Don’t be put on a waiting list
You pay 1.5% of your taxable income as a Medicare Levy. Every Australian personal income tax payer pays it and so everyone is eligible to be treated in a public hospital as a public patient. Everyone. And that means waiting lists and shared rooms. As a private patient you can avoid the public system’s waiting lists and often enjoy a private room in a private hospital.
Choose your own doctor
Knowledge is power and, as a private patient, rather than be told who will be treating you, you can do some research and choose the doctor you want to treat your condition.
What you get with hospital cover
As a private patient you will be covered for same day and overnight stays, meals, nurses, operating theatre costs, intensive care and government approved surgically implanted prostheses.
What you get with Extras
Medicare doesn’t cover services like dental, physiotherapy, optical, chiropractic or podiatry. Private health insurance does. To help you maintain your healthy lifestlyle health.com.au lets you choose how much you get back when you see your choice of provider. Whereas many other funds want you to choose a provder they have pre-approved we want you to choose one that you're comfortable with.
Ambulance cover
Medicare doesn’t cover you if you’re in an accident and an ambulance transports you to hospital. All health.com.au policies will cover the cost of medically necessary ambulance transport.
Savings on tax and loadings
By taking out private health insurance you can save on your tax bill and avoid having to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge. This is an extra tax for singles on an income over $84,000 and families with a combined income over $168,000. For singles earning over $130,000 and families earning over $260,000 the extra tax is as high as 1.5%. Go to our Government Info and Surcharges page for more information.
If you join after 1 July following your 31st birthday then for the following 10 years you will pay an extra 2% on top of your normal premium for every year you are over 30. This is called Lifetime Health Cover loading. For example: if you’re 40 when you join the cost of your premiums will be 20% more for the next 10 years.
The Australian Government Rebate on Private Health Insurance
Depending on your income and age, no matter what your level of cover, you may be eligible for a reduction of your premium costs. From 1 July 2012 a means test applies to the rebate. Go to our Government Info and Surcharges page for more information.