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Top 5 things to know about hospital and extras cover

1

There are two types of cover

Private hospital cover and extras cover are different products covering different treatments and services.

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2

Receive cover for inpatient and outpatient procedures

Combined cover includes cover for hospital treatments and outpatient services under a single policy.

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3

It can be cheaper getting insurance earlier in life

Waiting until you’re 31 or older to get hospital cover may cost you more in premiums.

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4

Reduce costs for services Medicare doesn’t cover

Extras policies can help reduce out-of-pocket costs for eligible services not covered by Medicare, including dental, optical and more.

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5

You can get split health cover

You can choose to get hospital cover and extras cover from separate providers instead of getting a combined policy.

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Written by Joshua Wildie
Reviewed by Eliza Buglar
Expert reviewed by Steven Spicer
Updated 10 June 2025

Expert tips on choosing the best combined cover policy for you online

Our health insurance expert, Steven Spicer, has some tips on how to find a combined cover policy that meets your needs without breaking the bank.

Steven Spicer
Executive General Manager – Health, Life & Energy

Consider all taxes and loadings that may apply

When deciding whether to take out combined cover, it’s important to consider any additional taxes and loadings that may apply to you if you delay taking out eligible hospital coverage. Specifically, you’ll want to be aware of the Medicare Levy Surcharge if you’re a high-income earner, or Lifetime Health Cover if you don’t have hospital cover and are 31 or older.

Standalone cover may suit you better

If you want both hospital and extras health insurance, you’re not limited to a combined cover policy. You can also take out hospital and extras separately, with two different health funds. The best option varies depending on your needs as each choice has its pros and cons.

Get the right level of cover for you

Combined cover can help you meet any in-hospital healthcare expenses you may incur, as well as cover some of your out-of-hospital costs, subject to cover and limits. With so many different options and combinations available, take time to ensure you select a suitable level of cover that meets your needs.

What is hospital and extras cover?

With combined hospital and extras cover, you can benefit from both types of insurance under one policy and have peace of mind, knowing your policy includes a range of medical treatments both in and out of hospital (up to your policy limits).

These policies are typically pre-packaged by health funds to suit different lifestyles and budgets. If a health fund doesn’t offer a combined package to meet your needs, you can choose separate, standalone hospital cover and extras cover and combine them yourself to create something that suits you better.

Why take out combined cover?

Combining hospital insurance with extras cover allows you to:

  • Find a policy that can offer financial support for your health needs both in and out of hospital
  • Claim on out-of-hospital services like physio, remedial massage, dental
  • Enjoy the convenience of only paying a single premium and having one contact point for all your health insurance needs
  • The hospital insurance component of your cover can help you avoid paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) if you’re a higher-income earner and maintain an active policy throughout the entire financial year.

Choosing a combined cover policy

If you think a combined cover policy is the right choice for you, the next step is to compare hospital and extras cover to find one that meets your needs. Here are a few things to keep in mind while you compare:

  • Level of cover. When it comes to taking out a combined cover policy, the levels of cover available to you will depend on your health fund. Some funds will let you mix and match levels of hospital and extras cover, while others will have a few fixed options.
  • Excess. As with standard hospital cover, you’ll likely need to choose an excess amount when taking out a policy. The excess is an out-of-pocket cost you pay on admission to hospital. A higher excess will usually come with a lower premium and vice versa.
  • Co-payment. Like an excess, a co-payment is an out-of-pocket expense paid by the patient as a contribution towards the cost of their hospital admission. This is a fixed daily payment for each day spent in hospital and is usually capped at a maximum amount per admission.
  • Life stage. As you age, your healthcare needs will change. Keep this in mind while you look for a policy. You should also consider factors like your family medical history, any pre-existing conditions and whether you have any dependants.

The differences between hospital and extras cover

To get the best combined insurance policy for your needs, it’s important to understand what the two types of health insurance offer and how they differ. We’ve outlined some of the key differences between these types of cover below.

Hospital cover

Extras cover

Can you have hospital and extras cover with different providers?

Does extras cover have tiers or levels too?

More information

Do waiting periods apply to combined health insurance policies?

Do I pay LHC on the full premium of a combined health insurance policy?

Which kind of health insurance covers ambulance services?

Meet our health insurance expert, Steven Spicer

Steven Spicer
Executive General Manager – Health, Life & Energy

As the Executive General Manager of Health, Life and Energy, Steven Spicer is a strong believer in the benefits of private cover and knows just how valuable the peace of mind that comes with cover can be. He is passionate about demystifying the health insurance industry and advocates for the benefits of comparison when it comes to saving money on your premiums.