Many Australians prefer to have private health insurance because it gives them access to be treated in the private health care system. By having private health insurance you’ll often be able to choose your preferred doctor and hospital as well as reduce waiting times for some hospital services and elective surgery.

Australia’s Healthcare system is made up of two major parts, the public health care system and the private health care system. All Australian residents are automatically covered for many hospital-related costs under the public health care system (Medicare) however many Australians prefer to take out private health 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. Hospital cover can help with the cost of your hospital stay and medical expenses, getting care from your preferred doctor and hospital, and reduce wait times for surgery or treatment. Extras cover is for out of hospital health treatments 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 the Base Tier threshold set by the Australian Government.

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 hospital.

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*
• Have peace of mind knowing you have options if you need to go to hospital
• Avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) if you are a high-income earner
• Lock in your Certified Age of Entry (CAE) for the Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading

*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.