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• What is a health insurance benefit code?
• What is my benefit code?
• Is a benefit code different from a tax claim code?
• How much is my private health insurance rebate?
• Where can I find and compare health insurance?

Long story short

The benefit code helps you get your rebate

It details the age of the oldest person on your policy, helping establish your private health insurance benefit rebate rate.

You’ll also need your tax claim code

This tells the government about your circumstances, including whether you have a partner and whether you’re claiming for both of you.

Usually, your health fund tells the ATO what your benefit code is

It’s often pre-filled on your tax forms so you don’t have to worry about it.

What is a health insurance benefit code?

Your health insurance benefit code tells the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) the age of the oldest person covered on your policy. It’s the start of what they’ll need for figuring out your private health insurance rebate for your private patient hospital cover, extras cover or both.

These codes help make things more efficient – and avoid potential mistakes that mean you don’t get the right amount back on your tax return or, worse, end up paying more.

What is my benefit code?

Your benefit code is a number from 30 to 41 that tells the ATO your age bracket and the period you’re claiming the Australian Government rebate on private health insurance. There tends to be a different code for 2 separate periods during the year, since there’s an annual premium rate change that usually happens around 1 April. This way, your rebate percentage more closely aligns with what you paid in premiums.

If the oldest person on your policy ages into another bracket during the year, an additional code will then apply. It’s okay if that’s not the birthday present you were hoping for, though. Handily, it now means that you can claim that higher private health insurance rebate rate.

Conveniently, your health insurance benefit code tends to be pre-filled automatically on your tax. Otherwise, you can double-check it by looking at Label L on your private health insurance tax statement.

Note: These codes reflect indicative benefit codes, based on Australian Taxation Office data. Actual codes may vary depending on your situation. Data retrieved on July 2026.

Is a benefit code different from a tax claim code?

Yes, these codes are different: the tax claim code tells the ATO about your circumstances, like if you have any dependants, while the benefit code tells them about the people your health insurance covered and for what period. Using these 2 codes, the ATO can then give you the proper rebate.

Note: These codes reflect indicative tax codes, based on Australian Taxation Office data. Actual codes may vary depending on your situation. Data retrieved on July 2026.

How much is my private health insurance rebate?

The Australian Government rebate you can receive on private health insurance ranges from 0% to 32.158%, as of 1 July 2026. Your private health insurance rebate eligibility and how much you receive depends on which income tier you fall under and the age of the oldest adult covered by your policy (even if you’re the one paying the premiums, the rebate checks the ages of any other adult beneficiaries).

Unlike other parts of your income tax return, the income threshold for the rebate uses your income for surcharge purposes. That’s the same income figure the ATO uses to work out whether you need to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge; it’s more than just your taxable income.

The rebate rates can change from year to year, so you might not receive the same amount every time.

Note: These figures reflect indicative private health insurance rebates, based on Australian Government data. Data retrieved June 2026.

Helpful tip

The private health insurance rebate is certainly one way to look at reducing your health insurance premiums. However, you can also try other things, like changing your cover and shopping around. The great thing about these tricks is that anyone can try them – there isn’t an eligibility cut-off.

Andres Gutierrez

General Manager – Health

Where can I find and compare health insurance?

Before you can start claiming the private health insurance rebate, you’ll need to have some health insurance. iSelect can help you find and compare policies in far less time and with much less effort than it takes to do your tax. Start comparing online or over the phone at 1800 784 772 today.