Our insurance experts have reviewed extras health cover from more than 40 insurers to find the best policies on the market.
Join CHOICE to find out our recommended extras policies for seniors, families, singles and couples below. Unlike other comparison sites, we don't get paid by any health insurers, so we only recommend the best policies for you.
Who should buy extras?
Extras insurance is for people who want help managing predictable healthcare costs. If you know how much you're likely to spend on things like dental check-ups, physio sessions and glasses, you can use extras to reduce your out-of-pocket costs. If you claim back more than you spend on the policy, then you've got your money's worth.
Don't buy extras if you aren't prepared to put the effort in to claim. If you keep paying your premium and don't claim it back, it's the same as that gym membership you never use: a waste of money.
How health insurance extras works
Extras policies give you discounts on health services that aren't covered by Medicare. These include dental costs, glasses, and allied health care like physiotherapy, chiropractic and podiatry. You can also claim for appliances like hearing aids, orthoses and blood glucose monitors.
Don't buy extras if you aren't prepared to put the effort in to claim
Extras isn't insurance in the traditional sense of the word, where you buy it "just in case". Think of it as more of a book of discount vouchers. By paying a monthly premium you can use it to spread your expenses more evenly over the course of the year. Used correctly it can even reduce your health costs.
Most people bundle an extras policy with their private hospital cover. This isn't necessary: you can buy hospital cover on its own, and you don't need extras to avoid the tax penalties the government imposes on people without health insurance.
Ready to find the best extras cover?
Log in to see our pick for the best extras for seniors, families, singles and couples. These results are for CHOICE members only and focus on extras insurance. If you're looking for hospital insurance policies, visit our health insurance comparison.
Non-members can read our extras insurance buying guide for more information on choosing extras cover.
Our buying guide explains how to work out if your current extras insurance policy is right for you, what level of extras cover you need, and how much you can claim.
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