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Written by
Rachel Gregg
Edited by
Ellie Garran
Reviewed by
Dr Jill GambergCheck out our range of private health funds
iSelect does not compare all providers in the market or all policies offered by our partners in your area. Not all policies or special offers are available to all customers and some may only be available over the phone or on the website. Learn more.
What is extras cover?
Extras cover is your healthcare partner for treatments outside the hospital that Medicare doesn’t usually touch. Think dental checkups, remedial massages, and new prescription glasses. Extras cover is either your entire health insurance or it can be bundled with hospital cover into a more comprehensive policy.
Extras cover is also sometimes called general treatment or ancillary cover.
Is extras cover worth it?
Have you ever stopped and thought about how much it costs to pay for new glasses, visit the dentist, or have a massage?
If your calendar’s always full of health appointments, extras cover could be a game changer. With a range of flexible policies to fit most needs and lifestyles, it means you can claim the stuff that matters to you. The trick: weigh up what you’d pay in premiums versus what you can get back in benefits to see if it works for your budget.
Extras cover to suit your needs
Your health needs are constantly changing, so why shouldn’t your extras cover? No matter what you need, find coverage options to suit your lifestyle and budget.
How is extras cover different from other kinds of insurance?
Hospital cover
Hospital cover comes in handy for private hospital treatment. It covers in-hospital costs like accommodation, theatre fees, medication, and surgeons’ fees, depending on your policy.
Extras cover
Extras cover works on the flip side and covers a range of health services not covered by Medicare, like dental and optical. It can also cover medical equipment needs like hearing aids and more.
Family combined cover
Family combined cover includes a range of different things, so a lot of people get both.
If you take out both hospital cover and extras cover for your family, you can usually combine them into a simple single policy. You don’t have to stick to the same level for both, either. For example, you could choose to have the highest level of hospital cover and a medium level of extras cover, so you can get the right coverage for different needs.
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Helpful tip:
Extras cover can be very useful when it comes to preventative health, which aims to prevent future health conditions. For example, your regular dental cleanings can help prevent gum disease and tooth decay, and vaccinations can protect against serious diseases, while exercise physiologists can help strengthen muscles to avoid falls. Extras cover can also help with the management of conditions; for example, a dietitian can help with weight loss, an occupational therapist can assist with learning challenges, and a physiotherapist can support the management of an injury.
Dr. Jill Gamberg
GP, Coach, and Lifestyle Medicine Physician
Can I still get extras cover if I already have hospital cover?
Most health insurers offer combined extras and hospital cover, but you don’t have to bundle them together. You don’t even have to lock into the same insurer for both policies, which is great if you find a hospital policy with one fund and then a better extras fit with another.
Many people find that having extras makes it easier and more likely for them to book those non-urgent treatments. Since you know you can get either a percentage or a flat fee back for each treatment up to a certain amount annually, regular appointments feel more affordable. It also might make keeping on top of your health a little easier and less stressful.
Extras cover explained
Still scratching your head when it comes to extras cover? Don’t stress! We’ve made this short video to break down everything you need to know, from what exactly is included to why policies vary.
Laura Crowden
ISELECT SPOKESPERSON
How much does extras cover cost?
How much your extras cover premiums will be depends on a number of factors. From your level of coverage to your age, your policy needs will change as your grow older and move into different life stages, which is why you can see a little change in the stats below.
To see where you might land cost-wise, have a quick look at our interactive graph comparing a range of policies to see how you compare to other iSelect customers.
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What benefits can I claim?
Extras cover lets you claim back part or sometimes even the full cost of your treatment, with yearly limits. When looking at how much you can claim back, your wallet will most likely be affected by some of these factors.
Percentages
Some funds use a percentage amount to show the benefit amount for certain extras. For example, if you go to the dentist, your policy might cover 60% of that cost. Just remember to check any caps on services.
Dollar amounts
Other health funds have their limits down to an exact dollar figure. This is the total benefit you can claim against certain extras in a year. For example, your dental limit could be $500 a year or a $50 benefit per treatment.
Provider schemes
Provider schemes are agreements that dentists and physios have with certain health funds. These partnerships often mean that you’ll be charged less for treatment.
Preventative health benefits
Preventative health services might include gym memberships and programs to quit smoking. They could help prevent the elevation of a condition or prevent it full stop, and your extras policy could help cover the cost.
Discounts and freebies
Some health funds will offer a range of discounts or loyalty programs on a range of everyday essentials, movie tickets, flights, and more.
How can I reduce the cost of my extras cover?
Nobody’s going to say no to a nice little discount on their extras policy. Here’s how you could save with certain health insurance funds.
Pay premiums in advance
Paying up to 12 months in advance before the annual rate rise could lower your premium rate.
Pay by direct debit
Some insurers give a small discount to members who set up a direct debit for simplified, automatic payments.
Frequently asked questions
How can I choose the best extras cover for my needs?
Well, that depends on you. When it comes to extras cover there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. All that matters is what’s most important to you.
Want more coverage across a range of specialist treatments? Or more benefits back from your appointments? You’ll find a range of options across different health funds. Some might give you the option to pick and choose extras, while others might bundle these together for different needs, like family extras or dental-specific services.
Choosing the best extras cover for your needs can be simple if you think about the top medical services you use. There’s no point choosing one policy if it only has a small cap for your most used service. You can also think about this in relation to where you are in life. For instance, most families will value dental or optical cover for their young kids, while an older couple might need more chiro or physio.
How do limits work on extras cover?
A limit is the maximum amount your insurer can pay for benefits on your policy across a year. Each fund’s limits might work slightly differently, with some working by calendar year or financial year and others by membership year.
Here are the different types of extras limits:
- Annual limit: The maximum that you can claim for a service each year (calendar or financial, depending on the fund).
- Policy/family limit: Some services have an annual limit per policy or service, so if you’ve got more than one person on your policy, then make sure it allows all of you to make use of it.
- Limits per person: Some policies have limits on what each person can claim individually.
- Combined group limits: Some insurers group services together and limit them to a total amount. For example, if your policy groups major dental, general dental and endodontic services together, then you’ll only have a set amount to use on all those services.
- Sub-limits: Some categories such as dental or physiotherapy have limits on specific services like root canals, crowns, or massages. So, if you need to use a specific service within one of these categories that exceeds the sub-limit, you’ll have to pay for the service.
- Lifetime limits: Some services are limited to a dollar amount over the lifetime of your policy. For example, if you’ve got a lifetime limit of $4,000 to claim on orthodontic services, any extra amount will need to be covered out of pocket. Remember, if you switch providers with a lifetime limit in place, you’d still have the same dollar amount from your previous fund carry over.
Take the stress out of finding extras cover
Finding extras cover that fits you shouldn’t feel like a chore. At iSelect we make it simple. Start comparing from a range of health funds online or have a chat with our comparison experts on 1800 784 772. Together, we can find cover that makes sense to you and your budget.
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iSelect does not compare all health insurance providers or policies in the market. The availability of policies will change from time to time. Not all policies available from its providers are compared by iSelect and due to commercial arrangements, your stated needs and circumstances, not all policies compared by iSelect are available to all customers. Some policies and special offers are available only from iSelect’s contact centre or website. Click here to view iSelect’s range of providers