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Compare Flexible Extras Cover
Compare Flexible Extras Cover
Written by
Madeline Pettet
Edited by
Andrew Kemp
Reviewed by
Andres GutierrezCheck 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 are flexible extras?
Flexible extras cover is a type of health insurance that gives you greater control of your claim limits (that’s how much you can claim back). Rather than getting tangled up in multiple annual limits, a flexible extras policy shares one big combined limit across a range of services. Sometimes, there might be additional sub-limits or separate limits for services most Australians use regularly, like dental check-ups and optometry.
How do flexible extras fit into Australia’s health care system?
Private health insurance comes in two flavours: hospital cover and extras cover. Extras cover, which includes options like flexible extras, can help you get money back on general treatment services Medicare tends not to cover. Think going to the dentist, physiotherapist, or chiro, rather than hospital treatments. It’s worth remembering, though, that not all health insurers offer flexible extras.
What services could a flexible extras policy cover?
Many flexible extras policies cover the same kinds of services as basic extras policies. You might see these services offered a lot, but they might not always share the flexi limit.
General dental, like cleans and simple fillings
Optical, like frames and contact lenses
Exercise physiology
Dietetics, like nutritional consultations
Natural therapies, like remedial massage, acupuncture, and Chinese medicine
However, some health funds might offer a higher level of cover, including access to a broader selection of services more typically offered in a mid-tier extras policy. These might come standard with a flexible policy or be a part of a ‘build your own health insurance’ option where you can choose the extras you’d like.
Major dental, like veneers and dentures
Orthodontics, like braces and clear aligners
Podiatry, like foot consultations and custom orthotics
Speech therapy
Mental health services
Who are flexible extras suitable for?
Families with changing life stages
If your kids are in that awkward growth stage with fresh surprises every week, flexible extras can help you handle the unexpected. This can include things like physio for soccer’s newest star player, optical for the kid who finally admits they can’t see the board, and remedial massage for the parents of the toddler who’s gotten too big to carry.
People getting back in touch with their health
We get it that your health might not have been at the top of your to-do list for a while. Just know this means it might not be exactly how you left it! Flexible extras allow you to pick the extras you’re most likely to need, without paying for cover you won’t use.
Couples and families with varied health needs
Opposites attract and that can be about more than your favourite TV show. You and your partner might struggle to find a policy with enough claiming room for the different services you want. The combined annual limit for flexible extras might remove this problem. Just be sure to check for any per-person limits, too.
Helpful tip
Did you know that some flexible extras policy can be extra convenient, thanks to also including ambulance cover?
While strictly speaking not a general treatment service, ambulance cover can be handy even if you’re going to hospital as a public patient. Many states and territories in Australia have eligibility requirements for free ambulance services. But your flexible extras cover could be your ticket for a free ride when you’ve got more important things to think about than a bill.
Andres Gutierrez
General Manager – Health
How much does flexible extras cost?
Given flexible extras tend to look like a basic extras policy, they’ll likely cost less than other kinds of extras cover. After all, extras premiums usually go up as the number of services covered goes up. iSelect customers paid an average of $517 for basic extras cover in 2024–25.1Based on iSelect health insurance sales July 2024–June 2025
Of course, health insurance premiums change between health funds and states. If you have multiple people covered on your policy, your premium is also likely to increase. If you can tweak a few aspects of your flexible extras policy, like opting for a lower or higher annual claim limit or changing your benefit percentage, your premium cost can change again.
How do I choose a flexible extras policy?
Thinking about what services you’d like is a great place to start. If your policy is going to cover other people, don’t forget to check what cover they might need.
At the same time, you can compare flexible extras cover options by claim limits. How big is that combined annual claim limit? Are you able to tailor it? Will you need to watch out for any sub-limits? It can help to think about what works with your budget and your likely out-of-pocket costs.
Speaking of, benefit percentages are another factor to consider. This is how much you’ll get back on a given service claim. You might want to balance the benefit percentage with how much you can claim on health insurance overall – it depends on what works for you and your bank account.
There’s lots to think about when you’re comparing flexible extras, so be careful not to tie yourself into a knot. Ultimately, you want a policy that gives you value for money, however that might look.
Frequently asked questions
Do waiting periods apply to flexible extras?
A waiting period is the time you need to hold an extras policy – flexible or otherwise – before you can make a claim. Waiting periods tend to vary by extras services. However, many basic extras services usually only have a two-month waiting period (sometimes 6 months for optical). There could be times when you need to wait a little longer, though, like 12 months.
Sometimes you can get cover without waiting periods. This is usually for popular extras services, like preventative dental. It might be standard with the policy or be a special promotion from the fund to encourage new members to sign up.
How do annual and combined limits work on flexible extras?
A combined annual limit is the big drawcard for flexible extras. Unlike other types of extras cover, most of your services will sit under this one combined limit. This gives you the freedom to claim more on certain services when you might have otherwise hit your claim limit. Plus, if you want cover for a service just in case, you won’t be leaving money on the table with a claim limit left untouched.
In some instances, you might still need to watch out for sub-limits. These are limits inside that combined limit. They might be specific to one service or a broader category of service, like natural therapies. Once you reach that sub-limit, you won’t be able to make an extras claim on those services, even if there’s still plenty of room on your combined annual limit. You’ll need to wait until your health insurance limits reset, which is usually every financial or calendar year.
Do I have to see preferred providers to use my flexible extras?
This depends on your health fund. Some health insurers might only accept claims for services from providers recognised by them. Others might be happy to pay a claim to any relevant registered healthcare professional.
Your health insurance company could fall in the middle, paying more back on claims with preferred providers but still giving you the option to see any registered medical professional. Talk about flexibility!
Will I need to pay an excess for flexible extras?
Extras, including flexible extras, don’t come with excesses. Instead, they usually have out-of-pocket costs. Your successful claim will help cover some of the costs of your treatment, but not all of them. What’s leftover (the gap) is for you to pay.
Some common services, like dental check-ups, might have no gap. That means no out-of-pocket expenses.
You can check your policy documents to see your benefit percentage, if there’s a flat claim rate, or if there are any no-gap services.
Does a flexible extras policy exempt me from the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) or Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading?
Unfortunately, only hospital cover counts towards these government incentives to take out health insurance. But you could still claim the private health insurance rebate on your extras cover.
Alternatively, you could bundle your flexible extras cover with a hospital policy. For convenience, you might prefer to stick with the same health fund, or you can find an option with another health insurer.
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Health Insurance & Tax
Tax Implications on Health Insurance
How to save on Health Insurance
About the Medicare Levy Surcharge
About the Life Time Health Cover Loading
Government Rebate & Means Testing
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