You don’t have to pay the loading in certain circumstances, but these only apply to a small number of Australians.
For example, if you’re overseas at the time of the LHC deadline, you have one year to take out hospital cover when you finally return home. If you do not take out private hospital cover during your one-year grace period, you’ll have to pay LHC if you later decide to get covered.
Additionally, the following groups of people will not need to pay:
- New migrants, provided they take out cover at least 12 months after being eligible for Medicare
- Veterans who hold a Department of Veterans Affairs Gold Card
- Members of the Australian Defence Force
- Anyone born before 1934