What is extras-only health insurance?
Extras-only health insurance, or ancillary cover, helps pay for treatments and services from medical and allied health professionals that aren't subsidised through Medicare. These ‘extras’ can include dental, optical and physiotherapy. As these services aren’t typically covered by Medicare, this type of insurance can help reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.
You’ll be able to claim on services once any waiting periods are met, though most policies will only allow you to claim back a certain percentage or set dollar amount for each service, subject to annual cover limits.
What are the different levels of extras cover?
Most insurance providers offer varying levels of extras cover. Because of this, the naming of these products aren't standardised like hospital cover, so it's important to check what services and treatments are covered, the annual limits and sub-limits that apply, and the price of the policy when comparing your options.
Entry level policies will usually only cover general dental, such as one or two routine check-ups per year, and emergency ambulance services. The next level up from here generally also includes coverage for optical and physiotherapy services. As you go up the different levels of extras cover, you'll usually gain access to additional services (e.g. major dental, chiropractic, orthodontics etc.) and higher annual limits and sub-limits. You will, however, pay more in premiums.
What services are covered by extras-only health insurance?
What you’re covered for will differ depending on the level of your extras-only health insurance policy, but extras cover can include the following treatments and services:
- General Dental: covers routine and preventative treatments such as scale and clean, polish, check-ups, examinations, x-rays and fillings.
- Major Dental: can include periodontal (gum treatment), endodontic, crowns and bridges.
- Orthodontic: includes treatments for teeth straightening, overbite, chewing and jaw alignment like braces, retainers and Invisalign.
- Optical: covers prescription glasses, frames and contact lenses.
- Non-PBS pharmaceuticals: covers pharmaceutical prescription items not listed on the general schedule of the Federal Government’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
- Physiotherapy: covers consultations and rehabilitation to treat physical issues caused by injury, surgical operation, illness and age-related changes.
- Chiropractic: covers consultations for health problems related to the musculoskeletal system and treatments such as spinal adjustments and joint pain relief.
- Exercise physiology: includes consults and physical rehabilitation by an exercise physiologist such as exercise counselling, physical assessments and prescription exercise programs.
- Occupational therapy: includes consultations to improve and enable people with physical, mental or developmental conditions to engage and participate in everyday ‘occupations’ such as daily living activities (for example showering, dressing, preparing food).
- Podiatry: includes treatments and services of the ankles and feet such as general toenail and skin care (for example ingrown toenails, corns, warts), musculoskeletal injuries and conditions (for example Achilles injuries, bursitis, plantar fasciitis), footwear padding and orthotics.
- Osteopathy: covers consultations and treatments such as soft tissue and bone manipulations.
- Remedial massage: covers consultations such as deep tissue massages.
- Natural therapies: some providers may offer cover for acupuncture, dry needling and Chinese medicine.
- Psychology: covers consultations with a psychologist or clinical psychologist for mental or physical health conditions such as anxiety, depression, pain management or eating disorders.
- Dietetics and nutrition: covers consultations with a dietitian or nutritionist for dietary, nutrition and eating advice.
- Speech therapy: includes consultations to diagnose and treat swallowing disorders or verbal speech disabilities or impediments.
- Eye therapy: covers assessments and consultations with an orthoptist to treat eye conditions such as lazy eye and poor focus.
- Hearing aids: if included, covers the costs of hearing aids for people with hearing impairments.
- Appliances, prostheses and aids: includes medically necessary appliances and prostheses that help manage, monitor or treat a health condition such as blood pressure and glucose monitors, post-surgery bras and joint braces.
- Preventative tests, scans and screenings: can include skin cancer screenings, bone mineral density tests, breast examinations and bowel cancer tests.
How much does extras-only cover cost?
The cost of your extras cover will depend on your level of coverage, location and whether the policy is for a single person, couple or family.
Canstar’s database shows monthly premiums can range from $9 - $350. To compare approximate policy premiums for your particular needs, you can click the ‘compare health insurance’ button to get a quote.
How to find the best extras cover
Finding the best extras cover for you will ultimately depend on your healthcare needs and financial circumstances. Canstar’s Health Insurance Awards is a good place to start. We research and rate hundreds of health insurance policies each year, recognising providers who offer outstanding value to consumers.
Have extras cover but unsure whether your policy is giving you good value for money? Request an annual claims statement from your provider. This will show the total benefits per category that you received in that financial year. To check whether you’re getting good value, look at your total benefits and your out-of-pocket costs against the cost of your premiums.
If you’re thinking about switching or want to take out a new extras policy, you can get a personalised health insurance quote by clicking the ‘compare health insurance’ button.
