Health Insurance Hub
Find out the ins-and-outs of Private Health Insurance
Health Insurance Basics
If you're new to health insurance, here's a great place to start.
What is Private Health Insurance?
In Australia, Private Health Insurance is an umbrella term for insurance that helps with your healthcare costs when you choose to be treated as a private patient.
It's made up of two main components (hospital and extras), which can be purchased stand-alone or together as a combined policy. Providers will also include ambulance services, depending on where you live.
Hospital Cover
Helps cover the cost of treatment when you're admitted into hospital as a private patient.
Extras Cover
Subsidises the cost for many health related services provided outside of hospital.
Ambulance Cover
Provides you with access to emergency ambulance services. Cover and services vary from state-to-state.
Do I need Private Health Insurance?
There are many reasons that Australians purchase Health Insurance - from health-related to financial, or simply just for peace of mind. Here's some things to consider when deciding if you need cover:
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Do you have any upcoming procedures or known health costs in the next two years?
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Is there any medical history or family history that requires planning for?
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Does your life stage have any specific health care needs? For example, planning for children, orthodontics for teenagers or joint replacements for aging bodies.
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If an injury or illness prevented you from work, could you financially sustain public waiting lists for hospital care?
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Could you afford to pay Lifetime Health Cover loadings if you choose to take out cover later?
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Do you earn above the Medicare Levy Surcharge thresholds?
Whatever your circumstances, consulting with an expert can help you understand whether health insurance is right for you.
