What is Lifetime Health Cover?

Well, no. There are a few groups of people who are exempt from the LHC loading. Some veterans and members of the Australian Defence Force may avoid having LHC applied. People born on or before 1 July 1934 won’t have LHC applied.

To learn more about LHC exemptions, visit www.privatehealth.gov.au.

If you think you might qualify for an LHC exemption, you can apply using the LHC Exemption form.

Getting hospital cover doesn’t just mean you could avoid paying LHC loading after turning 31. Hospital cover could give you peace of mind in your day-to-day and help if the unexpected happens.

Find out more about hospital cover with Medibank.

Once you have LHC loading, it can only be removed once you’ve paid the loading for 10 continuous years. After this time, the loading may be reapplied if you drop your hospital cover and then take up cover again.

When you move funds, your LHC loading goes with you. If you’re switching to Medibank from another fund, it’s a good idea to maintain your hospital cover up until the date that you transfer, to avoid using up any of your permitted days without cover unnecessarily.

If you have hospital cover on or after your base day, you are entitled to 1,094 days without hospital cover that won’t affect your LHC loading status.

If you exceed your 1,094 permitted days without cover, you’ll probably have to pay LHC loading once you take out hospital cover again. If you were already paying LHC loading, the loading will be higher.

If you’re away from Australia for more than one continuous year (including visits back to Australia less than 90 days at a time, as you’re still considered to be living overseas) these days may not count towards your 1,094 permitted days without hospital cover.

If your health fund agrees to suspend your membership, this period isn’t counted towards your 1,094 permitted days without hospital cover. If you have a loading, it’s not going to increase while your cover is suspended.

If you’re ready to talk about hospital cover, call our team on 132 331, or visit us in store.