Compare Extras Cover
Choosing the right extras cover can make a big difference to supporting your everyday health. Whether you’re looking for cover towards dental, physio, or more, we make it simple to compare and choose extras cover with confidence.
What is extras cover and how does it work?
Extras health insurance helps to cover some of the cost of out-of-hospital health services not generally covered by Medicare. This includes services like physio, dental, chiro, and more. Think about extras cover as a way to make everyday health treatments more affordable.
Whatever your budget, lifestyle or health care needs, GMHBA has extras cover to suit you.
View coversWhat should I look for when comparing extras cover policies?
When you compare extras cover focus on these key factors to help you find the best cover for your needs and budget:
- Coverage and benefit types - the services included in your cover will vary depending on the policy you choose. Common extras include general dental, physiotherapy, optical, and chiropractic care.
- Annual limits - this is the maximum amount you can claim per year for each service. You may want to select a higher level of cover if you expect to use a service frequently. Some extras products, like SmartCare extras, include an annual limit rollover that may allow unused benefits to carry forward into the next calendar year, subject to product rules and limits. Availability and conditions vary by product (members can refer to their fact sheet in their member area for more information).
- Sub-limits - set the maximum benefit you can claim for each type of extras service and count toward your overall annual limit. Once you reach that limit for a service, you won’t be able to claim further benefits for it until your limits reset.
- Benefit rates - this is the amount of the cost your insurer will cover per visit or service which affects how much you will pay out-of-pocket. This can be either a percentage of the cost or a set amount.
- Waiting periods - this is the time you must wait before you can claim with your health insurer.
- Cost of premiums - review how much you pay for your monthly or annual premium against the benefits you'll realistically use.
Compare Extras Covers
Extras cover for different life stages
As you get older, your health needs may change. What you need earlier in life, like dental check-ups, optical benefits for glasses, or physio for sports injuries, might look very different from what you’ll need later in life. Extras cover is designed to help with those out-of-pocket costs for services not generally covered by Medicare. Choosing the right policy early may save you money while ensuring you have access to the care you value most.
Having singles health insurance isn’t about your relationship status, it simply means cover for just one person.
One of the perks of having singles extras cover is the flexibility of choosing a policy just for you, with benefits for the treatments you’ll use (because you won’t need cover for anyone else’s health needs) and a price that fits your budget. It also gives you the freedom to compare options and find the best extras cover for your lifestyle and health goals.
If you’re under 30, consider adding hospital cover to your extras. Doing so could make you eligible for an age-based discount, which reduces your premium on hospital cover and helps you save over time.
For young couples, you might want to consider your current needs as well as your future needs. For instance, you may want to consider combining your couples’ extras cover with hospital cover, so you have the cover you need for now and for the future (say if you're planning for a family and want access to private hospital care). Keeping in mind any waiting periods you may need to serve.
For older couples, you may want to consider your changing needs as you age and choose extras cover for regular treatments like podiatry, osteo, or audiology.
If you have young children, extras family cover can help manage the costs of common health services for both you and your kids, think dental, podiatry, and orthodontics.
Keeping your extras insurance as your children grow gives you peace of mind knowing they’ll be covered for the care they need.
Child dependants can stay on your family or single parent policy until they turn 21.
If they’re studying full time, you can extend their cover as a student dependant until age 25 by completing a student declaration each year. If not, they’ll need to take out their own health insurance.
Single parent extras cover offers the same benefits as family cover, just for one-parent and any number of dependants.
Introducing the SmartCare Extras range
$500 flexible limit to spend your way on included services
- 100% back on preventative dental* at any dentist
- 60% back on other included services
- Covers chiro, general dental, osteo and physio.
$1,000 annual limit to spend your way on included services
- 100% back on preventative dental* at any dentist
- 60% back on other included services
- Covers chiro, general dental, osteo and physio plus 8 others services.
$1,500 annual limit amount to spend your way on included services
- 100% back on preventative dental* at any dentist
- 60% back on other included services
- Covers chiro, general dental, osteo and physio plus 19 other services.
Basic vs comprehensive extras cover
When comparing extras cover, the main difference between basic and comprehensive cover options comes down to the range of services and level of benefits.
Basic extras cover usually includes essential services like general dental, chiropractic, and physiotherapy, which is ideal if you want affordable cover for everyday health needs.
Comprehensive extras cover usually offers a wider range of services, such as major dental, orthodontics, podiatry, optical, and alternative therapies, with higher benefit limits. This is a great choice if you want more flexibility and support for a variety of treatments.
Your decision depends on your lifestyle, health needs and budget.
Hospital vs extras cover
When you’re doing a health insurance extras cover comparison, it’s important to think about which services you actually use so you can decide whether you need hospital cover, extras cover, or a combination of both.
Hospital cover helps with the cost of treatment if you’re admitted to hospital, giving you access to private hospital care and choice of specialist. It can also help you avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) if you’re a higher-income earner.
Extras cover, on the other hand, is for everyday health services outside hospital, and can cover things like optical, dental, and physio. It’s a great way to manage out-of-pocket costs for everyday health services.
Incentives like the Australian Government Rebate help people with the cost of private health insurance, in an effort to take pressure off the public healthcare system and keep treatment accessible.
Lifetime Health Cover loading aims to incentivise people to take out hospital cover before they turn 31, while the age-based discount if you’re under 30, may help reduce the cost of your hospital premiums. Combining hospital and extras cover gives you broader coverage for your health care needs.
Extras cover for common treatments and services
If dental care is a priority, compare GMHBA extras policies with higher limits and coverage for major dental services.
Our SmartCare Everyday extras cover includes 100% back, up to your annual Smart Limit or sub-limit amount, on routine dental check-ups, professional cleaning and topical application of remineralisation agents.
SmartCare Complete extras cover adds even more to your sub-limits for general and major dental, and includes orthodontics, ideal for families or those needing advanced treatments.
Compare GMHBA extras cover for dental benefits and choose the right level for your needs.
If you regularly use physiotherapy or chiropractic services, compare GMHBA extras policies that offer generous limits for these treatments.
Our SmartCare Starter and SmartCare Everyday extras covers include chiro and physio for common injuries and rehab, while SmartCare Complete extras cover adds higher annual limits ideal for active lifestyles or ongoing care needs.
Compare GMHBA extras cover for physio and chiro to find the best fit for your health goals.
If you wear glasses or contact lenses, choosing an extras policy with optical benefits can save you money.
Our ClassicCare Mid extras cover includes optical for prescription lenses and frames.
If you’re after combined cover, selecting hospital cover with SmartCare Boost gives you the peace of mind of hospital coverage and access to extras, including optical services as part of your overall package.
We also offer generous member benefits and discounts at our GMHBA eye care locations.
Compare GMHBA extras cover for optical benefits to find the best option for your vision needs.
Frequently asked questions when comparing extras cover
Absolutely! You can take out an extras cover on it's own and do without hospital or vice versa. It’s entirely up to you and what’s best for your personal circumstances.
Extras only policies are usually cheaper, but keep in mind you won’t be covered for hospital related treatment and won’t help you avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) if you’re a higher-income earner.
Important for SmartCare: If you select a SmartCare extras only policy, optical benefits are not included. Optical cover is only available if you select a SmartCare Boost product, which combines hospital and extras cover. Conditions, limits and waiting periods apply; full details are available in the relevant fact sheet.
The right extras cover depends on your lifestyle, health needs, and budget. If you only need help with everyday services like dental, chiro, and physio, our SmartCare extras could be a cost-effective choice.
If you want broader protection, including major dental, optical, orthodontics, podiatry, and alternative therapies, a comprehensive extras policy like our ClassicCare mid extras cover offers higher limits and more flexibility.
Consider how often you use health services and whether you want cover for the whole family or just yourself. GMHBA offers options for singles, couples, families, and single parents, so you can choose a policy that fits your situation.
The short answer is no. We don’t offer customisable extras health insurance products. However, we do have a range of extras cover options designed to suit different health needs and budgets, so you can choose the one that works best for you.
For example, SmartCare extras provides a flexible annual limit of $1,000 per person, which can be used across a variety of services such as dental, physiotherapy, psychology and more. This helps you get the most value from your cover, depending on the services you use most. Limits and waiting periods apply; full details are in the relevant product fact sheet.
Your extras limits don’t reset when you change your cover during the year. Any benefits you’ve already claimed will count toward your annual limits on your new policy.
- If you upgrade you’ll have access to higher limits, but any amounts you’ve already claimed will be deducted from those new limits. Waiting periods will apply for new or higher-level services.
- If you downgrade your limits will reduce, and any claims you’ve made will still count toward your new, lower limits. You’ll no longer be able to claim for extras not included in your new cover.
A waiting period is the time between when you first take out health insurance or upgrade your cover and when you're actually covered for a treatment or service.
Waiting periods for extras services – when included on your cover – are as follows:
Waiting period: 0 days
Ambulance transport and subscriptions
Waiting period: 2 months
Any services that are not specified below
Waiting period: 6 months
Optical
Waiting period: 12 Months
Major dental, orthodontics, podiatry surgical procedures and orthotic appliances (foot), orthopaedic appliances (GMHBA approved), medical devices and aids including hearing aids, blood glucose monitor, extremity pump, nebuliser pump, pressure garments, prostheses (GMHBA approved, non-surgical), sleep apnoea monitor and tens monitor.
If you have already served your waiting periods on an equivalent or higher level of cover with another fund and joined GMHBA within 30 days of leaving that fund, you won't have to re-serve your waiting periods. Otherwise, waiting periods will apply from the date you take out your new cover with GMHBA.
If you’ve upgraded your cover, your waiting periods for higher cover will start on the date you upgraded, but you can still claim the equivalent benefit to your previous level of cover during that period.
- Extras limits - this is the maximum amount you can claim for all extras services in a year. Different cover options have different overall limits.
- Sub-limits - these are smaller limits within your overall extras limit for specific services (e.g., major dental or remedial massage). Sub-limits vary by policy and service.
- Waiting periods - this is the time you need to hold your cover before you can claim certain services. Waiting periods differ depending on the service, basic services often have shorter waits, while major services, such as major dental or orthodontics usually have longer ones.
Extras cover can be valuable if you regularly use services like dental, optical, or physiotherapy. To decide if it’s right for you:
- Understand your health needs - do you expect to use services like dental check-ups, glasses, or physio this year?
- Compare costs - add up what you’d pay out-of-pocket for these services versus the cost of your extras premium.
- Look at limits and benefits - make sure the annual limits and benefit back on claims suit your needs.
- Consider lifestyle changes - life stages like starting a family or getting older can affect how much you use extras.
If you rarely use these services, extras cover might not be cost-effective. But if you use them often, it may help save you money and provide peace of mind.
Yes, you can. Hospital and extras cover are separate products, so you’re free to choose different insurers for each.
Extras health insurance can help lower your out‑of‑pocket costs for services that Medicare typically doesn’t cover, such as physiotherapy, chiropractic treatments, and general dental care. When doing a health insurance extras comparison, make sure you focus on the services you’re most likely to use so you choose cover that genuinely supports your needs.