extras cover, depending on the level of coverage, provider they choose, type of cover and other factors such as the Australian Government Rebate (AGR). You can pick from basic packages, like our Healthy Living Extras, which includes a dental check-up and clean at a Members’ Choice provider*, unlimited emergency ambulance^ and more or go for comprehensive cover that offers a broader range of services, like our Top Extras. It’s all about finding the right balance for your health needs and budget.
What does extras cover pay towards?
Extras cover can help reduce out-of-pocket expenses that Medicare or hospital cover generally does not pay benefits towards, like dental, optical, physio, and more. While your hospital cover might help with the big stuff like surgeries and hospital stays, extras cover steps in for those routine and preventative services that help you stay in tip-top shape.
Do I need extras cover?
Chances are that you might access health services or treatments that aren’t covered by hospital cover or Medicare. Extras services could help keep you healthy and and potentially save you money in the long run, depending on your health needs and how you maximise your cover.
How do I choose the best extras cover for me?
So how do you choose the extras cover that’s right for you? Start thinking about the services included in Extras that you would use most. Are you wanting two dental check-up and cleans each year? Do you wear prescription glasses? Do you play sports and might want physiotherapy sessions?
It's important to also check the percentage you can claim back and the annual limits when comparing products. Remember there are waiting periods too.
If you’d like to chat through which one our fab extras covers might be right for you, or if you have an extras quote from another provider, get in touch.
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Things you need to know
1 APRA; Private health insurance membership and benefits; retrieved August 2024.
* Two month waiting period applies. Members' Choice and Members' Choice Advantage providers not available in all areas. Members can claim 100% back on one dental check-up per member per year, at either a Members' Choice provider (excluding x-rays) or at a Members' Choice Advantage provider (including up to two bitewing x-rays where clinically required).
^ Waiting period applies. For ambulance attendance or transportation to a hospital where immediate professional attention is required, and your medical condition is such that you couldn't be transported any other way. Tasmania and Queensland have State schemes to cover ambulance services for residents of those States.
= Calculation based on agreed provider fees. Eligible members on Medibank extras (excluding Healthy Living Extras and Gold Ultra Health) can claim a maximum of two 100% back dental check-ups per member, per year at a Members’ Choice Advantage provider (including bitewing x-rays where clinically required). For members on eligible extras, the first two check-ups do not count towards your annual limit. Members with Healthy Living Extras can get 100% back on one dental check-up each year at a Members’ Choice Advantage provider (including up to two bitewing x-rays, where clinically required) or at a Members’ Choice dentist (excluding x-rays). Members with Gold Ultra Health can get 100% back on up to three dental check-ups at a Members’ Choice or Members’ Choice Advantage provider. Members’ Choice and Members’ Choice Advantage providers are not available in all areas. Two month waiting period applies. Some products may have other dental benefits, check your cover summary for details.
~ Must be 16 years or over to register for Medibank Live Better rewards in the My Medibank app. Some program partners and earning activities require a person to be at least 18 years of age to be eligible to earn and/or redeem a reward. Must be a Medibank member with hospital cover, extras cover, or hospital and extras cover, and be up-to-date with premium payments. Excludes Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), Ambulance only cover, ahm covers and other selected covers. Live Better Management Pty Ltd, ACN 003 457 289 has entered into commercial arrangements with Medibank Live Better program partners and may receive commissions. Please choose carefully as rewards will not be amended, cancelled, exchanged or refunded due to change of mind. Points earning activities and rewards are subject to change without prior notice and may be subject to availability. Additional terms and conditions may apply to points earning activities and rewards. See full Medibank Live Better rewards terms.
Maximum 1,000 points per member per calendar year for Healthy Living Extras. Maximum 2,000 points per member per calendar year for all other extras. Award of Live Better rewards points is subject to the approval of a claim for the health service. Waiting periods may apply. Not available in all areas. Points will be credited to a members' account only when the member registers as a Live Better rewards member within 6 months from the date of the receiving the health service, subject to the Medibank Live Better rewards terms. Must be a Medibank member with extras cover (excludes ambulance only cover), hospital cover or hospital and extras cover, be up-to-date with premium payments and have signed up to Medibank Live Better with the My Medibank app to redeem rewards. See full Medibank Live Better rewards terms.
+ Reward will be applied automatically to your policy to reduce your out-of-pocket costs from a claim for dental services at a Members’ Choice Advantage provider.
The reward does not affect your annual limits. This reward will be applied at a policy level towards the out-of-pocket costs from a claim for dental services at a Members’ Choice Advantage provider. It will be applied towards the first claim received by Medibank for a service provided after redemption. Can only be used on dental services covered in your extras cover (please refer to your individual extras limit which can be found in My Medibank). During waiting periods, the reward can be redeemed but no benefits are payable during this time. There is no limit on the number of times you can redeem this reward, provided you have enough points. Can be used in multiple transactions until the reward amount is reached. Must be used within 12 months of redemption or it will expire.
After redemption, allow at least 24 hours for the reward to be available for use and displayed in your My Medibank app (click Me > Medibank rewards). Please choose carefully as rewards will not be amended, cancelled, exchanged or refunded due to change of mind.
Must be 16 years or over and a Medibank member with extras cover, or hospital and extras cover, be up to date with premium payments and have signed up to Medibank Live Better rewards with My Medibank to redeem this reward. Excludes Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), Ambulance only cover, ahm covers and other selected covers. Some program partners and earning activities require a person to be at least 18 years of age to be eligible to earn and/or redeem a reward. See full Medibank Live Better rewards terms.
Note: under some extras policies, you cannot use a Dental Out-of-Pocket Reward towards a claim for any preventive dental care package item (PDCP Item). PDCP Items are preventive dental treatments, dental examinations and dental scale and clean. Therefore, before redeeming your points for this reward, you should check your My Medibank account, or contact Medibank using the contact details provided at https://www.medibank.com.au/contact-us/, to confirm whether, under your extras policy, you can only use this reward towards a claim for non - PDCP Items.
± Excludes Healthy Living Extras and select products that are no longer available for sale (for more information check your cover summary or check this page). Applies to prescription glasses and select contact lenses. Some glasses lens coatings and contact lenses are excluded. To find which specific items are included or excluded, call us on 132 331. 6 month waiting period applies.
++ Points cannot be earned on the cost of any services (including eye tests), on purchases paid for with a Specsavers gift card or on non-prescription goods such as non-prescription sunglasses, safety glasses, protective glasses or precision tinted lenses. All optical items offered are subject to availability and are subject to Specsavers Terms of Service and Returns & Warranty policies. For in-store purchases, you must use your Medibank membership card through HICAPS at the time of purchase to earn Live Better rewards points. This applies even if you have hospital only cover or have already reached your annual optical extras limit. If you have extras cover and any annual optical extras limit remaining, you will also be submitting a claim for benefits. For online purchases at https://www.specsavers.com.au/, you must submit an extras claim for prescription optical goods to earn Live Better rewards points. Members with hospital only cover, or Healthy Living Extras cover cannot earn points for online purchases. Points earned will be displayed in your Live Better rewards account within 5 business days, or once you have signed up to Medibank Live Better rewards with the My Medibank app within 6 months, from the date of your in-store purchase or making an extras claim for online purchases. A maximum of 10,000 Live Better rewards points can be earned per transaction. This offer may be withdrawn or changed at any time. Live Better rewards points earned from claims for children under 18 years of age will go to the policy holder’s account. A maximum of 10,000 Live Better rewards points can be earned per transaction. This offer may be withdrawn or changed at any time.
< Reward will be applied automatically to your policy to reduce your out-of-pocket costs from a prescription optical goods claim at Specsavers. It will be applied towards the first claim received by Medibank for a service provided after redemption.
The reward does not affect your annual limits but will be applied before any applicable Package Bonus/Membership Bonus. Cannot be used on non-prescription sunglasses, safety glasses, protective glasses or precision tinted lenses. The reward also cannot be used for any eye tests or other services.
During a waiting period, the reward can be used but no benefits are payable. Can be used in multiple transactions until the reward amount is reached. Must be used within 12 months of redemption or it will expire.
There is no limit on the number of times you can redeem this reward, provided that you have enough points. After redemption, allow at least 24 hours for the reward to be available for use and displayed in your My Medibank app (click Me > Medibank rewards). Please choose carefully as rewards will not be amended, cancelled, exchanged or refunded due to change of mind.
Must be 16 years or over and a Medibank member with extras cover, or hospital and extras cover, be up to date with premium payments and have signed up to Medibank Live Better rewards with My Medibank to redeem this reward. Excludes Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), Ambulance only cover, ahm covers and other selected covers. Some program partners and earning activities require a person to be at least 18 years of age to be eligible to earn and/or redeem a reward. See full Medibank Live Better rewards terms.
§ For members with mental health support included in their Extras cover. Annual limits apply. Counsellors must be registered with Australian Counselling Association, Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia, Australian Traditional Medicine Society.
@ Waiting periods and annual limits apply.
While we hope you find this information helpful, please note that it is general in nature. It is not health advice and is not tailored to meet your individual health needs. You should always consult a trusted health professional before making decisions about your health care. While we have prepared the information carefully, we can’t guarantee that it is accurate, complete or up-to-date. And while we may mention goods or services provided by others, we aren’t specifically endorsing them and can’t accept responsibility for them. For these reasons we are unable to accept responsibility for any loss that may be sustained from acting on this information (subject to applicable consumer guarantees).