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Compare Extras Cover in Australia
AHM
AIA Health Insurance
Australian Unity Health
HCF
HIF
NIBWhether you’re considering buying Extras cover for the first time or recently experienced a significant life change, for example becoming a parent, you’re probably wondering whether extras insurance is worth the money, which plan to choose and how to claim. The key to making an informed decision about an Extras health insurance plan is to examine what different health funds have to offer, how much it costs, what their waiting periods are, and what’s not covered.
Knowing that you’re fully covered in case of an unexpected illness or injury can give you peace of mind. An Extras cover policy ensures that you are protected when it comes to out-of-hospital medical services such as dental or optical. Review and compare the various Extras plans today and find one that’s perfect for you.
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What is Extras cover?
Extras cover, also known as ancillary treatments or general disease management services, provides a benefit towards the cost of out-of-hospital care that is intended to manage or prevent diseases. The ancillary cover is a great way to cut down your out-of-pocket expenses. The private health insurers in Australia offer these policies as stand-alone plans or with hospitalization coverage, so make sure you are aware of what kind of plan works best for you.
Extras cover can help pay for medical care that’s not covered by Medicare. Such treatments are usually done out-of-hospital and include dental, physio, psychology, optical, and chiropractic services. It’s important to note that you must serve a waiting period before claiming back any savings which may be restricted depending on how much insurance companies put into their annual limits.
Services covered by Extras
- Ambulance cover: Emergency and non-emergency.
- General dental: Basic dental coverage, including teeth cleanings and small fillings.
- Major dental: Moe extensive treatment is required, for example, crowns and dentures.
- Orthodontic: Correction of mispositioned teeth, using braces and retainers.
- Endodontic: Microsurgical procedures, like root canal therapy.
- Optical: Prescribes glasses and contact lenses.
- Physiotherapy: Remediating impairments and improve mobility with manual therapy and exercise.
- Chiropractic: Help with the proper alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure, mostly the spine.
- Non-PBS Pharmaceuticals: Medicines prescribed by your GP that’s not listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme, so Medicare generally does not pay for such prescriptions.
- Hearing aids: Small, battery powered devices that amplify sound signals beneficial for people with hearing loss.
- Blood Glucose monitors: Measures your blood sugar levels, typically beneficial to people needing assistance managing their diabetes.
- Psychology: Helping people improve their lives by supporting them to overcome challenges.
- Podiatry: Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle and lower extremities.
- Acupuncture: The use of thin needles as an alternative form of medicine to treat injuries and illnesses.
- Remedial Massage: Assessment and treatment of your muscles, tendons and ligaments with the use of therapeutic based massage.
- Naturopathy: Natural, non-invasive medicines and practices. As of April 2019, private health insurers will no longer cover certain natural services, for example, homoeopathy.
The above list serves merely as a guide of the popular choices that might be included in a general treatment health cover policy.
Are there different levels of health insurance extras cover?
Yes, generally speaking, there are three foundational levels of Extras cover. The top-level policy available and one of the most expensive – it’s tailored to suit those mature singles or couples with health care issues extending beyond hospital visits. This top-tiered Extras policy covers extensive non-hospital treatments like chiropractic care & massage therapy while paying higher payments on claims than other levels.
Medium extras are a good choice for those who need medical benefits but still want affordability and coverage. This is ideal for those who are in the middle of their lives. Benefits payout on things like doctors’ visits. If you’re young, fit and healthy but do not need comprehensive coverage then a basic Extras policy will pay benefits for a limited selection of essential services. The annual limit on your claim is smaller compared to medium or high-level extras policies however the cost associated with premiums is also lower too.
Basic extras cover
These are the least expensive options, so they only offer a few extras. They usually come with general dental care and physiotherapy but not much else- no optical coverage for example.
Medium extras cover
This plan offers a great balance of coverage for your entire family. It provides increased limits in many fields, including dental care and occupational therapy – which are not covered by the basic package but can be bought alongside it at an affordable price.
Top extras cover
These plans are perfect for those who want to take care of their entire life. The most expensive plan covers a comprehensive range of services and includes everything from orthodontics, to hearing aids psychology blood glucose monitors at an annual limit higher than other options available.
How much does Extras cover cost?
The average person spends $636 per year on extras, but the cost varies depending upon the level of coverage. The higher your risk for accidents and illnesses in general; the more you will be able to afford when it comes time to protect yourself from these things that may happen again or make sure nothing bad happens at all.
Compare private health insurance Extras policies
| Insurer | Basic | Mid | Top |
|---|---|---|---|
 | $30.30 | $73.45 | $109.90 |
 | $30.95 | $69.50 | $125.10 |
 | $22.40 | $42.50 | $104.50 |
 | $29.93 | $68.34 | $125.76 |
 | $22.95 | $97.25 | $126.05 |
 | $38.55 | $59.80 | $102.25 |
 | $51.49 | N/A | $82.59 |
 | $41.15 | $85.00 | $135.30 |
 | $30.38 | $70.29 | $117.13 |
 | $37.01 | $57.07 | $95.03 |
Source: Privatehealth.gov.au (June 2022)
Is Extras Cover worth it?
By paying attention to the type of policy you buy, it is possible for people who have specific needs like health care or retirement savings plans in mind. For example, if your premium will be higher than what benefits receive and nothing changes soon, then general treatment might not work well with yours.
However, when looking at an investment plan over time – such as how much money could potentially grow due solely from premiums alone- investing into one may save lots on costly bills later down the road. If you have a family and want to cover them for out-of-hospital costs, such as dental and doctor’s appointments, then purchasing an Extras cover is recommended.
Extras cover waiting periods
In most cases, health insurance providers have waiting periods before they will process your claim. The length of time a person has to wait depends on the individual policy that he or she purchased from their specific provider and can vary greatly between different plans with similar benefits specifications.
Once you have served your waiting period, you will not be required to serve it again unless you purchase a higher level of coverage than the policy you currently have.
- General dental – 2 months
- Major dental – 12 months
- Osteopathy – 2 months
- Healthy lifestyle – 6 months
- Travel vaccinations – 0
- Ambulance transport – 0-2 days
- Optical – 6 months
- Physiotherapy – 2 months
- Chiropractic – 2 months
- Non-PBS medication – 2 months
- Health aids – Varies
- Podiatry (General) – 2 months
- Psychology – 2 months
- Dietetics – 2 months
- Hearing Aids – 12 months
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
What is the difference between hospital cover and extras cover?
A Hospital policy covers costs for all treatments and services conducted within a hospital. These include surgeries and hospital stays. In contrast, an Extras policy covers medical care treatments and services that occur outside of a hospital. These include dental, optical, and psychology appointments. Most people purchase both a Hospital and Extras package policy to ensure they are protected from a wide range of medical treatments and services.Can I have extras with different providers?
Hospital insurance policies are a great way to protect yourself from high-cost out-of-hospital treatments. Yes, you can take them with one health fund and another extra coverage if needed. It’s handy because some funds might have exactly what you are looking for but not on their list of available plans so this allows room for flexibility in case anything comes up. However, a single premium payment means you only have to worry about one thing at once which might make things easier than juggling hospital cover and extras funds with different providers.What does ancillaries cover mean?
Ancillary cover, also known as extras or general treatment services is a type of insurance that can help you with the cost of out-of-hospital treatments. These include optical and dental care for example; they’re intended to manage or prevent diseases/injuries in addition to other conditions such as mental health problems! Private Healthcare Providers offer this kind of policy standalone plans but it’s important not just any private healthcare provider because some only have limited benefits while others might charge higher premiums.Can I just have extras cover?
Yes, generally speaking, it is possible to purchase an Extras only policy. However, some health insurance companies do not offer a stand-alone Extras policy. It is therefore important to review and compare multiple health insurance companies and the offered policies to choose the best one for your healthcare needs.Which is the best Extras policy?
Health insurance extras can be a great way to protect yourself from the costs of treatments not covered by Medicare, like physiotherapy and dental. But every person’s situation is different so it depends on your needs whether they will benefit you or not. The best policy is one which includes the benefits you require in your life while remaining within your budget.How do I claim Extras?
There are a few ways you can claim back your coverage. You can claim on the spot by swiping your membership card at the electronic claiming terminal or HICAPS and pay the remaining balance. You can claim online by logging in to the health fund’s membership portal and following the instructions. Many health insurers have an app you can download the app and then submit your receipts and documents via the app. If you’d like, you can go through manual claiming: Fill out a healthcare insurance claim form, which you can download from the insurer’s website, attach your invoice and receipt and post it to the insurer or deliver it in person to their address.
