New to private health insurance
What's private health insurance all about?
Think of private health insurance as a way to gain peace of mind and more control over your healthcare journey.
When you have hospital cover, it's there to help with the costs if you ever need to go into the hospital as a private patient. Plus, it often gives you the comfort of choosing your own specialist and can mean shorter waits for treatment. It's all about making those hospital stays a little less stressful.
Then there's extras cover. This is super handy for those everyday health services that Medicare doesn't usually help with, like your dental check-ups or physiotherapy. With extras, you'll pay less out of your own pocket when you visit your preferred registered provider. It's like having a little extra help for those regular health needs!
Benefits of private hospital cover
With private hospital cover, you have the option of being treated as a private patient, often within a private hospital.
Hospital cover gives you the option to choose your own doctor or specialist and avoid the public hospital waiting list by receiving treatment in a private hospital.
Earn over $101k as a single or $202k as a couple? Did you know that getting hospital cover may save you money at tax time? Learn more
1. Choose a cover type
Whether you are looking for hospital, extras or combined cover, find the right health insurance for your budget and check that it covers everything you need.
2. Get a quote
Get a personalised quote that factors in your Australian Government Rebate tier, your age, state of residence and lifestage. You can email yourself the quote information, so it's easy to review and compare.
3. Join online
Found the perfect cover for you? You can sign-up online. All you need is a valid Medicare card and payment method. It's a simple process and takes only minutes.
Your questions answered
When you’re admitted to hospital, your private health insurance hospital cover will pay benefits towards your in-hospital treatment and admission costs (provided the treatment or service is included on your cover and all waiting periods have been served). There are different levels of cover, so it’s important to know your budget and what services you are looking to claim on. The level of the cover you choose will determine what you are covered for.
For extras health insurance, it will depend on your policy as to whether you’re covered for a particular service or treatment. Your level of cover will also determine the benefit amount available for you to claim each year. This benefit amount will determine your out-of-pocket expenses, and this can vary between insurers and policies. It’s a requirement that the health provider you choose to see is registered in their field for benefits to be paid.
There are varying benefit limits and waiting periods applied to each service, so always read the product disclosure statement (your fact sheet) to understand what you’re entitled to claim and when.
GMHBA is an Australian not-for-profit health insurance and care company. We have served the community since 1934, and with 90 years experience, we have become one of Australia’s leading regionally based private health insurers.
Through our personalised approach and exceptional customer service, we put the health and wellbeing of our members and communities first. Our approach is guided by our philosophy, Healthier Together, and our decisions are made with our members first and foremost in mind.
The cost of your private health insurance is dependent on the type of cover you decide to go with and whether you are eligible for any rebates or loadings. Health insurance is an ongoing cost, and you can decide the frequency you pay your premiums (weekly, monthly, or annually).
Find out more about the cost of private health insurance in Australia.
Introduced by the Australian Government, Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading is a 2% loading on your private health insurance hospital cover premiums for every year you do not have hospital cover since turning 30. Find out more
Are you aged 18-29?
GMHBA offer an age-based discount on all our hospital covers. If you're under the age of 30 and purchase any of our hospital covers, you will receive the discount depending on your age.