We understand that the decision to get private health insurance can be challenging.

So many questions: ‘When do I need it?’ and ‘What does it cover?’

So let's cover the basics first.

Australian residents are automatically covered for many hospital-related costs under the Government’s Medicare scheme, however many Australians prefer to take out additional cover to give them access to be treated in the private health care system. 

Private health insurance is made up of two main parts – Hospital and Extras cover.  By getting either of these or both, called combined cover you can help avoid lengthy wait times for public hospitals, help offset costs not covered by Medicare, and allow you to choose your doctor.

Australian residents are automatically covered for many hospital-related costs under the Government’s Medicare scheme, however many Australians prefer to take out additional cover to give them access to be treated in the private health care system.

Many Australians prefer the option of becoming private hospital patients as they may have more control in choosing their doctor and may be able to reduce their waiting time for elective surgery by choosing to be treated in a private hospital.

Private health insurance can also cover a range of other health cover options for some or all of the costs of the services not covered by Medicare, such as dental, optical items, physiotherapy, prescription pharmaceuticals (non-PBS) and a wide range of other services.

The Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) is an additional tax which Australians may need to pay if they are without private health insurance hospital cover and have a taxable income greater than $90,000 as a single or $180,000 as a couple/family.

If you do not hold an eligible hospital cover (or if you drop your hospital cover) you will have to pay additional tax on top of the standard Medicare Levy that applies to all Australian taxpayers.

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Hospital cover includes coverage for the two types of costs associated with private treatment while you're an inpatient in a registered hospital - hospital costs and medical costs. Having hospital cover means your health insurer will help pay these costs.

GMHBA has a range of hospital covers ranging from basic to comprehensive cover which supports you and your family for a wide range of treatments in a participating private hospitals.

With hospital cover you can:

• Be treated as a private patient
• Have a greater choice of who treats you^*
• Have a greater choice about where you are treated^*
• Have more choice about when you are treated^*
• Lock in your Lifetime Health Cover age
• Have peace of mind knowing you are covered for unexpected medical bills

^* As compared to public patients in a public hospital

Extras cover provides benefits for services like dental, optical (glasses and contact lenses), physiotherapy, podiatry and ambulance.

The cost of these services is often not covered by Medicare, so whenever you use any of them you incur the full cost yourself.

GMHBA has a range of extra covers ranging from basic to comprehensive cover which supports you and your family. Plus, you can claim on the spot with your GMHBA membership card at more than 26,000 providers nationally.